5 comments about Beneath the Underdog: His World as Composed by Mingus.

1. The first page tells it: if you like that, read on.
   He sets the stage by describing 3 parts of his psyche: the one who wants to love and be loved; the one who rages over mistreatment; and the detached, cool observer. These 3 interplay in the most vibrant revelation of a musician's inner life I've seen, and I've made a living with a guitar. Passionate, vulnerable alternating with macho, and confused alternating with crystal clarity, Mingus puts out his experience like an abstract painter might. it reminded me a bit of the biography of Malcom X and "Manchild in the Promised Land." This is nothing like the simple factual account by Miles Davis in his autobio. Beautiful, ugly, utterly personal, it put me both inside of Mingus and outside of society. It's one of the most touching books ever for this reader.



2. Those looking for anything like a conventional musical bio should go to "Mingus, a Critical Biography" by Brian Priestley; "Underdog" isn't that at all; it's an artifact of Mingus' peculiar world-view at a particularly hard time in his life.
   
   
   Was he mentally ill? Well, Mingus, long noted for fits of depression (after finding his first substantial success in the music industry, he nevertheless worked for the post office for a while) and a volcanic temper, channeled it for art: he was probably the first musician ever to release an album with liner notes from his psychoanalyst, and in "Underdog", he recounts checking himself into Bellvue Hospital, in an ill-considered search for "some rest". That, too, yielded him a song, "Hellview of Bellvue/Lock 'em Up", an offer of a lobotomy, and raised the interesting question: if a half-black jazz musician in 1960's America believed that people were out to steal from him and oppress him, was he acutely paranoid, just observant, or both?
   
   Sexually escapist, and scatological? Well, yes, but before feminism, or politcal correctness, and not without pay-back: the man who bragged of trying to bury his misery in [...] and dope never finds them to be a satisfactory release, and after all the orgies, writes a tune called "Half-Mast Inhibition". . .
   
   So, listen to the music first. See the short b&w documentary. If you want bio information or critical analysis, go to the Priestly book. Then put on "Black Saint", "Mingus Am Uh", or "Blues and Roots", and read this.



3. I was looking for a book on his music. This book belongs in Fantasy. It is a play by play of Mr. Mingus' sex life. I have no desire to research him any further.



4. Genius genius genius, with thriving spellbound ingeniousness, billowed with an ego that would knock the head of anyone who was within eighthundred of his forehead. If you are going to read this book please be prepared to pull your pants off and get wet like a tigress inexorably, repeatedly, being stabbed in the belly by a machette. genius genius genius.......



5. To start, this book is not bad enough to turn a reader away from the whole genre. That statement is ridiculous. Charles Mingus is not a writer, the mission of this autobiography is to let the reader know what jazz's roots were. Parts of this biography are on the disturbing side.
   
   In a postive side, the book has a meaning. It stands for all the great jazz players who were brought down by drugs and prostitution. It shows how even Charles Mingus, possible the greatest jazz bass player to ever play, was victim to this. Racism stood in the way of his success. Jazz listeners assume that because a player is currently a hero or jazz giant today, they did not have a wealthy life. Because of this, they set out to earn money on the streets through drugs and sex.
   
   This book is not superbly written, but it allows people to realize what jazz has been through.

5 comments about No Price too High: A Pentecostal Preacher Becomes Catholic.

1. The book plots the story of Alex Jones', a black Pentecostal minister's, conversion to Catholicism. The story is familiar and I agree with his logic: simply, that the Catholic Church is the oldest Church and the true successor to the Church Fathers. Anyone who looks at the facts will find there are no real arguments against this: "To be deep in history is to cease to be Protestant."
   
   My gripe with this book is that Deacon Jones doesn't really prove to a critic's satisfaction why the Apostolic Church Fathers views aren't merely 'interpretation' too, over against the fundamentalist view that they are presenting the pure Bible. He tries but I don't think he fully succeeds or spends enough time pointing out that fundamentalists DON'T read Scripture in a strictly literal and non-interpretative manner.
   
   I used to be a 'Pentecostal'. a white Pentecostal and yet having read Jones I actually think my Elim Pentecostal denomination was really "second wave" charismatic. Jones' Pentecostalism was the hard-core 'real deal'. I was genuinely shocked to read of Jones' account of racism from U.S. whites in the mid-twentieth century, and the African-American Christian's quite understandable embitterment. It's very interesting to read of Jones' post-conversion struggle to assimulate into a largely Eurocentric Catholic Church in America.
   
