Ark of Bones and Other Stories is a collection of nine short stories by American author Henry Dumas. In 1968, Dumas was killed by a police officer in a shooting that had all the signs of a racially motivated killing. Most of his works were published after his untimely death. Dumas' work has been praised by some of his peers for encompassing natural and unnatural aspects as well as musical rhythms and politically charged themes.
Published posthumously in 1970 and 1974 by Random House New York, Dumas addresses the plight of African-American youths in the United States. He also delves deep into his African heritage as he attempts to connect to his ancestral past and the impact that has on him as an American.
Born in Arkansas and raised in New York, Dumas stays true to his native home and second home by setting stories in both scenarios. These locations are significant in the stories he's trying to tell. While they are set in the background of a city, he abandons the contemporary concrete jungle and searches deep into his characters as he develops them spiritually.
Exploring his childhood down south, he paints a clear picture of what life was like in Arkansas before civil rights movements had been formed. Dumas details the poverty, servitude, and ignorance of his people that held them back from escaping the cycle. The civil rights movement is a way for them to finally break free and explore the rest of America.
