“Thomas Aiello, in his freewheeling, unpretentious style, does justice to Louis Lomax’s inexhaustible supply of surprises. In the process, Aiello achieves a liveliness and immediacy that most historians only dream of. Aiello tirelessly tracks down facts you never heard of, leaving no room for fluff or speculation. The result is a great intellectual biography that brings to light the uncharted depths and breadths of Black America’s struggle against racism to light. Students will have a thrilling adventure story. Seasoned scholars will be shocked to learn how much they didn’t know. If they’re honest, they’ll also see that Lomax—once Black America’s most popular nonfiction writer, now unjustly forgotten—beat them to many insights and discoveries they thought were their own.” — David L. Chappell, author of Waking from the Dream
“This incisively well-written account reminds those who may have forgotten that Louis Lomax was one of the most intriguing figures of the electrifying 1960s. Lomax's analysis of Black nationalism, be it in the United States or Africa, remains informative. Thomas Aiello's illuminating interrogation of Lomax is a must-read.” — Gerald Horne, author of Fire this Time: The Watts Uprising and the 1960s
"An incisive, engaging study of the out-of-the-box life and outspoken journalism of a man whose character and precedent-setting work mirrored the turbulence and dramatic change of 1960s America. . . . Aiello’s detailed, intense book honors Louis Lomax’s contributions to Black journalism, to the civil rights movement, and to the ideal of a democracy that practices 'the art of deliberate disunity,' listening to, and valuing, a diversity of opinions." — Kristine Morris, Foreword