5 comments about Grand Central Winter.

1. Several reviewers criticize Stringer's Grand Central Winter for what they see as its lack of information about life on the streets as well as an absence of narrative cohesion. While I sympathize with both of these complaints, I also think they're misguided.
   
   In the first place, Stringer doesn't claim to be writing social commentary or advocating social reforms. His book is a memoir, pure and simple. His stories are from the street, as the book's subtitle announces, but not necessarily about the street. Obviously in describing his life on the streets, Stringer necessarily sheds some light on what street life in general is like. Just as obviously, he also has a few things to say in passing about public policy (he's especially bitter about the "antiseptic Good Samaritanism" of large-scale relief agencies). But the focus of his book is sharing his own experiences living on the street.
   
   And this takes us to the second point: Stringer's writes about selected experiences. He's not really trying to tell a neatly packaged story with a clear beginning, middle, and end. (Philosophers might describe his approach as "phenomenological.") I don't know why Stringer chose to write about the episodes in his life he did. Some of them are probably consciously chosen; others may've forced themselves onto the empty page. But the point is that they're vignettes, not sequential episodes that together tell a full-fledged story.
   
   For my money, the vignettes are wonderfully written. Their minimalist style sets an almost photographic tone: to the point, revelatory, unsentimental, sometimes grim. Stringer successfully resists the temptation to demonize or romanticize.



2. I encountered this book on a sale rack and didn't expect much from it. After all why would be so discounted?
   
   I was wrong. This was a chilling and real depiction of life on the streets as a crack addict. What it may lack in direction, it makes up for with hard-hitting writing.
   
   If you are looking for a nice breezy read, this is not the book for you. If you want some food for thought, then don't miss it.



3. This book is an autobiographical account of a time in the author's life, Lee Stringer. Mr.Stringer begins the book describing his life as a homeless, crack addict who finds a pencil he intends to use to clean his crack pipe with. Then he realizes that a pen can be a very powerful tool and he starts to write. He writes about the streets where the homeless are seen but so often overlooked and his eventual position as a writer for a newspaper.Stringer has realized in this book that "the pen is indeed mightier than the sword" as he goes about seeking Recovery and Redemption. This book is a very well written account of a man's struggle to free himself from a serious addiction.The reader will cheer for Mr. Stringer as he tries to regain his Life and his Dignity.



4. I stuck the book out for about 2/3 of it always hoping for some point to be made from the various unconnected stories he tells, but most have no point or real end...such as the story of the blonde hooker who becomes central to his life for many months or the even less understandable the defrocked Greek priest who wants to be in the newspaper.Very little of this book is about how it is to be homeless or to sleep under subway tunnels etc. It's mostly about his hustling newspapers and cans and taking drugs,but even that is surface level & not very detailed.



5. This was the worst book I ever read.I thought the story was going to be about the homeless in Grand Central.Yet all the
   main character Lee talks about is his work with a newspaper
   written by the homeless.The book drags on and on going nowhere.
   The characters Lee mentions in the book are as dull as the book
   itself.I was trully disappionted.The only thing this book is good
   for is putting you to sleep.

5 comments about The Black Notebooks: An Interior Journey.

1. At least I think it will. Reading it as a white female, I feel that this book helped me realize (and at least make my way towards understanding) the constant awareness of race that nonwhites feel while walking around. I read this book as part of a class in which we read many other texts about race and so it was one of many that helped me with this. It might seem silly, but it was very easy for me before to ignore the pressure and importance that race plays in everyday life in America. I may not be aware of it, but every day the fact that I am white allows me privilege that I would not otherwise have.
   
   Call it my own ignorance, but for me that is what this book was about. Someone else will read it differently, depending on their history and race. For me, one of the good things about this book was that it helped show that racism was more than just the individual prejudices of a few people but was not written in an academic way. One of the other reviewers complained that Derricotte seems to want everything - pass in the white world as white and be accepted in the black community. That might be true, but that is not the feeling that the book left me with - and that might be because I am white and thus perhaps do not understand the consequences of racism as well.
   
   Call it as you will. I loved the book, although it was hard for me to read. But it might not have the same impact on you as it did on me.
   
   (By the way, I am reading the tag suggestions and what does the Rwandan Genocide have to do with a book about a light-skinned African-American woman in upper-class America? What is wrong with these tags?)



2. It took me longer than usual to finish a book of this size. Inside of this little book was heart wrenching anguish and I just could not read it through without interruptions, reading other things and giving myself a rest.
   Is Ms. Derracotte a victim of the tragic mulatto syndrome or is some of her anguish of her own making?

