Milton Avant Abernathy (February 24, 1911 – April 21, 1991)[1] was an American journalist, magazine editor, business owner, and stockbroker, best known for his time spent editing the literary journal Contempo: A Review of Books and Personalities from 1931–1934.
Abernethy won the case on appeal with the help of faculty, but soon transferred to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a move that proved quite important to his future life.
[3] Soon after transferring to UNC-Chapel Hill, Abernethy joined with several other college students (Phil Liskin, Shirley Carter, Vincent Garoffolo, and Anthony Buttitta) to start a literary magazine known as Contempo.
Abernethy met him at a Southern Writers Conference in Charlottesville, Virginia, and eventually accompanied him on a drive to New York City with his professor Paul Green.
This trip provided quite a boon for Contempo, as Abernethy invited the author to stay with Buttitta and him in Chapel Hill.
This feud, possibly started by the inclusion of Abernethy's wife as an editor, involved Buttitta setting up a rival Contempo in the nearby city of Durham, North Carolina.
[9] The bookstore was supposedly started using a combination of Abernethy's collection of avant-garde books and review-books used for the magazine.
[14] Abernethy's association with leftwing causes dates back to at least his time writing for the student journal at North Carolina State University.
Contempo would oftentimes feature left-leaning reviews, articles, and literature, further suggesting his association with leftwing ideas.
Abernethy was accused by Paul Crouch, a district manager for the Communist Party in North and South Carolina.
[20] He died in 1991 in Hampton Bays;[1] his ashes were spread at his daughter and grandson's house off Jones Ferry Road in Chapel Hill.