   This book is no triumphalistic pro-Catholic spiel. Jones' story is a true human interest story about the struggles of converting from lively, emotionalistic "soul religion" to an often stagnant but historical and intellectually legitimate Catholicism sadly marred by nominalism and Eurocentric practices. This book wasn't quite what I expected. I felt a bit down after reading it.
   (Being English I've posted this review on the U.K. site too)



2. A famous convert from the past century, John Newman, once quipped, "The fathers made me Catholic." Karl Keating, author of Catholicism and Fundamentalism: The Attack on "Romanism" by "Bible Christians", called the Fathers of the Church, "The most dangerous men in Christianity." Alex Jones knows what they meant. Alex was a successful evangelical pastor with a respectable congregation of pentecostal Christians when, in the late 1990's, he began to explore what the early church was really like. Following the discipline of a good historian, Alex began to dig deeply into the primary sources of the Apostolic Fathers and what he found called him to action.
   
   The actions Alex began to take seemed simple enough at first. He would share his findings with his congregation and make changes to their service to more closely align it with the early church. It did not take long for his congregation to notice that there was something all too familiar in these changes. They realized the early church had not disappeared as they had supposed but that it was not in the cultural norms of their experience either. Instead, the early church had changed little. In fact, the early church service was alive and well in the Catholic church. Alex's world began to fall apart. His congregation began to see where things were leading in some case faster than he did himself. Attendance began to dwindle. Good friends began to leave. Those who remained felt compelled to action as well - some could not hold back any longer when Alex informed them what he had to do. Many who had listened to what he had learned from the Fathers were compelled to the same action as Alex and his family. And in one day more than 50 evangelicals from Alex's church converted to the Catholic faith together.
   
   The cost was high for Alex in particular. Relationships with his congregation, friends, and especially his family, were strained to breaking in some cases. But Alex was determined that no price was too high in pursuit of the truth that he had discovered. If it would cost him everything, he knew he had to have an authentic relationship with Jesus or no relationship at all. God intervened once more in his life and brought his family through in victory over those challenges together.
   
   With the pathos and joyful strains to be expected of a charismatic preacher like Alex, he conveys his story. But it does not stop with only his testimony. Following his story, his wife, Donna, shares her own story of learning to trust where God was leading. Both had to challenge their own assumptions and biases. Both grew to love the church they once distrusted and even feared. Neither knowing where the road of faith would lead, both learned from those most dangerous men that it led to Rome. Their story will stir the hearts of fellow evangelicals to follow the Fathers and saints who have gone before. It can stir the hearts of Catholics to a new sense of the treasure they have in the ancient tradition of faith. Be careful, Rome's revival fires might just touch you too. It reminds us of the lyrics to that old evangelical revival hymn:
   "Revive us again;
   Fill each heart with Thy love;
   May each soul be rekindled
   With fire from above.
   
   Hallelujah! Thine the glory.
   Hallelujah! Amen.
   Hallelujah! Thine the glory.
   Revive us again.!"



3. Before I heard Alex Jones speak in person for three hours I had no intention of buying his book. I thought I could get his message by listening. I did get it - and I wanted more. Because the book was written "as told to Diane Hanson", it is very much like he talked. I did laugh a lot more while hearing him because he has a great sense of humor, and a gentle but dynamic delivery, which for me added much to the impact of his message.
   
   Other reviewers have done a good job of outlining the content of the book. What I want to add is that for me Alex Jones articulated what it is that brought me back to practicing my faith, and keeps me there, in spite of many challenges I find in the lack of responsiveness of much of the hierarchy and missing some of the very dimensions of spiritual life that Alex Jones had in his previous Church. I would strongly recommend this book to any "cradle Catholic" for an enriched perspective of what they have received by being born into Catholicism. Hopefully, some day we can keep what we have received and have it further enriched by what Alex Jones has to share with us.



4. This book very simply glorifies horrible things done by a misguided man. It's not that he became a Catholic that is so troubling, but rather what he did to his congregation in the wake of his missteps. He destroyed a church, broke up a family, and hurt more people than I can count. So what's the next step? Write a book about it and profit from their misery.



5. "No Price Too High" is the true story of Pastor Alex Jones' movement from being a lifelong Pentecostal to being baptized a Catholic (with his wife and 50% of his congregation) in 2000 at the age of 60. In doing so, Jones had to abandon his career, the church he founded, and face innumerable personal and professional obstacles.
   