   Coming from an upper class African American family that has kept the blood line "light and bright" for generations, the author's journey as a white- looking black woman comes to a climax when she moves to an all-white exclusive neighborhood in New York. It's not that they don't want her there, they just don't want her trying to assimilate into their way of life. The fact that she conducted the initial business of purchasing the house without her husband (he was more identifiable black, thus she participated in the " passing" game.) should have been a clue, nevertheless she was determined to make them accept her. And this is where I had conflict. Why would a black woman who was raised around other affluent blacks, accepted and identified as black, want to be in these people's country clubs and social circles? Why did she not avail herself to the groups that she grew up among, The Links, Jack and Jill, etc. and be happy where she would be accepted. Even as a poet/writer there are groups to belong, many of them interracial who will accept one on the basis of common goals.

   More than a book on a woman conflicted by her blackness of lack thereof is the sad commentary on race identity and how America has pitted blacks among each other based on skin color going back to slavery. Nella Larson, Jessie Fauset, and Wallace Thurman and numerous other authors have written on the this issue of characters who are conflicted and the schizophrenic existence they live. Also how one's family views and upbringing affects how we feel about ourselves. When pride in one's race and self and not enough self-love is not stressed enough then we have these kind of stories. Some blacks of the author's background have similar stories, others do not go through this much drama.

   I met Ms. Derracotte about three years ago when she was a writer-in-residence at Mills College here in Oakland. I went to her reading, met her and have to say that she seems more at peace with herself. She is a cofounder of a writers retreat for African American poets. In answer to one reviewer who asked what was the point of this book, I think the answer was this was a catharsis, a cleansing for her soul.




3. Toi Derricotte is an African American poet with skin so light that she claims she's often mistaken for white.  What's more startling is that Terricotte isn't always upset when this happens.  We have heard discourse from other light-skinned African Americans about the dangers of passing, and more often than not, these people feel a need to be somehow more committed to 'the community' and 'the nation' than their darker-skinned compatriots. What we haven't heard is the voice of a woman who is conflicted about her own feelings about blackness, and how she distances herself from darker-skinned African Americans.

   The Black Notebooks is a literary memoir written over the space of twenty years. In it Derricotte discusses the distance she places between herself and other darker-skinned African Americans, her obsession with joining an all-white country club even after her neighbors have made it perfectly clear that an invitation will never be forthcoming, as well as her experiences with being the only Black poet in residence at a well-known writer's colony.  Much in the way that GLBT people have coming out experiences wherein they disclose their sexual orientation, Derricotte has similar revealing moments when she has to reveal to whites that she is in fact African American.  

   Rather than being exhausting, Derricotte's memoir is a brave reflection on how it feels to navigate safely (albeit not comfortably) between two worlds, and how this navigation affects her mental health. The book isn't written as a plea for understanding or acceptance, it simply is. Her honesty over her recalcitrant feelings is like nothing else I've ever seen, and for that reason alone, it's a worthwhile read.




4. The book is structured as a series of journal entries, but it is nevertheless carefully considered and constructed. It provides an unusual perspective on racism in America, from the perspective of a very light skinned African American woman. She recounts her experiences in vivid detail, and they are intellectually and emotionally powerful. Most importantly, Derricotte does not settle for simple analyses or easy answers, but lets the complexity of her life and her place in various communities come through, with all the attendant messiness. As such, I'm not surprised that this book has drawn widely disparate reviews from readers. I consider it DEFINITELY worth reading.



5. I liked the book, and I really wanted more about certain things. It's interesting to get a glimpse into her world and its extraordinary circumstances. Her story helps to identify the nuances of racism today. Also, she zeroes us in on some very intimate moments in her life, and that raises questions about human relations in general. I thought it was brave of her to share like this. I'm sure I would read another installment if she wrote one.

3 comments about A Black Woman's Civil War Memoirs: Reminiscences of My Life in Camp With the 33rd U.S. Colored Troops, Late 1st South Carolina Volunteers.

1. "A Black Woman's Civil War Memoirs," by Susie King Taylor, was first published in 1902. A new edition, edited by Patricia Romero and featuring an introduction by Willie Lee Rose, appeared in 1988. In that new intro Rose declared, "There is nothing even vaguely resembling Susie King Taylor's small volume of random recollections in the entire literature of the Civil War, or in that of any other American conflict insofar as I am aware." Indeed, this book is a rare and valuable historical document.

