Of One Blood: Or, the Hidden Self

Of One Blood: Or, The Hidden Self is a novel by African American author Pauline Elizabeth Hopkins. It was published serially in The Colored American Magazine, where Hopkins worked as an editor, between 1902 and 1903. The story centers on Reuel Briggs, a medical student who plays down his biracial identity. After falling in love with the singer Dianthe and saving her life, Reuel travels to Africa where, in search of ancient treasures, he discovers his own heritage and reconnects with his racial identity. Meanwhile, Dianthe discovers the tragic secrets of her own birth. Hopkins explores themes of African heritage, race, the legacy of enslavement, and the supernatural in the early 20th century, voicing an African American perspective on the period’s racial discourse.

This study guide uses the 2023 e-book version by Strelbytskyy Multimedia Publishing.

Content Warning: The source material discusses the history of enslavement in America, racism, incest, and abuse. The text contains outdated racial descriptors that the guide reproduces only in quotation.

Plot Summary

Reuel Briggs is a medical student struggling to make ends meet in Boston. He leads a lonely life, and while his skin color suggests his biracial identity, he rarely thinks of his origins.