   Jones' journey towards Catholicism began with a Wednesday night Bible Study when he asked participants "How would you like to get into a time machine and go back two thousand years to the time of the early Church?" They liked the idea so Jones' embarked on an investigative journey into Church history - a journey in which he discovered the writings of the Apostolic Fathers, Apostolic Tradition, and the truth about the Catholic Church.
   
   Jones' provides ample details about his theological "conversion" and the difficulty of accepting a Church he believed all his life to be "not Christian." He shares his experience of coming "face-to-face" with authentic Christianity as it was handed down by the Apostles to the first generation of bishops, the Apostolic Fathers. And why he could not turn back.
   
   While "No Price Too High" highlights what he misses and the barriers presented by the US Catholic Church to non-euro centric cultures, Jones has, through recent travels, experienced African (has many of the those things he misses) and Eastern versions of the Church. He has found the Catholic Church to be truly one and catholic (universal).
   
   Jones does not claim the Catholic Church to be perfect and without its problems. He knows that there are "imperfect people (in the Church) with hidden agendas and imperfect people struggling with racism, duplicity, immorality, injustice, hypocrisy, and spiritual lethargy" - the usual list of human failings. But as a former pastor of two Pentecostal congregations, he knows that all who work in any human endeavor encounter the same human failings!
   
   "No Price Too High" closes with a narrative by Jones' wife, Donna, detailing her difficult journey towards Catholicism. She was "purely Pentecostal" and did not follow blindly.
   
   Alex and Donna Jones' inspirational story will be of interested to spiritual seekers, particularly Catholics who have left the Catholic Church for Evangelical and Pentecostal churches and non-Catholics enrolled in RICA programs (required for entry into the Catholic Church). Seeing the Catholic Church through the eyes of the Joneses, who had to dig deep in abandoning their lifelong-held faith, will be an eye-opener for seekers and/or those who are confused about the Catholic Church.
   
   Alex Jones serves today as a Deacon in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit.
   
   
   
   

5 comments about Autobiography of a Brown Buffalo.

1. By reading this book before watching the movie, you will see what Dr. Gonzo's life was like right before he decides to become a lawyer. If you have ever felt alienated by American ideals, regardless of your race, you will relate to this book. Acosta's writing is good and he does a great job of describing what the character is feeling when he encounters life, drugs, and ulcers.



2. It is easy to dismiss this book. The hallucinations and drug-induced rants become a little exaggerated and tedious. Although, his friend and partner in crime, Hunter S. Thompson, would detail similar bizarre experiences in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, their intent seemed different. Whereas HST played with fantasy in social satire as a form of comic relief, OZA seems to want you to believe it to be fact...or at least for you to trust that he believed it.
   With that said, the story is one of the most self-deprecating, odd, and entertaining autobiographies I have ever read. It can easily stand alone as study of a Mexican-American struggle for the American Dream, as well as companion book to Hunter S. Thompson enthusiasts. Regardless of your intent on picking this book up, OZA will amuse, disgust, and surprise you...making this a worthwhile read.

   On a sidenote: This book truly makes you wonder, when HST and OZA joined up, who influenced who more.




3. Strong writing in places, but Acosta's style is sometimes hard to follow. Overall, I found the book to be meandering, formless, and kind of dull. The "Chicano in search of his identity" stuff is pure marketing hype. "A Chicano in search of beer, chicks and drugs" would be more like it--but there isn't much of that here, either, in case you're looking for a story of epic debauchery by Hunter Thompson's Samoan attorney. Acosta comes off as a fairly conservative character--he was a Christian missionary in Panama at one time--and basically apolitical at this point in his life. He wanders around the country, goes to bars, tries peyote, smokes some weed, drinks a lot of beer, but it's all pretty low key and, personally, I never thought this kind of thing was very interesting to begin with. Still, Acosta is a fairly sympathetic character and he's a better writer than most. This isn't a bad book, but it isn't that great, either--read Hunter Thompson instead



4. This book is one of the most memorable I have read in many years. Oscar lived an incredible life, and his ability to render it in this book is consistently amazing. I've read this book about three times, and I reflect on the trajectory of Oscar's life often.



5. I heard about Oscar'Zeta' Acosta basically from reading Hunter S. Thompson's book but became quickly fascinated by Dr. Gonzo and wanted to know more about him. I was pleased to find out he had also written some books and was even more pleased to find out he was(is?) a very good writer. Truly an inspiration to anyone who has ever felt their identity as an american is something that they have had to come to grips with. Apart from that serious subtext, it also a very entertaining and amusing story that rolls along, introducing some interesting and memorable characters and situations. A passionate human being wrote this book and it is filled with all the honesty and humanity of someone bearing his soul to achieve a greater sense of genuine self which for Oscar Acosta means being "A Brown Buffalo"

5 comments about Twelve Years a Slave.

