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Item Information   Holdings     Summary     More Content       More by this author     Alexandrov, Vladimir E.     Subjects     Thomas, Frederick Bruce, 1872-1928.     African Americans -- Biography.     African Americans -- Russia -- Biography.     African American businesspeople -- Russia -- Biography.     Moscow (Russia) -- Biography.     Browse Catalog     by author:      Alexandrov, Vladimir E.       by title:      The Black Russian / ...         MARC Display

The Black Russian / Vladimir Alexandrov. by Alexandrov, Vladimir E. New York, NY : Atlantic Monthly Press, c2013. Subjects Thomas, Frederick Bruce, 1872-1928.   African Americans -- Biography.   African Americans -- Russia -- Biography.   African American businesspeople -- Russia -- Biography.   Moscow (Russia) -- Biography. ISBN:  9780802120694 (hbk.) : 0802120695 (hbk.) : Description:  xxiv, 306 p., [8] p. of plates : ill., maps, ports. ; 24 cm. Edition:  1st ed. Contents:  Life or death -- The most southern place on Earth -- Travel and transformation -- Nothing above Moscow -- Early fortune -- Becoming Russian -- Loss and escape -- Reinvention in Constantinople -- The struggle for recognition -- Sultan of Jazz -- Death and life. Requests:  0 Summary:  The Black Russian is the incredible story of Frederick Bruce Thomas, born in 1872 to former slaves who became prosperous farmers in Mississippi. A rich white planter's attempt to steal their land forced them to flee to Memphis, where Frederick's father was brutally murdered. After leaving the South and working as a waiter and valet in Chicago and Brooklyn, Frederick sought greater freedom in London, then crisscrossed Europe, and-- in a highly unusual choice for a Black American at the time-- went to Russia in 1899. Because he found no color line there, Frederick made Moscow his home. He renamed himself Fyodor Fyodorovich Tomas, married twice, acquired a mistress, and took Russian citizenship. Through his hard work, charm, and guile he became one of the city's richest and most famous owners of variety theaters and restaurants. The Bolshevik Revolution ruined him, and he barely escaped with his life and family to Constantinople in 1919. Starting from scratch, he made a second fortune by opening celebrated nightclubs that introduced jazz to Turkey. However, the long arm of American racism, the xenophobia of the new Turkish Republic, and Frederick's own extravagance landed him in debtor's prison. He died in Constantinople in 1928.   Copy/Holding information Location Collection Call No. Status   Lihue Public Library Adult Nonfiction 947.00496 Al Checked In Add Copy to MyList Waialua Public Library Adult Nonfiction 947.00496 Al Checked In Add Copy to MyList

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