Black Herman

Black Herman, born Benjamin Rucker, was an American stage magician and showman who built a popular following among Black audiences in the early twentieth century. Billed as 'The Man Who Can Raise the Dead,' he combined classic stage illusion with a dramatic séance presentation and a savvy command of self-promotion.

Herman toured extensively on the circuit of Black theaters and tent shows, and he was also a publisher of pamphlets on health, numerology, and self-improvement. He remains an important figure in the history of African American entertainment and the popular stage.