1. I had to read this book for school and was very suprised because the story takes place in and around my hometown. I had always saw the "Northup Trail" signs but never knew what they were about until I read this book. I grew up in Avoyelles Parish so this story really hit home. It is an awesome but tragic story everyone should read.



2. While browsing thru the Boston Public Library in 1970 I accidentally came across this book. I have read it at least ten times over the years, have kept in touch with the editor, Sue Eakin, an expert on the South and cultural matters of this kind. This book is an inspiration to everyone. You will be amazed at the tenacity and sheer courage of Northup as he makes his way thru 12 long years on the plantation, and remember that he did not KNOW it would be 12 years. Every Jan 3 or 4th I wake up and think to myself, this is the day Solomon was set free! This book is clearly a treasure that is relatively unknown. You will not read this book only once-----



3. This book presents its readers with a first-hand account of not only the cruelties of United States slavery itself, but more importantly it touches upon the ways in which other areas of social life were negatively influenced by the institution. Solomon Northup was a black man who was born a free black man in New York in 1808. In 1841, Northup was kidnapped in Boston and take to the south to be sold as a slave. He spent the next 12 years as a slave, and this book was written after he was rescued in 1853.
   
   Many people have associated this book with "Uncle Tom's Cabin" ever since the former was published. While the story line is not exactly the same, there are a lot of similarities. Most notably, both books have evil Northerners and benevolent Southerners, a feature that I think is too often overlooked. This adds credibility to Northup's account, insofar as he does not simply condemn all Southerners. Other themes, such as the break-up of slave families, the harsh treatment of slaves (especially female slaves who had the misfortune of handsomeness), and camaraderie between slaves also reflect those written about in "Uncle Tom's Cabin".
   
   In the past the credibility of Northup's work had been in question, especially since a newspaper worker helped him write his account. However, in light of the vast number of particular details the Northup provides and the extent to which those details match up with other records, historians generally view this work as an authentic and truthful account of a free man sold into slavery. This is an incredible read, and the fact that it is a real account makes it even more fascinating. This book should be required reading for high school or college American history classes that cover the Civil War era.



4. A compelling and wrenchingly honest first-hand account of slavery, many
   times breaking my heart and making me think of the children of Africa
   today. A new book, "The Last Witness From a Dirt Road" which takes
   place in 1946, was given to me after commenting about Solomon Northup's
   narrative, and it could almost be a sequel to Twelve Years a Slave,
   written a 100 years later by the son of an overseer on a plantation
   along the banks of Bayou Bouef in the same location in Louisiana. Old
   social and economic orders seemed little changed from 1841 to 1946,
   tragic, heart rendering but both books are riveting and honest, are
   timely and universal.



5. Until I read Solomon Northup's riveting first hand account of his life as a slave, I had only imagined the degredation and cruelty with absolute and total submission by those who had no choices, no chances for liberty. Early in my own life in the 1930s, as a young boy and son of a sugar plantation overseer along the banks of Bayou Bouef in Louisiana, the exact same location as Solomon's narrative, I recognized the lingering stains of an enslaved society, in my friends...the field hands who lived in the Quarters. As a white kid, I had chances and choices, however choices based on the social and economic order that existed in my life and where I lived, which in reality, cast their net over my life, too. I've written my own narrative...my book "The Last Witness From a Dirt Road" which after reading Twelve Years a Slave, I see that my narrative could almost stand as a sequel to Solomon's book, but written a hundred and fifty years later. My heart is still broken for all the souls whose lives were so badly tormented and taken by a vile system devised and placed on humankind. The lesson: We must be diligent and precise in our approach to anyone whose ideology in religion and politics, teaches or wishes, to take away or diminish the freedom of man. I'm grateful for the courage and power of Solomon Northup.

5 comments about Daughters of Men: Portraits of African-American Women and Their Fathers.

1. I gave this book to our son-in law for Father's Day. He was very touched, especially since it focused upon the relationship of Black men to their daughters. He has two girls. I also gave a copy of the book to my husband who is the father of our two grown daughters. I often tell him that I have no doubt that my daughters chose the men they did because of him.



2. It's very touching how each woman, known and unknown spoke with passion about the relationship they had with their father.