   Taylor was born a slave in 1848 on an island off the coast of Georgia. She gained her freedom and worked as a laundress for an African-American Union regiment during the war.

   Taylor recalls how she learned to read and write and then herself became a teacher. She offers fascinating details about her life with the troops. She had many different duties beyond laundry service. I loved the episode where she recalls concocting "a very delicious custard" from turtle eggs and canned condensed milk, and serving it to the troops.

   Taylor condemns the lack of appreciation shown for both black and white Civil War veterans. She also condemns early 20th century racism. Reading her book I was reminded of W.E.B. Du Bois' classic "The Souls of Black Folk," which was first published around the same time; I think the two books complement each other well.

   Taylor ends on a note of hope and pride, noting "my people are striving" for better lives. This book is, in my opinion, an important milestone in African-American literature.




2. It's a short book (especially when you consider the added historical footnotes and pictures), but very valuable. It's so rare to hear the perspective of someone who was a slave, and who then lived free in the post-war period. Her heartfelt tales of the bigotry of the _post_-war period to me were even more memorable than her focus on the war itself.



3. Amazon says this is out of print. NOT SO! It can be gotten thru the National Parks Service National Women's Museum in Seneca Falls, NY. The woman who wrote this lived an extraordinary life, as a slave child, and as a freed woman. Yet by many standards she is just an ordinary person living her life, doing what she CAN do. It's a nice read. She's not trying to be anybody's heroine, more simply I think she was writing to tell herself who she was, that she could survive, that she could be of service. Neither boring or exciting (so far), simply real.

5 comments about Soldier: The Life of Colin Powell (Vintage).

1. I don't know what Karen has in mind but this is one book that does not have a table of contents. She seems to want more that readers read this cover to cover of 700 page book than saving reader's time. For someone one who does not respect reader's time, I give a one star review no matter how good the writing is!



2. Reviewed by Laura V. Hilton
   
   Colin L. Powell is probably one of the most admired men in recent American history. A military general and serving a tenure as U.S. Secretary of State, Powell also had a brief run for the White House which he bowed out from early due to threats made to his family.
   
   Soldier takes you on a trip to Powell's Bronx childhood days, as the child of Jamaican immigrants, and follows him as he grows up, enters the military, serving in Desert Storm, and then later serves as Secretary of Sate.
   
   Ms. DeYoung is associate editor at The Washington Post, and this shows in the book. Written in a straightforward, report-the-news style, she introduces us to the man so many of us admired, without a lot of flowery prose. The bad thing is that the whole story is told to us, and as a mostly fiction reader, that mean that I was able to put the book down a lot. That is the only reason I'm giving it 4 stars (out of 5). Otherwise, it was excellently told, very well-written, and very informative, including pages and pages of notes so if you doubted anything the author said and cared to research it, you could find the author's source with ease.
   
   I learned a lot about Colin Powell that I didn't know, and a lot about my country I didn't know--for instance, there is a War College to study war, both how to fight and how to avoid.
   
   The book is flattering to Powell, presenting him as a soldier, forever more, and is comprehensively researched.
   
   Armchair Interviews says: Recommended as excellent biography for students of history and to learn about this much-admired man.



3. Overall, this book is an excellent, informative look into the life of Powell. However, it certainly seems to have a definite slant towards the left in the personal opinions of the author, with opinions on Republican presidents and leaders being less favorable than those of the Democrat leaders. However, those slight tilts are so minute as to possibly be non-existent, but simply a figment of my own imagination.
   
   Overall, excellent reading, and a great source of recent American Historic overview in general.



4. This biography of Colin Powell is very impressive. It details both his career as a serviceman and then as a political appointee for a period totalling almost 50 years.
   
   As a non-American, it is interesting to read a biography of an individual who is both influential in terms of the positions he has held, and a positive role model for many. Colin Powell comes across as a fundamentally decent human being in an environment where power can have a corrosive effect.
   
   I recommend this biography to anyone who wants to know more about Colin Powell and his life and times, as well as to anyone interested in understanding the world events and political influences within which he served the USA.
   
   Jennifer Cameron-Smith



5. One of the best biographies of a political character that I have ever read. There are times where I lose track of who the players are and what a particular politician or officer's title means. Yet, overall I was able to follow what was going on and how it affected our nation. Powell did an excellent job of speaking at the Speaker Series. He was smooth and easy to follow with quips and humorous antidotes throughout the evening. He reminded me of that member of everyone's family who is easy to talk to and one who people are drawn to. That is probably why he has been such a great leader of our generation.

