5 comments about Pop: A Celebration of Black Fatherhood.

1. "Pop, A Celebration of Black Fatherhood" is the only book on my coffee table. Once I stacked several. Now, I want my guests to focus on the beautiful photography of one book, hence, "Pop."
   
   Carol Ross expresses her creativity in photography, not as a writer/ author. Because we, as people of color, are judged, initially and sometimes solely, by our physical appearance, I find the phtographs a powerful tool against the stereotype of our men.
   
   I have commented on this point at another review.



2. We gave this book to one of our son-in-laws for Father's Day. He loved it. The individual stories of each father are so compelling. The photos are beautiful.



3. This book is full of touching snapshots of fathers with their kids. It's heartwarming.



4. I bought this book for my dad for Christmas and he absolutely loved it!!! My dad is an amateur photographer, but takes pictures better than many professionals I know. The photography in this book was great and it moved him almost to tears. I would definitely recommend this book!



5. I enjoyed Daughters of Men: Portraits of African-American Women and Their Fathers so much that I immediately tried to find more books commending responsible Black fathers and going against what society leads the masses to believe about fatherhood in the Black community. With "Daughters of Men," there were great antecdotes in there and heartwrenching moments, but in this book, there were small paragraphs, a few sentences, or rarely a page from a father talking about what fatherhood means to them. The actual text wasn't all that interesting to read because it was pretty much saying the same thing. No unique stories that stood out for me. I read three quarters of the text and finally stopped and settled on looking at the phenomenal artwork. My two favorite shots are of a father and son sitting at the table eating massive burgers because it reminds me of my father and brother, and then a shot of a man giving a bicycle ride to his child on a baby bicycle seat. That reminded me of my days as a child riding with my father along Chicago's lakefront. There were a lot of photos in here that I could relate to, and I give the artwork five stars. However, considering it had both photography and text, I'm settling on three stars.

No comments about The New Abolitionists: (Neo)slave Narratives And Contemporary Prison Writings (Suny Series, Philosophy and Race).

No comments about Human Saliva.

5 comments about Black Livingstone: A True Tale of Adventure in the Nineteenth-Century Congo.

1. I think that this book gives an excellent, detailed look back on a greatly unknown black American explorer, William Henry Sheppard. Pagan Kennedy opens our eyes to history that is left out of history books. The Presbyterian missionary attempts to convert African tribes into "civilized Christians", but in the end fails because of his mishaps and disliking by a white missionary. I recommend this book to anyone interested in studying black American explorers, or anyone looking for information on the Belgium Congo.



2. Black Livingstone is a remarkable tale, illustrating hardships, history, and the dignity and determination associated with two courageous explorers. Pagan Kennedy accurately portrays 19th century Africa, and shows the light and beauty of the "dark continent". Readers are bombarded with delicate representations of barbaric and striking images. In turn, it enables the reader to experience a deeper feeling of empathy for the abused Africans. This novel raises questions as to whose way of thinking was most primitive. This ironic twist reveals that perhaps the most civilized are the most barbaric by nature. The character Sheppard shows the Pontius Pilate in all of us. That no matter how much we want to strive for goodness, our weaknesses and dark sides, can get the best of us. The novels descriptive nature allows readers to see the intimacy Sheppard shared with the Kuba people, as well as the lack of intimacy he did share with his wife. A notable highlight of this novel is demonstrated when a more tasteless and uncouth side of Sheppard is shown. It showcases the human nature of Sheppard, and most men in general. Although not a difficult read, this book is recommended to those who care for the well being for the human race.



3. The life and work of William Sheppard should be better known. He was an African-American who escaped Jim Crow in the U.S. to become a missionary in Africa. He co-founded a Christian mission in Africa where they had been none before and for a time ran it single-handedly. He was also an amateur anthropologist/ethnologist and became the first foreigner to establish contact with the Kuba people of central Africa and to describe their culture to the outside world. On top of all that, he documented the cruelty of the King Leopold's Congo rule. Unfortunately, it is not clear that "Black Livingstone: A True Tale of Adventure in the Nineteenth-Century Congo" by Pagan Kennedy is up to the job of elevating William Sheppard to his rightful place in history. The book is well written, worth reading, and might be valuable to anyone interested in Africa, the Congo, or Christian missionaries, but a lot of the story is missing and is filled in with generalities from Sheppard's time. It may be the case that original documents concerning Sheppard's life are lost, and this is the best that can be done, or perhaps another book can do better. Four stars, but barely.



