pIOvershadowed A NovelI 1901 is a novel by Sutton E. Griggs. Published just two years after his debut novel IOvershadowedI takes a different angle on the political reality of African Americans than Griggs explored in IImperium in ImperioI. Taking an ironic tone he examines the intersection of race and gender in the burgeoning Black middleclass to explore and critique the politics of liberalism and assimilation. Although Griggs novels were largely forgotten by the midtwentieth century scholars have recently sought to emphasize his role as an activist and author involved with the movement for Black nationalism in the United States. Critics since have recognized Griggs as a pioneering political figure and author whose utopian themes and engagement with contemporary crises constitute some of the eras most radical literary efforts by an African American writer. The grain that came to life under the oak has its peculiar struggles. It must contend for sustenance with the roots of the oak. It must wrestle with the shade of the oak. The life of this isolated grain of corn is one continuous tragedy. IOvershadowedI is the story of this grain of corn the AngloSaxon being the oak and the Negro the plant struggling for existence. Introducing his second novel Griggs sets the stage for a story of perseverance a quality possessed by both Erma Wysong and Astral Herndon. Born and raised in Richmond Virginia Erma and Astral are representative of the emerging Black middle class. As they each go off to college and embark on a path to a promising young adulthood they hope to take advantage of opportunities that werent afforded to their parents. Secretly however Astral hopes to return to Richmond and win Ermas hand in marriage believing that time and distance will convince her that he can be more than a friend. Although their love grows stronger Astral finds himself flooded with doubt regarding one aspect of Ermas identityalthough she was raised by Black parents her birth father was a whit