5 comments about Mississippi Solo: A River Quest.

1. An enjoyable read and journey down the river. Thought it was going to be a day to day river trip but was more. Almost put the book away after first few chapters but am glad I didn't . Enjoyed his look at life, himself and people along the river. Race added another dimension to a tough journey. But i was left with a good feeling when done. Nice life lessons scattered thru-out the book.



2. I bought this book to read on a business trip that involved cross country flights. Did not read it on the trip. Started it the night I got back and read half of it when I really should have been sleeping. Finished it the next night. He transforms and you want to see it happen. He has doubts about completing his trip and you want to see if he will finish it. He has his troubles and you want to see if they get worse. You want to know more about the people he meets. Sometimes he says twice things that he could say once, but it's ok because it moves along. There is some historical perspective, some thoughts on racism, not too much. I would have liked to know more about what he brought with him and what he really needed, but he's not that kind of outdoor guy. He says at the end that his back was never the same. Was there something he could have done to avoid that? He does not say. It's ultimately ok because he sticks to the narrative and that holds your interest.



3. This book is a little tedious. Author seems to be caught up in making himself out to be a hero, whereas there is no deep contact with life; with other people. What strives to be insight seems shallow as the main character has rapid, passing interactions with dozens of people; would have you think that in 5 minutes one is able to sum up the character of a person or place. Reflections about self seem like overly self-focused ramblings.



4. I bought a copy of this book after my own canoe trip down the Mississippi. It was fascinating to compare the experiences of Mr. Harris to my own.

   The writing is perceptive, insightful, and entertaining. His observations of the people he met along the river, and himself, come across as very honest. He doesn't portray himself as a hero or an expert, but as the person he really is. His dedication to completing the journey is tenuous, but his appreciation for the lasting value of the experience is sincere.

   His perceptions on racial issues were objective and refreshing. Although he had preconceived notions on what he might encounter, (a black man in Nordic northern Minnesota and later in the Deep South) he judged people based on how they treated him, and the vast majority of people treated him with kindness and respect.

   His descriptions of the river, towns, weather and scenery are also enjoyable, and the hardships and joys are described with equal eloquence.

   I was impressed how such a greenhorn of an outdoorsman would have the boldness to tackle such an adventure. My only disappointment with the book is when he skipped some parts of the river. It was his journey to make, however, and he is honest about any shortcuts he took.

   In short, this is a great book. It is worth reading to experience the journey vicariously and for the writing itself. You won't be disappointed.




5. A very relaxing read. Never before have I read a book of true life that was so well-paced and soothing. Harris writes as the river flows: gentle to rough, lucid to terse. With a great sense of personal respect to the reader, "Mississippi Solo" is ther perfect read for anyone who wants to take a vacation in the theatre of the mind. An excellent book for travellers and a must have summer read.

5 comments about What I Know for Sure: My Story of Growing Up in America.

1. Tavis managed to craft some of the most tragic and disappointing aspects of his young life into a beautiful and inspiring novel. I came away feeling uplifted and empowered! Great job, Tavis!



2. This book helped me to understand how Tavis Smiley became who he is today. His family, community and church had a strong influence of his behaviors and thoughts as a speaker and commentator,



3. By the time I finished the last two pages of this book, one thing I knew for sure was that this book was a disappointing reading experience.
   
   Tavis Smiley did not write this book; David Ritz did. The "story" of Tavis Smiley's life was supposedly "told" to David Ritz and David Ritz wrote it down. If this is the truth, David Ritz took a not-so-good story, one heavy with super-ego morality, and did nothing with it, except put it in grammatical form with a story-line.
   
   How is it that a man who, through high school and college, was known for his oratorical and debating skills, and who, after graduating college, later became a popular interviewer on TV, doesn't trust himself to tell his own story? What's up with that?
   
   I suppose if you're rich enough, you just hire someone to write what's supposed to be in your soul and make every event in your life sound like a child's Bible lesson. But where's the unique individual stamp of Tavis Smiley in the tale? I didn't hear Tavis Smiley's voice at all in this book.
   
   I think Mr. Smiley did himself a big disservice by producing a book with his name on it in this manner. It certainly cannot be called an autobiography as he didn't write it; nor can it be called a biography as David Ritz doesn't approach the story of Tavis's life the way an official biographer would. The book has a media slickness to it: a ventriloquist's act, and we're supposed to be the dummies buying this "oral tale" full of biblical malarkey.
   