4. Pagan Kennedy told the story of a African American missonary who wanted to convert the uncharted parts of the Congo to christianity. William Sheppard, the missionary, was very determined to complete his goal of converting the Congo even if it took his whole life. I Could not put the book down. The book was basically a detailed sum up of what really went on in the Congo. At some points in the book it almost seemed fictional because it was so hard to believe what was happening to him amd the people who were with him. The book was a very good read, but at some points hard to understand but that added to the suspense of the book. Overall the book was a very fun an interesting book to read. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn about the Congo or who wants to find a good book to read.



5. I agree that Pagan Kennedy is an excellent storyteller, and her telling of William Sheppard's story is spellbinding. Contrary to what some reviewers think, however, there is much more primary material available to the researcher than Kennedy seems to have used. Unfortunately, Black Livingstone is marred by too many suppositions--maybe, probably, perhaps, could have, should have, etc.--and the author attributes attitudes both to Sheppard and his associates that cannot be substantiated from records. William Phipps's biography, William Sheppard: Congo's African American Livingstone, presents a much more balanced picture of this important man's life and service.

5 comments about Sugar Ray.

1. To talk about the grandness of Sugar Ray Robinson may seem a commonplace, but in the annals of the boxing there has not been such kind of boxer who has displayed such style, refinement, effectiveness and elegance. 109 KO along his life and the fact to have recovered four times the World championship have become a true myth in this sport.



2. A champion among champions. One of the greatest of all time tells you his story - he is a fighter, not a writer. Don't expect pretty prose, expect a deep, moving look into the life of Sugar Ray Robinson.



3. it is what it is. you get Sugar Ray's story right from the man himself. its concise and thorough and entertaining and inspirational



4. Sugar Ray - 3.75 Stars
   
   I wanted to love this book. I wanted to love Sugar Ray - he was Ali's hero and in a lot of circles he is considered pound for pound the greatest boxer of all time!
   
   I wanted to love this book and Sugar Ray - but unfortunately I didn't.
   
   I almost feel like I'm committing some sort of sacrilege here - and I'm sad to say - I found Sugar Ray Robinson somewhat unlikable.
   
   The story is a great story - a very poor family's struggle and their support and love for each other - Sugar Ray's discovery of boxing and his rise to fame and fortune and the phenomenal and heart breaking comeback and the sad decline in the end. His story really is very interesting, but the book doesn't capture it. It doesn't capture the Sugar Ray magic and I felt that Sugar Ray wasn't 100% honest - he and the book were truthful, but I felt that there was something missing - that he wasn't completely honest.



5. Sugar Ray Robinson was One Of THe Greatest Fighters Ever.Very Uplifting of How He Overcame SO Much.He was a Great Warrior Inside of The Ring.Muhammad Ali called Him The Greatest.A Must Have.

2 comments about The Devil's Son-In-Law: The Story Of Peetie Wheatstraw & His Songs.

