The Merchant Prince of Black Chicago: Anthony Overton and the Building of a Financial Empire

摘要

With his book The Merchant Prince of Black Chicago: Anthony Overton and the Building of a Financial Empire, Robert Weems lifts the veil on a significant figure in Chicago's Black business community during the first half of the twentieth century. Though Overton was well known in his time—the first businessman to win the Spingarn Medal from the NAACP and subject of an obituary in the Journal of Negro History when he died—his life could still be shrouded in mystery. Thankfully, this time Overton's story will be the more accurate version, which does not lessen his contributions in the slightest. Instead, we see the efforts of a devout, frugal man who enjoyed business and sought to improve his community and provide for his family. Along the way, he achieved great success. It is enough, and the story is fascinating to read.