   As the story goes, Tavis Smiley grew up in an extremely narrow, parochial, religious family (it seemed insane and foreign to me, not part of America at all); he had gone to college even though his parents had not wanted him to; and he went on to make a name for himself in entertainment media. While still a teenager, he had been beaten unmercifully by his mother and, particularly, by his step-father such that he wound up in a hospital at one point, and it took a long time before his could reconcile himself emotionally to his parents. He loved his Grandma ("Big Mama") more than anyone. She was the most tolerant and understanding one in the family. He held tight to his religious beliefs all along, or so we're told, and to this day he still holds them tight (so we're told), though he never states for sure exactly what his religious beliefs are, though it is admitted they are different from his parents' beliefs.
   
   All the struggling and all the pain is wrapped up in a nice-sounding package of love and reconciliation at the end of the book so that his current success makes what happened in his childhood, and before his fame, seem worthwhile and nearly inevitable. This is the common story told of anyone who has achieved commercial success, and a commercial writer, paid to tell it told it -- or wrote it, with Tavis Smiley's approval.
   
   I'd rather hear from Tavis Smiley himself in his own voice, even if he stumbles here and there and parts don't always add up as neatly as a commercial package in the end. This simulation of Tavis Smiley's life cheapened his value for me.



4. Growing up in Bunker Hill, Indiana, with his mother and stepfather, along with four cousin, five brothers and his grandmother, Tavis struggled to find his niche.
   
   Faith and church dominated the Smiley household, and it was there that Tavis first discovered his love for discipline and words. Physical punishment was regular, harsh and usually given by Tavis' mother. After a particularly embarrassing situation at church, Tavis' father took discipline too far, and Tavis ended up in foster care. While his cousin was sent to a different town completely, Tavis was located near his family, and after only three months, moved home on his own. Though the physical damage done by his father had healed, it would be years before the relationship damage was restored.
   
   Throughout his schooling, the power of words and his love for Dr. Martin Luther King were his salvation. Though his parents were not supportive, he made his way to college with nothing except an acceptance letter and a suitcase. Fortune was on his side and he began classes at Indiana University. His eyes were opened to the African American civilization and society that had previously been closed off to him. In September of 1983, a tragic and unexplained death near IU campus deeply affected Tavis and directed him into social activism.
   
   A semester in Los Angeles once again changed the course of Tavis' life. Serving the public through government inspired Tavis and gave him direction. Though he was unable to continue serving in the government, Tavis was able to create his own way. A self-started radio program led to a BET program and the chance to meet with numerous powerful and famous people, including President Bill Clinton and Fidel Castro. His BET stint eventually gave way to NPR, which eventually gave way to his own company and many different ventures.
   
   Overall, What I Know For Sure is comfortable and heart warming. Tavis Smiley's latest book is refreshing. Whether African American, Caucasian, Hispanic or Asian, the story presented here will encourage anyone facing difficult or impossible circumstances.
   
   Armchair Interviews says: We need more encouraging books with good messages.



5. From Gulfport to Gotham to Black Entertainment Television, this is the exciting story of a man who survives a horrible childhood and now has the golden touch in media, business and life.

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.

5 comments about Death of Innocence: The Story of the Hate Crime That Changed America.

1. This book has to rank right up there with the best autobiographies of the last 100 years, next to Malcolm X, Nelson Mandela, and others. Mamie Till and Benson were a perfect team and together her and Emmett's story is so moving because she has made it so real. They come off as such everyday people but then Emmett seemed so extraordinary for a boy of his time as well. The book is many things but one thing it is not is this: Mamie is not asking for your pity, your sympathy, or even your donations. She is simply telling her story. Yet, as she tells her story one cannot help but feel all of those emotions along with it. It is such an enjoyable read about the incredible bond between a mother in son that you will hardly dwell on the awful crime that was committed aganist this young man.