1. After he was killed in a railroad crossing accident in 1941, Peetie Wheatstraw warranted the front page and lead story in Down Beat. It may have helped that his last recorded songs were with dark irony entitled Hearseman Blues and Bring Me Flowers While I'm Living. But the fact remains that Wheatstraw was a highly original and influential blues singer, one of the central figures of the 1930s. Certain of his lyrics and stylistic innovations were widely imitated, and it was a measure of his popularity that he recorded throughout the Great Depression. A powerful indicator of Wheatstraw's deep connection to black culture is that his records billed him as "The Devil's Son-in-Law" and he called himself the "High Sheriff from Hell."
   When Paul Garon's The Devil's Son-in-Law was first published in 1971, it was one of the first biographies of a blues singer from the 1930s; there are still only a handful. Like Chris Strachwitz' Bessie, also once again available in a revised edition, republication of Garon's book is well-deserved, overdue, and has some fresh surprises.
   William Bunch, born in 1904 in Tennessee, began recording under the name Peetie Wheatstraw in 1930. Relatively little is known about his early life, though the clues Garon discovers are tantalizing and point to a rupture with a righteous family.
   Wheatstraw's highly original song style has a number of intriguing elements that are not easy to disentangle. His vocals are by turns shouted, growled, delivered with raucous energy, and sometimes move toward a twisted wistfulness. Though his lyrics sometimes look flat on the printed page, Wheatstraw's delivery endows them with remarkable power. His Crazy With the Blues, for example, begins with the humdrum line, "I woke up this morning, just crazy with the blues." But in the course of four stanzas, with exquisite timing and intentional vocal sloth, Wheatstraw delivers on a promise of self-denigration that conceals profound insight into what it means to be - well, thoroughly sane.
   Or again, if you thought, like I did, that John Henry Barbee (a/k/a William George Tucker) must have written Six Weeks Old Blues, a Vocalion issue from 1938, you should know that Wheatstraw recorded the first version seven years earlier. His original has the same taut quality (and virtually identical lyrics) as Barbee's masterpiece. Six Weeks Old must be one of the rare blues to offer a neonatal perspective on maternal filicide, and is of a piece with Wheatstraw's tendency to fuse wry humor with severe emotional distress.
   Finally, one of the most fascinating aspect of this new edition is the attention Garon pays to William Bunch's alter ego, together with his sobriquets, the "Devil's Son-in-Law" and the "High Sheriff from Hell." But over the years it has become apparent that Bunch borrowed these names from black folk culture. This, rather than adulation, may explains why another singer, Harmon Ray, was "Peetie Wheatstraw's Buddy" and Jimmie Gordon was "Peetie Wheatstraw's Brother." Ralph Ellison wrote about a character named "Peter Wheatstraw" in his novel Invisible Man, and Rudy Rae Moore starred in his comic film Petey Wheatstraw in 1977. All these incarnations strongly suggest that this tradition endowed Wheatstraw with a distinctive allure. "These designations," writes Garon, "gave Peetie a sense of power, opposition, and resistance and it gave his listeners a figure of great majesty with whom they could identify."
   Sixty-odd years on, those qualities still come through with surprising force. Although many readers will be familiar with at least some of Wheatstraw's recordings, it is fortunate that this new edition of the book includes a superb CD with 24 of Wheatstraw's best titles.
   John G. Simmons



2. The Devil's Son-In-Law: The Story Of Peetie Wheatstraw & His Songs is an amazing full-length study devoted to a great African-American blues singer. Facts, lyrics, meticulous deconstruction of details, and an expertly researched background make "The Devil's Son-In-Law" a must-read for fans of Peetie Wheatstraw's contributions to music. An accompanying CD allows blues fans to sample some of the best of Wheatstraw's rhythms. Also available in a hardcover edition, The Devil's Son-In-Law is a welcome addition to personal and academic American Music History collections.

5 comments about Front&Center.

1. An amazing read! Thanks Carlton for sharing your spotlight to help guide others on their life's journey.



2. i couldn't put it down. touching, insightful, candid, fascinating. Carlton destroys his demons with courage and love, and finds peace in forgiveness along the way. a must-read.



3. WOW! What a book about discovery? I was not expecting to love this book but I did! It lets us all know, we can rise above our insecurities, confront our fears and begin to feel alive.
   Carlton, Thanks for being such a talented writer.
   All the best
   Jo Patrick



4. CARLTON ROCKS
   BEING HONEST IS THE MOST DIFFICULT THING FOR ANY OF US TO BE IN DAILY LIFE... I AM NOT TALKING ABOUT TELLING THE TRUTH... I AM TALKING SOUL BARING HEART WRENCHING WHITE KNUCKLE HONESTY!!!
   THIS BOOK IS A BEACON OF LIGHT TO PEOPLE WHO NEED TO FIND THE COURAGE TO LIVE THE TRUTH...
   
   I BOUGHT 5 FOR MY FRIENDS!!!



