Going Home to Nicodemus

Children's Literature - Leila Toledo

When it comes to the Old West, one rarely thinks of African-Americans as being a part of this phase of history. Nicodemus, Kansas was the first settled all Black town in the Old West. Twelve years after the Civil War, freed slaves from Kentucky were recruited to settle in Nicodemus. What transpired was disappointment heaped with perseverance, courage and determination to succeed. This little known aspect of African American history is a treasure to be passed on to all.

School Library Journal

Gr 6 UpFounded by freed slaves in the 1870s, Nicodemus, Kansas, grew from a series of holes dug in the ground for shelter to a bustling black community with churches, schools, stores, and well-kept homes. Chu and Shaw trace its history by using archival material, old newspapers, and interviews with current and former residents. The early settlers experienced all kinds of hardships and difficulties, but persevered and overcame the harsh weather conditions of the plains. What they could not ultimately overcome were the Great Depression and the racism of their neighbors. Of course, all was not toil and gloom. This book is filled with a joy that comes from a shared history, from being with family and friends, and from the knowledge that life on the plains, as bad as it often was, was infinitely better than a life of slavery. The book is informative, clearly and simply written, and illustrated with black-and-white photographs of the town, then and now, and of the families who settled it. Nicodemus and its people take on a life worth knowing about.Carol Jones Collins, Montclair Kimberley Academy, NJ