The book is titled, Abraham Beverley Walker, Lawyer, Lecturer, Activist, and chronicles the life and work, as well as the systemic racism Dr. Walker faced as Canada’s first black lawyer, and first black magazine editor. He was one of eleven children of farming parents but excelled academically studying law at the National University in Washington, D.C., law at the Saint John Law School, as well as philosophy and several languages. Abraham Walker lived in the last half of the nineteenth century and was born in Kars, New Brunswick but spent his entire professional career (except for a year and a half) in Saint John. After several snubs by the local population and the local barristers association as well, he focused all of his efforts on the civil rights issue and then later on addressing the “negro problem” and it’s solution. He lectured extensively across North America promoting the African Civilization Movement, which advocated for an en-masse migration of learned and talented blacks to Africa, where they would set up a colony under British laws and customs. The eventual aim of the group was to civilize and Christianize the entire population of what was then referred to as the “Dark Continent”. His magazine, Neith, although itself a partial victim of prejudice, survived barely one year, publishing only five issues. The magazine dealt with race issues (about 40% of its content), history, philosophy, science, art, literature and a variety of other topics, with several prominent contributors. It was highly intellectual publication even by today’s standards. Despite all of his dreams, intellect and accomplishments, Walker has been relegated to the “dust-bin” of history. This story is unique in that there has not been another written exclusively about him. His magazine gets a two-page mention in Robin Winks, The Blacks in Canada, and little to no mention elsewhere. The author has relied almost exclusively on Walker’s surviving newspaper columns, pamphlets and lectures. Abraham Walker was a devout Christian and his message bears a striking resemblance to that of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. who followed in his footsteps some fifty years later.

Peter Little's profile page

Francis Mitchell's profile page

Virginia Houston's profile page

New World Publishing's profile page

BIOGRAPHY: PETER J. LITTLE (author of AB Walker)

Peter J. Little was born and raised in Saint John, New Brunswick and educated in its city public schools. After high school he attended the New Brunswick Community College and obtained a diploma in Chemical Engineering Technology and worked for the next forty years in the energy sector. First briefly with NB Power and then with Irving Refining, finishing his career as a Senior Production Planner.

Peter developed a keen interest in local history at a young age, being influenced by stories of by-gone days from his father and maternal grandfather. He began writing in the 1980’s, at first as a way of consolidating his own research and then as a freelance writer for the Reader Magazine, a Saturday Supplement of the Brunswick News group of papers. His writings have appeared in various publications, including the Evening Times Globe, the Telegraph Journal, the Kings County Record, Generations Magazine, the Officers Quarter and recently has been consulted several times for the Daily Gleaner feature, Forgotten New Brunswick.

The amateur historian has focused his sights most recently on telling untold stories from our past, stories of people who have fallen through the cracks in the floor of history; and Abraham Walker was one of those. A chance conversation led to an obsession, which resulted in the production of this book. In just under two years, Peter Little has elevated Abraham Beverley Walker from the ‘dustbin’ of history to the loftiest position afforded a citizen.

Seeking to “right a wrong”, Peter has pushed Abraham Walker’s story to the front and centre of the provincial discourse. Walker’s life and times have been the subject of three recent newspaper articles, several television and radio interviews and most recently, Walker has been the posthumous recipient of the Order of New Brunswick, the highest award that can be bestowed upon a citizen of the province.

Peter is a board member of the New Brunswick Black History Society and has lived in Quispamsis for the last four decades. He and his wife Susan have five children and twelve grandchildren.