The Man Farthest Down: A Record of Observation and Study in Europe

by Robert E. Park

The Man Farthest Down represents an early contribution to the study of comparative social systems. Its treatment of life in the East European shtetls is as moving as the analysis of ghetto life in America. In his new introduction to this edition, Drake illustrates the intellectual camaraderie shared between Park and Washington in their studies of race. Drake also details their individual observations, philosophies, and activities in both their academic and political lives.

Genres: Nonfiction, History

456 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1984

Reviews

[Sylvester · Rating 1 out of 5]

A book completely tainted by sociology. The introduction was enough to render the book completely unintelligible, the whole writing was even worse. No, I do not blame Washington, rather, Park the ghost writer had to inject his little distorted world view.

If you liked Up From Slavery, please do not read this book.

[Kwabena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly one of the most significant accounts of the western world as told by a person of African descent.

[Sherry Mabry · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't often (ok...never) read books written in 1912. That alone makes this one by Booker T. Washington interesting. Washington's premise was to travel through Europe in search of "the man farthest down", i.e., the most down trodden of peasants, mine workers, etc., and compare their plight to those of the Negros in the southern U.S., where Washington was born into slavery.

His discoveries are interesting - the man furthest down is a woman - quite a revelation for 1912, eh? Generally, he finds that poor black folks of the south don't have it "as bad" as the mine workers, slum dwellers of London, peasants, etc. He concludes that if the U.S. would just invest in their education they'd be in pretty good shape.

One thing that's never addressed that I kept wondering about was how the people of Europe received this black man? He traveled with a translator but there was never mention of how he was regarded? Hard to imagine that everyone in Europe, hardly known for their magnanimity (just look at how they are treating the poor of their countries) would welcome a black man. But since he doesn't talk about it...were folks of the time less prejudiced than they are now?

My grandparents came from Sicily and a friend loaned me the book to read especially for the parts about Sicily. We visited there, including the town my grandparents were from, in 2012. Such a beautiful place. I know they emigrated for financial reasons. The book paints a very unflattering picture of Sicily, so maybe the Sicily of the early 1900's (when they emigrated) was a good place to leave. But in 2012...it was a beautiful place to visit.

The book is written in the stilted style of the early 1900's. Without the personal connection, it's a little dry. Definitely not for everyone.

[David John · Rating 5 out of 5]

He was always curious. His curiosity caused him to search. He searched his whole life for ways that he could help his people go from the bottom to the top. This book is a demonstration of his steadfast determination to help African Americans in the United States by studying other impoverished people and groups.