3. I was in a bookstore and happened to glance down and see the cover of this book. I picked it up, browsed through it, and immediately scurried to buy it shortly after. What a great idea to highlight Black men who are not fitting the stereotype of not taking care of their children, showing how daughters and fathers can be so tight, and giving readers a little personal view of some of our favorite female celebrities. By me being from a family full of responsible fathers, I was thinking "Finally!" It was fun for me to read about other proud daughters like myself. The story that stood out to me the most was one of the saddest ones: Cathy Hughes of Radio One, Inc. I was terrified for her father during his audit, and for him to live through that and still be such a phenomenal father makes me want to curtsy for that man. There were plenty of other good stories from celebrities I'm a fan of (Beyonce and Kelly of "Destiny's Child," Tisha Campbell-Martin, Nicole Ari Kodjoe, Aisha Tyler, Malinda Williams, and Meagan Good).
   
   I was a little bored with the celebrities I didn't know. However, by me reading this book, it was also a Black history lesson to me to be introduced to sistas who have done such positive things in the community and to learn about their success.
   
   I took the idea from this book, thought about the uncreative Christmas gift that I got my father (i.e., gift card), and immediately found a picture of him and I to print out. Before long, I had an essay for him too, and I will present it to him on Christmas Eve (when we open our gifts). I also decided to read "Pop: A Celebration of Black Fatherhood" and both books gave me the motivation to create a dedication page/picture for my brother, my godfather, and my grandfather too. I hope they appreciate their gifts the same way I appreciated this book. Thanks for the idea and your work, Rachel Vassel.



4. This book is very inspirational in terms of outlining the many facets of relationships between dads and daughters. I liked the fact that the author chose from several different genres of women. I wished, however, that there were some common women amongst the group. Each of these women were celebraties, CEOs or claimed some high-powered position in their respective fields. It would've been nice to include highlights of the very average relationships that go on everyday with women and dads who are not at all famous. Overall, however, the book was very gratifying. I am giving it to my daughter's father for Christmas, along with my own essay on what a great dad he has become thus far.



5. I really enjoyed this book. I gave a copy to my husband. The photos are great, the words often brought me to tears. This is a book that praises the efforts of good fathers and gives fathers-to-be a glimpse of what it takes to have a positive impact on their child--so little, yet sooo much.

3 comments about Ella Baker and the Black Freedom Movement: A Radical Democratic Vision (Gender and American Culture).

1. This was a great book. Ella Baker was ahead of het time.This is a great read if you like the history of the civil right movement.Ms. Baker I hope to meet you in heaven.



2. Dr. Ransby provides a well-structured and insightful biography of one of the most important, yet least well-known, leaders of the civil rights movement in the United States. This book is strongly recommended for any student of modern U.S. history.



3. Ella Baker must be the most underrated figure in U.S. history. There are plenty of Presidents who have done less to shape their own times than Ella Baker. She decisively shaped two of the most important national civil rights organizations--the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference--and was the single most decisive figure in a third--the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. Only Martin Luther King Jr. can be considered a rival in importance to the African American freedom movement, and yet most Americans have never even heard of Ella Baker. This exhaustively researched and well written biography should go a long way toward filling that gap.

   This is a thoughful, analytical, and well-told story about a uniquely important American political life. It is a work of central importance in United States history and especially the history of the African American freedom movement. It is a cutting edge work of black women's history, too. I plan to buy a stack of them for Christmas presents, and to assign this book to my students for many years to come.

5 comments about Only the Ball Was White: A History of Legendary Black Players and All-Black Professional Teams.

1. Robert Peterson (1925-2006) wrote this pioneering history in 1970 when many ex-players were living. Drawing on interviews, Peterson makes the Negro Leagues come to life. Readers learn of stars like Bullet Joe Rogan, Satchel Paige, Josh Gibson ("the black Babe Ruth"), Cool Papa Bell, Oscar Charleston, etc., and teams like the Kansas City Monarchs, Homestead Grays, Indianapolis Clowns, Chicago American Giants, etc. The Negro Leagues were one of the largest black-owned businesses, though a couple teams (Pittsburgh Crawfords) were run by racketeers. Readers learn about Rube Foster, who founded the Negro National League in 1920, the annual All-Star game in Chicago's Comiskey Park, barnstorming against white big leaguers, and travel conditions that ranged from decent to difficult and discriminatory. There is also an appendix with team rosters and yearly standings.
   