2. WHEN I HEARD ABOUT THE DEATH OF EMMETT TILL IT WAS ABOUT 4 YEARS AGO EVEN THOUGH THE MURDER HAPPENED OVER FORTY YEARS AGO. I READ ABOUT IT IN AN ISSUE OF "JET" MAGAZINE. JUST WITH READING ONE ARTICLE I HAD TO GET THE FULL STORY ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED. THATS WHEN I PURCHASED "DEATH OF INNOCENCE". THE BOOK IS A FIRST HAND LOOK AT WHAT REALLY HAPPENED FROM BEGINNING TO END. IT IS WRITTEN BY EMMETT'S MOTHER MAMIE TILL MOBLEY. SHE SHARES HER HEART FELT STORY. THIS BOOK WILL TUG AT YOUR EMOTIONS, BECAUSE YOU WILL BE ABLE TO FEEL THE ANGER, SADNESS, FRUSTRATION AND MANY OTHER EMOTIONS SHE FELT WHILE GOING THROUGH SUCH A HORRIFIC EVENT . THIS IS A GREAT BOOK THAT I WOULD RECOMMENED TO ANYONE LOOKING TO GET MORE INFO ON THE EMMIT TILL MURDER AND THE CASE THAT FOLLOWED.



3. This is one of the saddest books I have ever read. The fact those two evil beasts got away with it is appalling. The fact they apparently did not bother repenting of the crime is even worse. Had they no remorse at all (one wonders the same of the jury and others involved with the csae, including the odious Sheriff Strider)? I wonder how it was for them on their deathbeds...did they suffer? One would hope they did...at the least, perhaps the spirit of Emmett Till came to them in their last hour of life and frightened the wits out of them the way even God's wrath on Judgment day did not appear to. I have never been to Mississippi and never shall, and am in the middle of writing a novel that concerns this tragic moment in the pitiful history of my people here in these United States of America.



4. Mother Mamie Till-Mobley will forever be remembered as a paragon of love, forgiveness, and indomitable strength. This moving memoir was told as only a mother could tell it with both tenderness and the maternal fervor that is so distinctly and universally "Mother." She paints for the reader a portrait of who Emmett was from the time of his birth up to his brutal death, and beyond. For the manner in which this 14-year-old boy was murdered so affected the consciousness of this nation that Emmett became a symbol of how hatred and racism in America not only doesn't exempt Black children, but demonstrates that they are so disposible as human beings that crimes against them go unpunished. The Emmett Till tragedy will forever serve as a shameful commentary on race relations in America, and how the sin of racism has left a permanent stain on the very flag that we say represents "liberty and justice for all."
   
   Mother Mobley gives the reader delicious slices of her own backstory: her close relationship with her mother, her religious upbringing, and the demise of her first marriage (to Louis Till, Emmett's father), and subsequent marriage to Gene Mobley. The book draws you into the life of Mamie Till-Mobley and her family; the love and dedication shown to her by her own mother is almost tangible. The essence of who she was comes off the page. Throughout the pages you can sense her warmth, gentleness, and her strength. From the very beginning of the book, the reader gets to know Mamie as a woman of great strength and stoicism for early on her husband, Louis Till, was lynched while on a tour of duty in the U.S. Army. She goes on to raise her son alone for a season, teaching him responsibility and strict moral values. He turns out to be an obedient and responsible son who loves and respects his mother and grandmother.
   
   The most moving passage was when Emmett's body is shipped back to Chicago. Mother Mobley along with members of the Black clergy, go to Union Station to retrieve her son's remains. She describes in detail the look of the ghastly box that held her 14-year-old baby; the awful stench that emanated from the box; and the emotion that she felt during this horrible juncture. You could feel the wrenching agony of this mother's soul when she describes her screams at the sight of the terrifying box that held her child. She, the funeral director, and her other relatives were ordered by Mississippi law officials not to open the box or there would be consequences. Naturally, this mother ignores this insane command vowing to pry the box open herself if need be. Once Emmett's body arrives at A.A. Raynor Funeral Parlour, Mother Mobley (against the strict admonition of law authorities)meticulously examines the body of her son. So grotesque were his remains, the funeral director suggested a closed casket service. However, Mother Mobley insists that her son's battered and monstrously bloated body be put on display for the world to see. She decribes how she started the examination of Emmett at his toes, and inch by inch she painstakingly worked her way up his thighs, middle, chest, ears one of which had been cut off, his pertruding tongue, and eventually to his enormously swollen head. She decribes his knees with reminisces of how they had been when he was an infant. She decribes her relief that his manhood hadn't been severed for castration was the all-too-familiar calling card of a lynch mob. She exercises grace and modesty when she examines his private parts, explaining how "Emmett would have a fit if he knew [she] was looking at him like this." She had such a connection to her son that even while examining his corpse, she respected his privacy as would any other mother of her adolescent son.
   
