The Negro Spiritual Speaks of Life and Death; Being the Ingersoll Lecture on the Immortality of Man, 1947

New York: Harper and Brothers, 1947. First Edition, Early Printing. Cloth. Near fine/very good. Signed first edition of The Negro Spiritual Speaks of Life and Death by Howard Thurman.. Twelvemo, 56pp. Full green cloth, title in green on paper label affixed to front cover. "K-W" code on copyright page, lacking "First Edition" statement. Slight lean to text block, otherwise fine. In the publisher's dust jacket, retail price on front flap, thin stain to bottom half of spine, three small pinholes to front panel, a very good example. Signed by Howard Thurman on the title page in blue ink. Howard Thurman (1899-1981) was a prominent minister, academic, and civil rights leader of the 20th century. He served as dean of Rankin Chapel at Howard University from 1932-1944, then as dean of Marsh Chapel at Boston University from 1953-1965. Thurman's dedication to sharing the theology of radical nonviolence influenced many civil rights movement leaders, including Martin Luther King, Jr., who was mentored by Thurman while attending Boston University.