Signed Man of Color: An Autobiography. A Factual Report on the Status of the American Negro Today (1949)

1949. SOMERVILLE, Dr. J. Alexander. Man of Color: An Autobiography. A Factual Report on the Status of the American Negro Today. Los Angeles: Lorrin L. Morrison. 1949. First Edition. Original blue cloth. Signed on the frontispiece by Somerville. In this autobiography, Somerville tells us the events of his life over the past fifty years. From growing up in Jamaica to his dealings with racism in California and fighting to make his way as an entrepreneur, dentist, and leader. In his autobiography he too covers a brief history of Black Americans in Los Angeles from the turn of the century. This story is one of victory over the 'color bar' as Somerville faced dejection and segregation throughout his life in America. graduated with high honors in 1907, becoming the first African American to graduate from USC with a Doctor of dental surgery. Afterwards, Somerville passed the state dental board exam with the highest score recorded up until that point. He then went on to open his own dental office in Los Angeles, co-founded the Los Angeles branch of the NAACP, and built the Hotel Somerville, now called the Dunbar Hotel. Overall very good condition.