   Mamie Till-Mobley's story takes the reader on a journey of love, tragedy, and forgiveness. This woman's faith is evident in the pages of this book. She relies on her faith and is able to forgive the vicious beasts who mutilated her boy. She forgives a country and a justice system that not only acquitted these killers, but reprehensibly subjected her to ridicule and various indignities during that farce they called a trial. And she forgives a president who shows cold indifference when she turns to him for help after having exhausted all legal channels trying to get justice for Emmett. Her strength knew no boundaries. In her later years she dedicated herself to mothering the children of others by first becoming a public school teacher, serving as a church mother in her local church, and establishing a drama group for children. She traveled the country speaking out against hatred and violence. Her healing came through the avenue of giving and not allowing this tragedy, painful as it was, to cause her to withhold her love. She never gave up the fight to get justice for her son; she was in her eighties when she departed this life in January 2003, and she fought for Emmett until the very end. She showed the tenacity and the depth of a mother's love--a love so great, only God's is greater. She was a remarkable woman--a remarkable mother. This was a remarkable story.



5. Mamie Till Mobley is the mother of the Civil Rights Movement. I wish I had been able to give her a hug. This book should be required reading in every History class. I hope that the recent exhumation of Emmett's body will find evidence to bring some kind of justice to this most horrific tragedy.

No comments about Marcus Garvey, Hero: A First Biography (Silsilat Islamiyat Al-Thaqafah).

5 comments about All God's Children Need Traveling Shoes.

1. A rather nice lady gave me this book and asked me to read it. I did. When I returned it to her I asked her why she wanted me to read it. I had never heard of Maya Angelou and unfortunately I found the book very unimpressive. The writing was done well and the phrasing was nice but as far as having something to say, I thought that it was rather shallow. I thought the author of the book to be rather mediocre, somewhat insensitive, and very much enamored with herself. This wasn't the life of Mahatma Gandhi or Desmond Tutu. She seemed to me to be a typical woman on a personal journey to success and all the people around her were stepping stones along that path.
   Since that time I have picked up tapes of poetry by Maya and I enjoyed them - not so much for the content but for the presentation. Sorry. We all have our opinions.



2. From purely a literary standpoint, I find ALL GOD'S CHILDREN NEED TRAVELING SHOES perhaps the best of Angelou's series of autobiographical works that I have encountered thus far. It is the fifth "installment," having been preceded by I KNOW WHY THE CAGED BIRD SINGS, GATHER TOGETHER IN MY NAME, SINGIN' AND SWINGIN' AND GETTIN' MERRY LIKE CHRISTMAS, and THE HEART OF A WOMAN. While I suppose that any of these could be read in isolation, to do so would be analogous to reading a single chapter from a full-length novel. One may enjoy the contents of that single chapter but will miss all the background material that explains how the characters reached that point in time and space as well as everything that follows to explain and wrap-up the story. For the same reasons, one really should read each of Angelou's books and in chronological order, too. Consequently, if one is examining reader reviews before purchasing ALL GOD'S CHILDREN, and if this is the first of Angelou's books being considered, please wait. Reading the others first will enhance significantly the reader's enjoyment of this one.
   
   Pure autobiographies tend, in my experience, to be rather dull reading for the most part. Where is the excitement in a list of events and dates? That sort of dry recitation of historical facts is the reason that most of us were likely bored to somnambulance by our high school history textbooks. Happily, this is not at all that sort of autobiography. What one finds in Angelou's books is the world seen through her eyes and interpreted by her mind, and she carries with her the filters built strand by strand by her life experiences.
   
   What "life experiences"? Being born Black into a legally, socially, culturally and thoroughly segregated country. Being abandoned by one's father. Being shipped across country by one's mother to be raised by an aging grandparent. Feeling the constant scorn and belittlement fostered by racial segregation. Bearing a child when one is still herself a child. Being duped by another into prostitution. Failing at an attempt at marriage. On the other hand, conversing with such figures as Martin Luther King and Malcolm X. Touring Europe as member of a musical cast. Living in Africa. Angelou's experiences, both negative and positive, were emotionally extreme, or at least significant, events, and they created interpretative filters that are quite different from those of essentially all of her readers. This difference is what makes her books captivating to read and worthy of her readers' consideration.
   