   The Negro Leagues began to fade as Jackie Robinson joined the Dodgers in 1947, and folded completely in 1960 - a sad day signalling a better era. Then this book arrived to bring attention to the Leagues and its players. One, Ted "Double-Duty" Radcliffe (1902-2005), became a fixture at White Sox games, signing autographs, and throwing out the first ball on his 101st and 102nd birthdays.
   
   Today fans can visit The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, buy team merchandise, and enjoy several good books on the subject, including I WAS RIGHT ON TIME (by Buck O'Neil), BASEBALL'S GREAT EXPERIMENT and several others. Peterson deserves at least a little credit for this.



2. A scholarly effort by a great Negro Leagues historian, evidenced by Oxford University Press imprint. Highly informative, a tremendous read! Five-star plus*****



3. "Negro baseball," writes Robert W. Peterson, "was both a gladsome thing and a blot on America's conscience."
   
   And in that one sentence, Peterson defines the glory of Negro Leagues baseball and how it also magnified the sordid race hatred of this nation, with the ramifications still being felt today.
   
   When the book was published in 1970, the Negro Leagues was not really known by a whiter (oops, I mean "wider") audience. Peterson, who had a journalism background as an editor for the New York World-Telegram and The Sun, set out on this journey in 1966 by interviewing players, studying microfilm of black newspapers and delving into game accounts & features in sporting publications.
   
   He traces the history of some of the greatest players and teams ever in the game from post-Civil War to 1947. Along with a history highlighted through extensive interviews are a recap of yearly standings and a register of players and league/team officials.
   
   Names such as Cool Papa Bell, Judy Johnson, Buck Leonard and Rube Foster & teams like the Kansas City Monarchs, Cleveland Buckeyes and Pittsburgh Crawfords come to life and opened a door to a wealth of research into NLB that continues today.
   
   Peterson, who passed away in February 2006 at the age of 80, was on a 2006 committee that selected players/executives from NLB and the pre-NLB era for baseball's Hall of Fame. His ballot was filled out before his death and used in the vote.
   
   It can't be forgotten that NLB welcomed whites and women on the field of play, in the grandstands and in the front offices. Truly, Peterson shows in Only the Ball Was White that there were no rear entrances, separate facilities and racial hatred in Negro Leagues Baseball. The book will never lose its standing as a true beacon to a history that must never again be forgotten.



4. I consider myself a self-educated baseball historian, but had very little knowledge of the Negro Leagues - until I read this book. It's a wonderful introduction to the proud but sad history of the African American experience in baseball in the first half of the 20th century. I now have a strong working knowledge of the dominent personalities of the Negro Leagues and its many extraodinary athletes - many of whom would have been certain stars in the Majors.
   
   As I read it, I kept thinking to myself what a tragedy it was that these great black ballplayers were barred from the Major Leagues. How different the game would have been. Cool Papa Bell - maybe the fastest man ever to play the game. Satchel Paige - one of the greatest pitchers of all time, black or white. Josh Gibson - the Babe Ruth of the Negro Leagues. Pop Lloyd - the Black Honus Wagner.
   
   It's a overwhelmingly sad chapter in American history for sure; but it's also a compelling story of perseverence and dedication that allowed the Negro Leagues to succeed for so long in the face of incredible obstacles. If you love baseball history, do yourself a favor and read this book. Your baseball knowledge will not be complete without an understanding of the Negro Leagues.



5. Robert Peterson originally published this book in 1970 so it's really the original and standard history of the Negro Leagues. Peterson not only tells the history of these leagues and some of the great players, but also provides brief biographical sketches of dozens of players whose big league service would otherwise be lost to history. The book also has extensive appendices with annual standings and box scores of all-star games. The book gives us glimpses into Jim Crow America (and it was not just in the South).
   
   Peterson portrays the often overlooked fact that the Negro Leagues were a business venture run almost exclusively by and for black people. And it was a tough business at that, but one that drew often sizeable crowds, especially on exciting and exhausting barnstorming tours. The Negro Leagues could not survive integration as its best players were siphoned off to the 'majors'. Despite the obvious benefits to those men who were finally broke through the wall of prejudice, the reader also understands that there was a sense of loss when the leagues shut down in 1960. More powerfully, the reader experiences the lost opportunities suffered by those players who never got the chance to play in the majors and make major league money, like Jimmie Crutchfield, the Black Lloyd Waner, who barely made a living on one side of Pittsburgh playing for the Crawfords while Waner hauled down $12,000 a year (a princely sum at the time) playing for the Pirates.
   
   A must read for anyone interested in baseball, race relations, or American history.

