ABHM Book Club: The Black Guy Dies First
We are pleased to announce ABHM’s October Book of the Month: The Black Guy Dies First by Robin R. Means Coleman and Mark H. Harris. We invite you to join us on Ocotber 24th at 1:30 p.m. for a discussion of the book at America’s Black Holocaust Museum (ABHM) or virtually via Zoom.
History Toward Tomorrow: Why This Matters
In the year 2026 the United States is celebrating its semiquincentennial. At ABHM, we are using this as an opportunity to create programs where we can collectively reflect on our country’s history honestly to build a better, more equitable future. The selections for the ABHM Book Club in 2026 will emphasize historical truth-telling, compelling storytelling, and diverse perspectives on our collective past. We invite participants to consider what they want the country to look like over the next 250 years. What can we learn from visionaries, historians, and thought leaders from the past in how we envision the United States of the future? In the spirit of Dr. Cameron, we invite you to join us on this journey of reflection, healing, and dreaming.
ABOUT THE BOOK
The Black Guy Dies First: Black Horror Cinema from Fodder to Oscar by Robin R. Means Coleman and Mark H. Harris examines more than five decades of Black representation in horror films, exploring how the genre has reflected, reinforced, and challenged racial attitudes in American culture. Beginning with the late 1960s, the authors trace the evolution of Black characters in horror cinema, from stereotypical roles and expendable supporting characters to complex protagonists who reshape the genre. The book examines recurring patterns such as the “Sacrificial Negro” and “Magical Negro” archetypes, while exploring how filmmakers and actors have challenged these limited portrayals.
The authors highlight pivotal moments in Black horror history, including Duane Jones’s portrayal of Ben in George A. Romero’s Night of the Living Dead (1968), which offered audiences a rare Black hero and survivor at a time when such representations were uncommon. The book follows the genre’s transformation through films that center Black experiences, culminating in contemporary works such as Jordan Peele’s Get Out (2017). Through film analysis, cultural history, and commentary from creators and scholars, Coleman and Harris demonstrate how horror has served as both a reflection of racial fears and a powerful space for Black storytelling, resistance, and creative expression.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Robin R. Means Coleman is a scholar, author, and cultural critic whose work focuses on race, representation, media, and popular culture. She is a professor of media studies and has spent much of her career examining how Black identity and racial narratives are portrayed across film, television, and other forms of communication. Coleman is the author of Horror Noire: Blacks in American Horror Films from the 1890s to Present, a groundbreaking study of Black representation in horror cinema, and has contributed widely to conversations about race, media, and the cultural significance of storytelling.
Mark H. Harris is a film journalist, writer, and cultural commentator known for his work exploring Black cinema, horror, and popular culture. He has written extensively about the experiences of Black filmmakers, actors, and audiences, bringing historical context and critical analysis to discussions of representation in entertainment. Harris has contributed to publications covering film and culture and is recognized for helping expand public understanding of Black contributions to the horror genre and the broader landscape of American cinema.