5. We live in a world where people hide behind masks! The mask of sexuality, drug addiction, and approval addiction. Fear is the cause of masks. I appreciated Front & Center because it displayed courage as Carlton Wilborn fought his fears. It is truly transparency at its finest. Carlton's writing paints beautiful pictures about his struggles. He draws you into his heart and many of us can relate with the life changing choices that developed him into who he is now. His journey is encouraging and insightful to those who seek the success he has, which is true peace and freedom! I highly recommend this memoir you will be blessed as you experience the transformation that took place in this book. It's not easy living life "Front & Center", but after reading this book you will be confident that it's possible to do it transparent and fearless!

5 comments about Love In Vain: A Vision Of Robert Johnson.

1. For me, it was the "Notes" area that accompanies the 'script' that make this book highly recommendable. In fact, the information in the "Notes" is a fine read by itself!
   
   The story of Johnson is part myth, part dream and occassionally part fact. This book/script is best when read as part of a larger look at Johnson and the Blues. In other words, read this - but don't stop here or you won't be getting the bigger picture.
   
   Recommended for blues or Johnson fans. Worth the read.



2. A good script based on Robert Johnson. If you like movie scripts this one is very readable.



3. Any author who tries to su up the life of Robert Johnson is going to have a hard time. The life of this man is a mystery beyond belief. The one thing that stands out is the music. I really feel that owning Johnson music is better than any book. Pick up the two CD set that has the booklet. Read that booklet and then put the CD's in and get ready for an experience this book can not give you. This book is good after you have done this. The music helps explain things a little more.



4. It's a long way from the Mississippi Delta to Australia but this screenplay allowed me to visualise and feel the passion and raw edge to the music and landscape of Robert Johnson. It seems a shame that no Director has been brave enough to attempt to put this tale onto film as it could surely be an outstanding work if properly attacked. The comprehensive attached notes provide the reader with an opportunity to fill in any gaps in their knowledge to the point where one can almost picture the juke joints with their duelling musicians. The brutality of life in this community was shocking to me and the early death of Robert Johnson now seems to be less of a tragedy and more of an inevitability.



5. I never read anything like this before--it was like watching an amazing movie in written form. This unique book is an undiscovered gem.

4 comments about Incurable Blues: The Troubles and Triumph of Blues Legend Hubert Sumlin.

1. Hubert Sumlin is one of the most individualistic guitar stylists in the blues of the past fifty years and one of the nicest persons you could ever meet. He is best known for his association with the legendary Howlin' Wolf on which his mercurial, unpredictable guitar played so important a role on so many recordings. Will Romano has written a bio of Hubert, "Incurable Blues: The Trouble & Triumph of Blues Legend Hubert Sumlin "(Backbeat Books) that recounts Hubert's life and music from growing up in the Delta and learning to play in various juke bands, his association with the Wolf down in the Memphis area and later coming north to Chicago where he became an integral part of Wolf's band and music through the end of Wolf's life and the thirty odd years since then with Hubert carrying on Wolf's musical legacy as well as trying to establish a bit of his own separate from Wolf. A premise of this book is the Wolf is one of the great and influential blues guitarists and Romano tries to establish this through interviews with blues and rock musicians, discussions of a wide variety of recordings and performances that Hubert was a part of. It is not a completely successful book in part because the author focuses on the testimonials of rock legends to make his case of Hubert's impact and influence, but while Sumlin's best recordings (mostly those with wit) exhibit his brilliant originality and invention, there are few examples other than testimonials to show his influence in the blues world. The fact that Eric Clapton may have pushed to get Sumlin involved in the London Howlin' Wolf sessions when producer Marshall Chess may not have wanted him says more about Clapton's understanding of Wolf's recordings and what Sumlin brought to them. Chess' focus may have been on rock stars to sell this music but Clapton helped insure the music would come out right. Still, the admiration of many blues-influenced rock superstars does little to establish Hubert's influence compared to other equally talented blues guitarists. The discussion of the various recordings, that post-date the Wolf's passing is fascinating but too lengthy and while recognizing Hubert's limitations as a vocalist tries to make these as more important and seminal than some are. I am particularly thinking about the lengthy discussion about "About Them Shoes," the recent Sumlin album that had Clapton, David Johansson, Bob Margolin, Paul Oscher, David Maxwell and others join him on a collection of mostly songs associated with Muddy Waters songs, which resulted in a pleasant recording, but one not nearly as remarkable as Romano suggests, as the grooves in Muddy's music does not lend itself to allow Sumlin's playing to shine. Of course part of the success of Wolf's recordings might have been Willie Dixon's production and shaping of the rhythms. Certainly songs like "Hidden Charms" and "Do the Do," are otherwise forgettable but for the hot, tight band, Wolf's ability to make anything sound good and Sumlin's staggering playing. Also for a book that chronicles Sumlin's life there is no mention of Big Mac's sixties Jewel 45, "Rough Dried Woman", which sported Sumlin's guitar or a late sixties, early seventies Sunnyland Slim session with members of Wolf's band, along with Walter Horton backing the legendary pianist not to mention terrific albums from then by Willie Williams and ANdrew 'Blueblood' McHahon. Sumlin's guitar was prominently featured on this spirited date which strikes me as a lot better than some of the European American Folk Blues Festival recordings that the author here praises. This is a flawed, overlong book by a fan, but it book does get a sense of Hubert's shy and sweet personality that has led many to really love him and when he does get to play, he still can blow one away.



