Among much to recommend, of particular note is Claude McKay’s poem ‘If We Must Die.’

The Crusader (African Blood Brotherhood.). Vol. 2 No. 1. September, 1919.

Contents: William Monroe Trotter, The Capital and Chicago Race Riots by Cyril V. Briggs, Jean d’Arc, European Comments on the Riots, Why Lynching Persists by C. Valentine, If We Must Die (Poem) by Claude McKay, A lbrseillaise (Poem) by William Morris, Africa (Poem) by Virginia P. Jackson, Why Not “Reform It Altogether”, To Negro Leaders (Poem) by Joseph Seaman Cotter, Jr., “Punta” Revolutionist (Serial) by Romeo L. Dougherty, The Negro and His Instinct by J. Griffith, Where Is the Flag of England (Poem), An Interesting Document, Hell Fighters, DEPARTMENTS: Editorials, A Horoscope of the Months, Facts, Fun and Fancies, Talking Points, The Scout Tribune, Digest of Views.

The Crusader was published in New York City between 1918 and 1922, becoming the paper of the The African Blood Brotherhood for African Liberation and Redemption and the earliest Black Communist publication in the US. Founded by Cyril V Briggs, who had arrived to the city from the Caribbean in 1905, at first it was the journal of the Hamitic League of the World, a Pan-African group led by George Well Parker. Increasingly in sympathy with the Russian Revolution and new Communist International, in October 1919 the paper announced the African Blood Brotherhood and its adherence to Marxism. In June 1921, The Crusader officially became the journal of the ABB and the Black publication of the US Communist movement. Antipathy with Marcus Garvey’s movement led the Communist Party, at the insistence of Claude McKay, to withdraw support and Its last issue was in January, 1922. The African Blood Brotherhood with dissolve into the Workers Party of America with many activists joining the American Negro Labor Congress in 1925.

PDF of full Issue: https://www.marxists.org/history/usa/pubs/crusader/v2n01-sep-1919-crusader-r.pdf