The Sawners of Chandler : a pioneering power couple in pre-civil rights Oklahoma.
(Book)
Author
Published
Fort Worth, TX : Eakin Press, [2018].
Format
Book
Physical Desc
255 pages : illustrations, maps ; 23 cm
Status
Ralph Ellison Library - Black History Collection
976.600496 SA2715j BHC
1 available
976.600496 SA2715j BHC
1 available
Description
Loading Description...
Copies
Location | Call Number | Status |
---|---|---|
Ralph Ellison Library - Black History Collection | 976.600496 SA2715j BHC | On Shelf |
Also in this Series
Checking series information...
More Details
Published
Fort Worth, TX : Eakin Press, [2018].
Language
English
Notes
Bibliography
Includes bibliographical references (pages 184-242) and index.
Description
Juxtaposed against the grim realities of black life at the turn of the twentieth century, the lives of George and Lena Sawner shone like the blazing sun on an oven-hot August day in Oklahoma. Educated, professional, and economically stable--well-off by most standards--the Sawners lived the American dream, accompanied, periodically, by nightmarish reminders of the realities of race. The couple owned a home, rental property, stocks, businesses, and two cars. They hobnobbed with local, state, and national dignitaries. They vacationed in faraway places like Montreal, Canada. The Sawners excelled in their respective spheres and claimed the social, political, and economic accoutrements commensurate with their successes. Material trappings and stature aside, the Sawners never severed their roots. Despite their undeniable attainments, the Sawners, like other African Americans in Oklahoma, often swam against the current, regularly battling waves of bigotry and intolerance. Reminiscent of the Jim Crow South, the political waters in Oklahoma, particularly as they cascaded over racial matters, became increasingly contaminated. This is their story--a tale of triumph amidst a backdrop of tragedy. George and Lena Sawner lived and, through their living, enhanced and enriched our lives in ways great and small.--page 4 of Cover.
Staff View
Loading Staff View.