No comments about Playing the Changes: Milt Hinton's Life in Stories and Photographs.

4 comments about Setting the Record Straight: American History in Black & White.

1. A great deal of information contained in "Setting The record Straight: History In Black and White," I was previously aware of. However, there was plenty I found to be "eye opening." But the most important reason to read this book is, it contains all of the information needed to verify the information it contains.
   
   By citing historical and public records available to anyone, and giving one these resources, this book does more than "open your eyes." It feeds your mind and teaches you to not accept many of the established sources of politically correct messages about the origins of this country, and the self-serving politically slanted "truths" that are 180-degrees from reality. Buy it, read it, and check the resources for yourself - if you dare!



2. I have collected history books for many years. I have been an avid student of history since I was quite small- collecting books from the 1800's and even 1700's if I could find anything (which I once did but it got lost).
   
   Anyway, I would normally not do this, but I saw this DVD and was so amazed that I sat with my mouth open much of the time. Never have I seen so much valuable information gathered in one place about the REAL history of the US and Black America that is not twisted to manipulate the viewer.
   
   What we saw in this DVD literally changed our lives in a positive way. If I had the ability I would purchase tons of these to distribute to students throughout the US of all races to give hope and pride back to us all. We have been manipulated over the years to believe and feel things that are not entirely true.
   
   This collection of information gives dignity back to both white and black people of the US. It does not hide anything bad, but it shows a lot of good as well. The DVD was exceptional- the real roots of the Democratic and Republican parties (which are well known facts, not contortions of reality) was very well done.
   
   Did you know that there were MANY black men in Congress BEFORE the Civil War? Not just one.
   
   I was astonished at the COMPLETE quotes from Frederick Douglass not just the truncated ones that travel around in the depressing museum displays that we have been inundated with around here.
   
   This book is a must for every US citizen (and anyone else who wants to learn about US history). It unites instead of divides and that is precious these days when everythings seems geared to manipulate division instead of true unity between races in the US.
   
   wallbuilders site is a wonderful resource where you can also see posters and visual aids as well as the media production of this title.



3. This rewiew is based on the DVD rather than the book. If you can't find the DVD here, go to wallbuilders website. This DVD is Strong, documented history. I personally know many good black people who always vote democratic just because they think that they are supposed to. They have (sadly) not taken the time to look into the History of either political party. The same can also be said of many white people as well. History is ALWAYS valuable. When one watches this DVD (or reads the book) he will see which of the two major political parties has done the most to help black folks. Also highly recommended - "Unfounded Loyalty" by Rev Wayne Perryman.



4. This was an amazing DVD full of primary sources as is the case in all of Barton's works. This may be his best work yet. I appreciate someone who takes the time to research and present the facts. It's difficult to argue with the records of Congress up through the 1960's, which show that Democrats voted against almost every opportunity to provide equal rights for African Americans. You have got to see this for yourself. I'm not a Republican, and I won't pledge my allegiance to that party, although I do agree with most of what it stands for today. I do wish Barton would have spent a little more time on one of my heroes, Martin Luther King, Jr., but there is so much material that is covered (about 2 hours covering the Founding Fathers, the Constitution, Reconstruction, acts of Congress, and the civil rights movement in the 50's and 60's). Hopefully Barton can make a DVD on the life of MLK, who I have found to be a devout man of God and a prophet to our country. Based on my studies of the man, I cannot believe King would be at all happy with the politics and anti-Christian stances of modern Democrats. I loaned this DVD to a couple of friends, who also deeply appreciated the video. An excellent history lesson.

5 comments about Behind the Scenes: or, Thirty Years a Slave, and Four Years in the White House (Penguin Classics).

1. Although this volume comes from the memories of someone familiar with the Lincoln White House and who became a close friend of Mary Todd Lincoln, it must be read cautiously. For example, despite the book's basic authenticity I find its account of Stephen Douglas's love for young Mary Todd and her jilting of Lincoln implausible despite Keckley's claim that she got the story directly from Mary Todd Lincoln and Anson Henry (a close friend of Abraham and Mary, who was a matchmaker encouraging their romance). Possibly some errors might be attributed to one or more literary assistants who helped compile the book. If a reader needs to be certain a about a particular statement, comparison with other sources is wise. Still, the volume will be valuable to anyone interested in firsthand impressions of the Lincoln White House.