   I suggest that the epitome of Angelou's skill as a prose author of the first five books I have mentioned above comes in the closing chapter of ALL GOD'S CHILDREN. Her encounter with the Ewe tribal women in the marketplace in Ghana's village of Keta is expressed in nearly supernatural terms. In the actual event, she is merely mistaken for another person, but, to Angelou, the encounter firmly establishes Africa as her spiritual homeland, the origin of her own ancestors who, generations earlier, were sold into slavery in a strange land across the ocean. The skill with which she describes her feelings at this encounter is one to which any writer might aspire.
   
   I must admit to another aspect of Angelou's writing that I find almost annoying, however, and that is her repeated and continuous reference to the effects of slavery. If any evil exists in the universe, if sin seeks an embodiment, if a cause for all the misery in the contemporary world must be identified, Angelou finds it in slavery. Judging solely by the attitude revealed in these five books, one could conclude only that all Caucasians are blue-eyed devils, that they alone made possible the eternal and unforgivable sin of enslavement, that no redemption is possible and that racial integration is never achievable or even desirable. If there is such a concept as "original sin," it has nothing to do with a mythological Adam or Eve in a "garden of Eden" but rather with the insufferable conceit of Whites and the horror of slavery, most particularly slavery in the United States. To judge by the attitude that pervades these five books, one would think that Angelou was herself born into slavery, exploited economically and sexually by her White masters, and denigrated to the very edge of sanity. Not to excuse or to minimize in any way the physical and emotional pain of slavery, its immorality or absence of any ethical justification whatsoever, but "methinks the lady doth protest too much." She claims for herself an understanding of the debasement of slavery that her own history does not support. She assumes a mantle as spokesperson for long dead generations that she is not qualified to wear. To what extent historical slavery and racial prejudice may bear the blame for what were her own poor choices in life I am hardly qualified to say, yet I would caution the reader to bear in mind the fact that we are seeing events through the author's intellectual filters and that no one's filters are totally objective.
   
   Having said that, I hurriedly add that my critical observation should in no way deter anyone from reading Angelou's books. On the contrary, while I may feel that she is at times presumptuous in assuming spokesperson status on the topics of slavery and contemporary racial bigotry, her perceptions provide many revelations for her readers and are worth noting. On now to the next book of this series, A SONG FLUNG UP TO HEAVEN.



3. her poems are so great. They teach great valuable lessons that we should all here.



4. I thought it was a great book. It was my first ever read of Maya Angelou. I think the book has made me a fan of her. Her style of writing was mellifluous, sincere, and truthful.

   I am not a very emotional person, but the part that made my eyes water was when Maya went to the market in Kato, as the book ended. She met Ewe women who instantly confused her for an Ewe. They were sure Maya was an Ewe decendant because of her features and tone of voice. Once, she was mistaken for a Bambara, and an Ahanta as well. It was beautiful. I admire Maya for her having fortitude and being curious and passionate. She loves her people and was more than willing to come back home to America to help them by working for Malcolm X, promoting civil rights, et al. I have great respect for her. She also learnt how to speak the Fanti language, which I would guess was not easy.

   It was a great autobiography. I wonder what would have happened if she had married the Malian Fulfulde man.




5. Maya Angelou's auto-biography reveals a loving and spiritual soul that many of today's readers don't get enough of. Her devoted and rich way of writing is very moving and will leave you in awe.
   In his "journa", Maya Angelou confesses her opinions about different cultures around the world. Being and African-American and having lived in Africa, she writes with a really strong love for the people of that continent. She shows her love for the Christian religion and her son, Guy. The two of them moved through Cairo, Ghana, Liberia, and Egypt gracing others with her talents and liveliness. Even after enduring difficult times and tragedies, Maya's character stilled managed to gain self-control and keep her boldness to find a way out.
   Maya is a poet, a performer, a writer, a traveler, a musician and a mother. Of all of her accomplishments, I was most impressed with her poetry which is occasionally expresses throughout this book. With her poetic voice, she turns her life story into a great and powerful poem. The moon is "red as fire over black hills" is an expression from one of her great poems that critics acknowledge. I think that is was a good idea to add quotes from many of her poems because then you not only learn her words, but you almost "become" her words. I really do look up to all of Maya Angelou's accomplishments.
   I think that Maya Angelou's words will be very inspiring to readers all around. Not only is she inspiring to me, but to many others that have read her books. William McPherson, from the Washington Post Book World says,"Maya Angelou regards the world and herself with intelligence and wit; she regards the events of her life with style and grace". I agree with him that she is very inspirational in everything that she does.
   This is a deservedly popular book about the amazing life, love and goals of Maya Angelou. I can only hope that this book will touch your heart like it did mine!