Joel Augustus Rogers: A Pioneer in African and African American History
Joel Augustus Rogers (1880–1966) was a Jamaican-American author, journalist, and self-taught historian whose groundbreaking work focused on African and African American history. Born in Negril, Jamaica, Rogers was one of eleven children in a mixed-race family. Despite limited formal education, his parents instilled in him a deep appreciation for learning. In 1906, Rogers emigrated to the United States, settling first in Chicago and later in Harlem, New York, where he became a naturalized citizen in 1916. His life and career unfolded during the Harlem Renaissance, a period of flourishing African American art and intellectualism.
Rogers’ early career included work as a Pullman porter and a journalist for publications like the Chicago Enterprise and the Pittsburgh Courier. His job as a porter allowed him to travel extensively, using libraries across the country to fuel his passion for research. In 1917, he self-published his first book, From “Superman” to Man, a powerful critique of racism and white supremacy. The book, structured as a debate between a Pullman porter and a white Southern politician, challenged stereotypes and laid the foundation for Rogers’ lifelong mission to document African contributions to world history.
Rogers’ research spanned history, sociology, and anthropology, and he became one of the earliest popularizers of African and African American history in the 20th century. His seminal work, World’s Great Men of Color, highlighted the achievements of prominent Black figures throughout history and was hailed as his greatest achievement by historian John Henrik Clarke. Rogers also wrote extensively on the interconnectedness of human civilizations, arguing that ancient Africans were foundational to the development of global culture, science, and philosophy.
In addition to his books, Rogers was a prolific journalist and cartoonist. He created the syndicated feature Your History (later renamed Facts About the Negro), which used a comic strip format to share little-known stories of African American achievements. The feature ran for decades and was widely circulated in Black newspapers. Rogers also served as one of the few Black war correspondents during World War II, further cementing his role as a trailblazer in journalism.
Rogers’ work often challenged prevailing notions of race and identity. In books like Sex and Race and Nature Knows No Color-Line, he explored the origins of racial differentiation and argued that racial hierarchies were socially constructed rather than biologically determined. He also claimed that several historical figures, including Aesop, Cleopatra, and Hannibal, had African ancestry, though these assertions remain controversial among scholars. Despite criticism, Rogers’ work inspired later Afrocentric historians and contributed to a broader understanding of African contributions to world history.
A self-financed and self-educated scholar, Rogers traveled extensively to gather primary sources for his research. He frequented libraries, museums, and archives across Europe and Africa, documenting evidence of African influence on Western civilization. His humanist philosophy emphasized the unity of humanity, rejecting the concept of distinct racial categories. Rogers believed that by uncovering and sharing the neglected history of African people, he could combat racism and promote global understanding.
Legacy
Joel Augustus Rogers’ legacy endures as a pioneering figure in the study of African and African American history. His meticulous research, compelling writing, and unwavering commitment to truth-telling challenged the biases of Eurocentric scholarship and paved the way for future generations of historians. Though some of his claims remain debated, his work continues to inspire those who seek to uncover the rich and often overlooked contributions of African people to the world. Rogers died in New York City in 1966, leaving behind a body of work that remains essential reading for anyone interested in the history of race, culture, and humanity.
Books by J.A. Rogers
- From Superman to Man
- Nature Knows No Color-Line
- Your History
- Africa’s Gift to America: The Afro-American in the Making and Saving of the United States
- 100 Amazing Facts About the Negro
- World’s Great Men of Color
- The Five Negro Presidents
- The Real Facts About Ethiopia
- Sex and Race Vol. 1,2, and 3
Sex and Race Vol. 1
