Exactly 111 years ago, on October 23, 1900, who has now become
known as the famous African American Communist who led the
Abraham Lincoln Brigade, Oliver Law was born. Since his death
during the Spanish Civil War, many written accounts on the
nature of his death have been published – most of which were
anti-communist by and large. There’s only one written account
that’s been able to truly look back and tell the true story of
what happened to Oliver Law – one in which comes, not from an
anti-communist background, but of quite the contrary. The
following article was originally written in 2008 by Grover Furr,
English Professor at Montclair State University: By Grover Furr
Abstract: For four days during 1937 Oliver Law, a member of the
Communist Party USA, was the Commander of the Abraham Lincoln
Battalion of volunteers defending the Spanish Republic against
the fascist forces of General Francisco Franco. Law was the
first Black American appointed as commander of white troops in
battle. William Herrick, a Lincoln