No comments about The Segregated Scholars: Black Social Scientists And the Creation of Black Labor Studies, 1890-1950 (Carter G. Woodson Institute Series in Black Studies).

1 comments about Colin Powell (Black Americans of Achievement).

1. THIS IS A GOOD BOOK I think anyone would love to read it.
   It's about Colin Powell. He was a good man and son.Many people loved him. Colin Powell was a very hard worker even when he was at school.He was a good friend and dad. At frist I didn't likeit because I don't like to read.But as I started to read it, I became to like itand so I finished the whole book!

   I'm sure you will like the book too.

1 comments about Great Negroes: Past and Present (Great Negroes).

1. As a high school teacher my students often asked ,do you have to die to be famous?This book features 200 contemporary famous African Americans.Thank you!

1 comments about A Breed Apart: A Journey to Redemption.

1. I read this book in one sitting which is not something I have done in years. Once I started reading Mr. Woods Journey to Redemption I was fascinated by how someone who had come from so much especially a BLACK MAN could travel such an horrible road by choice, by adrenaline and not really by need (which is the reasoning one hears for so much of criminal activity). The message of this book spoke volumes. It did not whitewash the excitement and rush the author got from his criminal activity but it also did not sugarcoat his prison experience. This book should be a must read for teenage boys although I fear some of the graphic descriptions might prevent that. This book is magnificent even though it does venture into preaching at the end which a factor Mr. Woods can be forgiven given his "preaching" heritage.

2 comments about Zither & Autobiography (Wesleyan Poetry Series).

1. I'll admit this isn't my favorite work by Scalapino, as I prefer the sequences of "alien" perspective in 'Considering How Exaggerated Music Is,' or even the highly syncretic fragmentary prose of "dahlia's iris." But to assert this book is merely an excercise of a 'no-self' through writing is unfairly dismissive. 'Zither' is the often difficult (if one is trying to normalise it according to the confines of the traditional lyric) poetry of a mind in constant movement, constant accumulation, a risky "free fall" into the vicissitudes of self. This is a defiant poetry, one that frees itself from the received notions of a static one-dimensional language, yanks on the thread of the veil and restitches it. Scalapino certainly isn't the only poet who can be said to have done that, though she may be the most consistently thorough and brave.



2. In short, I see Scalapino's Zither and Autobiography as pseudo-intellectual name dropping(s)-oops!) which are ad hoc, at best. If there truly is "no self" then next time (shut the hell up) stop writing once that is stated because anything else you may have to say does not matter. I save my intense delving into ideas for those that have a "self." Aside from some interesting imagery, Zither has nothing of any kind to offer a reader. Do not waste your money on this book! If you find yourself needing a copy, then go to your local library and check it out first. I did not even want to give this book one star, but I had to in order to post this review.
   P.S. I'll see you in Boise at the reading, Ms. "no-selfapino!"

1 comments about Bookmarks: Reading in Black and White.

1. I really enjoyed this work of Ms. Holloway. It was very insightful on many levels. I appreciated her opening my eyes to the role that books played in the lives of many well known Black intellectual artist--lacking a better description. I also felted it was somewhat cathartic, for Ms. Holloway, because of the very personal and tragic event to have taken place in her life. Thank you Ms. Holloway for sharing. Blessings to you. A very enlightening read.

3 comments about Heritage of Power (Marie LaVeau/Mary Ellen Pleasant).

1. The older books of Mary Pleasant by Holdredge and others sensationalized a life that can be important to all people. They clearly have distorted Pleasant's story. As Bibbs says, "She (Pleasant) could love across boundaries of race and class without losing sight of her goal." At last a book that is fair and impartial, that documents what it asserts instead of the sensationalism of the past, and that dispells myths about this woman. Anyone who upholds the older books needs to examine them more closely for continuity. BRAVO to Bibbs and Heritage of Power!
   
   I for one, now can appreciate Pleasant and know why she is called "Mother of Civil Rights in California" and even a little more about why she was associated with voodoo and Marie LaVeau -- fascinating! It's amazing how people have clung to myths about this woman, when the truth is so fascinating.



2. This "book" is poorly written and poorly researched. This is a prime example of someone "whitewashing" the truth. Whites have done for so long and African-Americans are just following their example. Mary Ellen Pleasant was a weaver of great stories and a great con woman. "Voodoo" was just another tool in her bag of tricks that she used to manipulate very gullible people. Read Helen Holdrege's book for a really detailed chronicle of her life. Most African-Americans hate her book but they just can't handle the truth.



3. Finally! a great book which does not sensationalize the Vodou religion. It dispells many of the myths that surround our most famous Queen, Marie LaVeau as well as giving new insight into her life. As a tour guide in New Orleans I find this book invaluable. It provides a concise outline of the tenets, beliefs, and practices of the Vodou religion and the life of Marie Laveau as well as her protege Mary Ellen Pleasant (mother of Civil Rights in California). The greatest feature of this book is its point of view. Previous authors have concentrated on Vodou as seen from a white-Eurocentric Christian backgound. This book comes to you without the dogma and predjudices. Extremely recommendable for all who study the occult and for those who want to get beyond the zombies and curses of Hollywood "pop" vodou and come to understand the nature of this accepting and benevolent religion.

No comments about FROM BEHIND THE VEIL.

5 comments about Terry McMillan: The Unauthorized Biography.

1. I was suprised to see this 231 page bio on Terry McMillan. It did not matter whether it was "authorized" or not. So I had to read it because I LOVE & RESPECT Terry McMillan's books and have read all of them.
   
