Thomas Dixon Jr. American Baptist minister, playwright, teacher, legislator, lawyer and writer Date of Birth: 11.01.1864 Country: USA

1. Biography of Thomas Dixon Jr.
2. Early Life and Influences
3. Involvement with the Ku Klux Klan
4. Education and Career
5. Ministry and Writing Career

Biography of Thomas Dixon Jr.

Thomas Frederick Dixon Jr. was an American Baptist minister, playwright, teacher, legislator, lawyer, and writer. He became disillusioned with politics and the church and went on to write 22 novels in a similar vein. His most famous work, "The Clansman," was adapted into the 1915 film "The Birth of a Nation" by D.W. Griffith. Dixon was a prominent supporter of the Republican Party and sponsored Theodore Roosevelt during his mayoral campaign in New York.

Early Life and Influences

Thomas Frederick Dixon Jr. was born on January 11, 1864, in Shelby, North Carolina. His father was a wealthy landowner and Baptist minister of Anglo-Scottish descent. In his youth, Thomas helped his family with their farming business. He despised farm work but later acknowledged that this experience helped him understand the hardships of the working class. Dixon grew up during the Reconstruction era after the Civil War, a time of government land seizures, corrupt local politicians, and the presence of federal troops. The lawlessness of this period shaped Dixon's views and turned him into a staunch opponent of what he called the "greatest tragedy in history."

Involvement with the Ku Klux Klan

Thomas Dixon Sr., Dixon's father, and his uncle Leroy McAfee joined the newly formed Ku Klux Klan with the aim of restoring order during turbulent times. Colonel McAfee even became the leader of the Klan in the Piedmont region of North Carolina. However, witnessing the corruption and scandal within the organization, Dixon Sr. and McAfee not only left the Klan but also tried to dissolve it within their region.

Education and Career

In 1877, Dixon Jr. enrolled at Shelby Academy and graduated just two years later. He then began his studies at Wake Forest University in 1879, where he focused on history and political science. Dixon earned his master's degree after four years. He further expanded his knowledge of political science at Johns Hopkins University, where he met and befriended future U.S. President Woodrow Wilson. Despite not completing the program, Dixon decided to pursue a career in journalism and theater. He arrived in New York City and attended the Frohman School of Drama. However, as an actor, Dixon struggled to find roles due to his tall and slender physique. Despite receiving praise for his intellect and attention to detail, he was advised to pursue a career as a screenwriter. Feeling overwhelmed, Thomas returned to North Carolina.

In 1885, Dixon followed his father's advice and enrolled in law school, where he obtained his law degree. He then ran for the North Carolina General Assembly, even though he was not yet eligible to vote. However, Dixon's oratorical skills played a crucial role in securing his position. In 1886, he left politics, expressing disgust with the corruption and secret deals of lawmakers, calling them "prostitutes of the state." Despite his short political career, Dixon gained popularity throughout the southern region of the United States for his ardent defense of Confederate veterans' rights.

Ministry and Writing Career

On October 6, 1886, Dixon was ordained as a Baptist minister. According to church records, he served as a pastor at the First Baptist Church in Goldsboro, North Carolina. On April 10, 1887, Thomas moved to Raleigh, North Carolina, where he quickly gained respect within the community. He later relocated to Boston, Massachusetts, where he successfully preached the Word of God. In August 1889, Dixon was recruited to New York City, where he reached new heights and encountered influential figures such as John D. Rockefeller and Theodore Roosevelt. It took five years before Dixon became disillusioned with the church and felt he could no longer belong to any specific denomination. He left the Baptist church and engaged in religious and social work as a non-denominational minister. Thomas distanced himself from preaching in 1899.

Known as the "best lecturer in the country," Dixon delivered inspiring speeches and eventually published his first novel, "The Leopard's Spots," in 1902. The book featured Simon Legree, a character who had previously appeared as a cruel slave trader in Harriet Beecher Stowe's "Uncle Tom's Cabin." Dixon's "Trilogy of Reconstruction," consisting of "The Leopard's Spots," "The Clansman," and "The Traitor," became bestsellers. In his novels, Dixon skillfully conveyed the idea that African Americans were inferior to whites and glorified the pre-war American South. While opposing slavery, Dixon believed in racial segregation.

In total, Dixon wrote 22 novels, advocating for "racial purity" and demonizing socialism. Another recurring theme in his works was the establishment of a "stable family" where women/mothers were assigned traditional roles. Violence against white women, mostly perpetrated by African Americans from the South, was a common theme in his novels.

Dixon wrote his final novel, "The Flaming Sword," in 1939, shortly before suffering a brain hemorrhage. He passed away on April 3, 1946. Dixon married Harriet Bassi on March 3, 1886, and they had three children together. After his wife's death on December 29, 1937, Dixon married actress Madelyn Donovan while in the hospital recovering from his brain hemorrhage. Donovan had appeared in one of the film adaptations of his novels.