2. I got this little book so that I could learn more about the Lincolns and their home life at the White House. It does an excellent job of telling the story of Elizabeth and Mary's friendship, which I wish could have continued, but alas, it didn't. I would recommend this book to all readers interested in US history, not matter what their age or gender, so that they can get an intimate view of the Lincoln's family life. Elizabeth was a strong and proud woman with a high moral and ethical character...if she were alive today, she would be swamped with interview requests and book deals!



3. In 1868, three years after the War Between the States ended and Abraham Lincoln was murdered, Elizabeth Keckley sat down to write a partial history of her life as a slave and modiste (dressmaker) for Mary Todd Lincoln at the White House. If readers judge "Behind the Scenes" by the standards of modern biographies, they won't do the book justice.
   
   "Lizzie" Keckley was a slave who insisted on buying her freedom, even after being offered it for nothing. In modern terms, she was an "Aunt Tom" for validating the notion that any human being can be bought and sold for a price. By her own standards, she was affirming her value to society. It's impossible to judge such a person in contemporary terms.
   
   Lizzie's dressmaking skill attracted the attention of Mary Todd Lincoln in 1861. Mrs. Lincoln was quite addicted to clothes, and hired "Dear Lizzie" as her private modiste. Their association solidified into a deep friendship after the death in 1862 of Willie Lincoln (in the White House); Lizzie offered warmth and solicitude, badly needed by an erratic First Lady whose intemperate ways and harsh tongue had made her perhaps the most disliked person in Washington. The friendship persisted after Lincoln's assassination, when Lizzie aided Mrs. Lincoln in purging her monstrous debts (she owed $70,000 to department stores) by trying to sell off old dresses and jewelry.
   
   "Behind the Scenes" ended the friendship. After its publication Mary Lincoln, her pride wounded, dropped "Dear Lizzie" and referred to Mrs. Keckley as "that colored historian."
   
   For students of the assassination Mrs. Keckley's reminiscences are especially helpful. Several weeks after April 14, 1865, while Mrs. Lincoln was still in mourning inside the White House, Lizzie told her "the new messenger" (not identified by name in the book, unfortunately) was on watch, he being the same man who had abandoned his post outside Lincoln's box at Ford's Theater. Mrs. Lincoln excoriated the "new messenger" and accused him of complicity in the assassination. The messenger admitted his carelessness but denied complicity, insisting he had simply taken a seat where he could better watch the play.
   
   Except for the ambiguous word "messenger," this account conforms precisely to the convential wisdom that prevailed until about 25 years ago, i.e. that John F. Parker, a Metropolitan Police officer assigned to White House duty, was responsible for guarding Lincoln's box on the night of the assassination, but left his post and allowed John Wilkes Booth clear entry (and how would Booth have known the coast would be clear?). Post-modern historians, possibly seizing on Keckley's use of "messenger" to describe Parker, contrived a theory that Parker's duties never included protecting Lincoln...which idea begs the obvious question, "Why would Mrs. Lincoln have been so angry at someone who wasn't responsible in the first place?" And, since Parker supposedly went on trial for negligence (the records were mysteriously destroyed), "Why would anyone have been put on trial for neglecting Lincoln at Ford's Theater if he had been only a White House functionary all along?"



4. This is a memior written by a woman who started life as a slave, then managed to buy her freedom, and later set up a successful living as a seamstress, eventually going to work for Mrs. Lincoln in the White House. As such, it is a bit rambling. There are two chapters about her early life as a slave, but the author knows that what is most interesting to the readers is her life in the white house, and so she skips ahead to that period, giving us her personal "insider account" of daily vignettes with Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln. These vignettes include an eyewitness account of Lincoln's second inauguration address, the death of Willie Lincoln, and events immediately after Lincoln's assasination. The author then goes on to describe her post-white house associations with Mrs. Lincoln, who became a personal friend, as Mrs. Lincoln deals with post-presidency debts. The book continues with an in-depth account of how Mrs. Keckley assisted Mrs. Lincoln with attempting to sell her personal effects (dresses) to raise money. This must have been of great interest to readers when the book was first published in the 1860's, but has limited appeal to modern readers.
   
   Overall, however, the book is a very interesting glimpse into the daily life of a slave, an independent businesswoman in the 1860's, of someone who worked in the white house during the civil war, and of someone in the close confidence of the Lincolns. It is well-written and engaging.



5. This is my least favorite book on the Lincolns. It's the story of Elizabeth Keckley, who was a slave. Elizabeth eventaully becomes Mary Todd Lincoln's dressmaker and friend. This is a lot more about slavery than the Lincolns.I don't mind reading about the subject. I just didn't think it was a very well-written book on Elizabeth's part.