   The author of this book vents her frustrations of, in her opinion, having been dissed by T. McMillan. Ms. McMillan did not assist her in the research, or support this book at all. She quotes McMillan as saying, "I don't know why you people don't wait until I'm dead". This takes me back to my initial suprise of seeing that a bio had been written. I know what Terry McMillan's books and success has done for the African American readers and writers. She made history and opened the door for a lot of writers to follow her. YET...a bio already?
   
   The early years were boring. I'm sure it could have been more interesting if Diane Patrick would have had actual input from Terry McMillan. Instead she relied on historical facts of the time and place; also input from outsiders that had crossed paths with T. McMillan.
   
   The years after Terry left her hometown were more interesting. Her college education, employment history and skills are chronicled. Her time spent at the writer's colonies were discussed as well. Diane Patrick is a great researcher. She includes a wealth of history on other writers that she was able to link in with McMillan by any means necessary to make the book longer. She states that there are many black writers now and that there is room for all!
   
   Page 230 contains her reason why this bio was worthy of being written.



2. A well-deserved tribute to the lady that has indeed opened doors for many African American aspiring writers. Too bad she doesn't see the impact she's made. As another reader has said, the biography would have been much more fun had Terry been involved in its making.



3. Terry McMillan's name is immediately recognized in popular literature. Many fans and readers are curious about the life of this woman who created a new genre (urban romance) and opened the eyes of publishing companies that Black people do read books.
   Unfortunately this "Unauthorized Biography" of the author falls very short in telling us about Ms McMillan's life and what developed her as an author.

   What you get is a compilation of stories regarding Terry McMillan but nothing substantial about her life and art. In fact the vast majority of the book talks about the publishing industry, other Black authors, the latest gossip and other trite subjects that have nothing to do what so ever in dealing with the life of Terry McMillan. What is shared is information that has already been known. This biography doesn't tell us anything new. If only it would talk about Terry then it would hold your attention.

   Most of Patrick's biographical information is from the books (Mamma, How Stella Got Her Grove Back,etc.) that she finds are autobiographical in nature to McMillan's life. Novels are not facts and Ms Patrick should have taken the time to do some full scale research. Her excuses about McMillan being uncooperative doesn't hold water if you are truly dedicated and serious about doing justice to a major author.

   If you are looking for a definitive biography of McMillan leave this book on the shelf. If you want to be slightly entertained and not interested in the facts and development of this great writer by all means this is the book for you.




4. The Unauthorized Biography was an interesting and entertaining book. I did however feel, it left out a lot to be said for Tery's life !

   The story Dianne Patrick told was Terry's life thru her novels ! While she did get some co- operation from others and what other people have said in the past thru articles . It is clear from the begining Terry was not interested in her doing her biography !

   Which is the case in most unauthorized biographies ! I will applaud Dianne Patrick in her telling of the biography . She enlightened us on a lot of the things in the industry of writing ! She gave us more than a biography . I will admit if you are interested in Terry's life as it relates to her novels you might want to buy this book in the paperback version . As stated above I enjoyed the read, it just wasn't as much of a biography as I had thought ! I wished Terry had co-operated with Dianne. I think Dianne could have done a better (great) job with the facts ! Dianne did showed us how a phenomenal author came to be thru the eyes of her novels !




5. Terry is a very inspirational aurthor. She paved the way for many african american writers. I like her style because it is set a part from the rest of the other authors. I learned a lot about the history of black aurthors. She talks about when she was little she thought that only white people wrote books untill she came across a book with a black aurthor and she was amazed. She simply thought that there were no black people wrote books. She said that she came from a towm where it was boring and the people there had dead end jobs. She is from a very small town and she really wanted to get out of it so when she graduated she moved to California and didn't stop untill she met her solemate who she met in Jamacia. She wrote a book about it and it called How Stella got her groove back but she changed it up alittle. She wrote two books that they changed into a movie they did really well. She said in the book that she wasen't going to make any more movies no matter how much rhey offerd her. I really enjoyed reading this book because it helped me to realize some imformation that I didn't know and also was in the dark about

1 comments about An Expendable Man: The Near-Execution of Earl Washington, Jr..

1. Margaret Edds does a superb job of telling the story of how an innocent man, Earl Washington, was put on Virginia's death row and ended up spending 18 years in prison. I know she does a superb job because some years ago, when Washington had still not been pardoned but when things were looking hopeful, I researched this case and wrote a series of articles about it in the Culpeper News, the small-town paper in the town where Washington had been tried and convicted in January 1984.

   Edds is a professional reporter and writes like one, with very little commentary on the facts. As a result, the facts speak very powerfully for themselves. And what commentary Edds does offer I agree with. But I would quibble a bit. The main point she tries to make is that the errors made in this case were not unusual but a part of the system, that while a series of extremely lucky circumstances led to Washington's exoneration, there are likely many innocents who will never be freed. So far, I agree. But Edds also suggests that no one did anything really egregiously wrong, that everyone just did their job in a flawed system and the result was tragic.

   I beg to differ. Earl Washington was set up by the cruel and dishonest acts of the police and prosecutors. One of the policemen responsible for what happened in 1983 and 1984 is currently Sheriff of Culpeper, and Edds goes very easy on him. Read my articles and Edds' book and see what you think.

   Yes, we need to reform the system, but we also need to hold individuals responsible, and ultimately this book has that effect. A brilliant job of reporting!