2. For anybody who loves the blues and wants to learn as much as possible about the music and artists who made it, Will Romano has written a must-read book. The power of Romano's book comes in the insights he gives not only into Sumlin the musician and blues great, but Sumlin the man. The amount of painstaking research shows that Romano was able to get as close to the man and the truth as probably anybody. This is not dry, academic research effort, but popular history done by a journalist who is an excellent writer and storyteller. And there can be little doubt about the importance of Romano's subject. When you listen to the records of Howlin' Wolf, you hear the impact of Sumlin on the postwar Chicago blues. This was a musician who not only was present at the creation but helped shape that creation. And the impact Sumlin has had on musicians ranging from Eric Clapton to Michael Hill is testimony to his importance. The musicians know that this was not a minor figure. The recent deaths of R.L. Burnside and Gatemouth Brown underlines the importance of getting these stories on record while we still have the chance. These artists are keys to helping us not just enjoy the blues but understand where this valuable part of our culture comes from. Romano has written a book that does just that with Hubert Sumlin, which is why is will have a lasting impact.



3. Some time ago, at a show in NYC, I got the chance to see Hubert play and was just amazed. Not only at the music I was hearing...but at the vibe that he exuded. At the end of the show I was lucky enough to briefly meet him..and I can tell you that he just put you in a good mood the moment he spoke. After the show I was interested in hearing more of his music and while searching for some Howlin' Wolf tunes I came across this book..I immediately picked it up and it was a great read.
   
   I really liked that the book was different than most bios. It seemed to focus more on Hubert's character, and I can tell you that the sense I got in that brief meeting shined thru in this book. I got the sense that Hubert's wonderful and unique guitar playing has always been a part of his personality. And his personality, as much as his musical abilities, makes Hubert special. I really enjoyed this book...and am enjoying Hubert's music - especially the music he made with Wolf. You can sense something different in the music he made with Wolf...and after reading the book and understanding that relationship I can see why.



4. Hubert Sumlin is a wonderful and unique guitar player, and this is a well meaning but unnecessary book. Hubert Sumlin is important as a historical figure because he was the guitar player for 23 years in the Howling Wolf Band. Since Wolf's death in 1976 Sumlin has continued to perform and record but he has been unable to establish much of an artistic identity apart from being Howling Wolf's guitar player. That's why a decent biography of Howling Wolf, such as Segrest and Hoffman's "Moanin' At Midnight," covers the historically relevant portion of Hubert Sumlin's career adequately. Alternatively, "Rollin' and Tumblin': Postwar Blues Guitarists," edited by Jas Obrect, is a good compilatation of articles covering Hubert Sumlin and many other fine underappreciated blues guitar players as well. Both books are more carefully presented and more informative on the subject than this one.

1 comments about Ike Turner: King of Rhythm.

1. When soul musician Ike Turner was nineteen, his band traveled to Memphis and predated Chuck Berry's auto songs with the winning Rocket 88. His musical achievements and life sky-rocketed afterwards, and John Collins tracks Turner's evolution and achievement in his fine biography Ike Turner: King Of Rhythm. Myths are considered and realities profiled in an excellent presentation.