5 comments about Forbidden Fruit: Love Stories from the Underground Railroad.

1. These are not "stories" persay. There is no dialogue or charachter development. The book is all narrated. Rather, they are historical and factual accounts of slaves' lives (that involve escaping or other HUGE sacrifices or risks--done for the sake of love). The author has done alot of research and the accounts are very good and very heavy on history. She gives alot of dates and information about legislation/laws and social atmosphere. I do highly recommend this book--if you are looking for what I described.



2. This book is so well written that I felt like I was right there as the stories unfolded. Betty has great skill at this. I live in the metro area where she wrote for the local daily paper. She is so talented and this book needs to be read by anyone interested in this era. Extraordinary book.



3. This book contains not only love stories, but inspiring stories of faith, strength, endurance and resilience as well as stories of suffering and heartache. The book is written by a jouralist which is evident in the historical details of the unfolding stories. I found it interesting, entertaining , informative and educational. I am a minister and used it in a Bible study on the subject of "eros."



4. FORBIDDEN FRUIT: Love Stories from the Underground Railroad by Betty DeRamus is an earth-shaking book of short stories about what African Americans were willing to do to keep their loved ones in their lives. In "The Special Delivery Package," a female slave, Lear Green, was willing to have herself shipped in a sailor's chest to the north to meet her husband-to-be. With no food, water and scant air, she traveled 18 hours to Philadelphia. James Smith, "A Love Worth Waiting For," was beaten bloody on several occasions as he attempted to escape to the wife he'd been sold away from. A black overseer heard him praying for him and the white men who abused him and was so moved that he unchained Smith so that he could finally successfully escape. Isaac Berry, of "Hound Dogs Hate Red Pepper," put red pepper in his shoes to throw the dogs off his scent as he rushed toward the north. There were many people, including those of the Underground Railroad, who helped him in his escape. The Underground Railroad, operating at the peril of the conductors, rushed slaves seeking freedom across the US border into Canada because the Fugitive Slave laws frequently made it dangerous, if not impossible, for them to find peace even in the northern United States.
   
   All of the stories were heart wrenching and it made you wonder if you would have the strength, the persistence, the nerve, that these early Africans had to pursue love at any cost. The tales also brought to the forefront the tragedies that our ancestors survived daily: beatings, being sold from family and friends, early death from abuse, starvation and terror. Ms. DeRamus brings the stories of these brave people alive and puts it in your face where you can't hide. She awakens the sleeping and lost history of the brave people of Africa and what it took for them to survive. It is an excellent read, smooth and enticing, bringing forth not only the history, but the bravery of the displaced Africans of yesteryear. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to understand what slavery was really all about.
   
   Reviewed by Alice Holman
   of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers



5. I was hooked on this one when I picked it up. I was just going to read a paragraph or two to see how it reads. The next thing I knew the phone was ringing, and when I answered the phone, I realized that I had been reading for a couple of hours. I had to control my urges to pick up the book when I had appointments or other things I needed to do first. It is a really interesting read. And it reads well also.

5 comments about The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano: or, Gustavus Vassa, the African (Modern Library Classics).

1. If I could recommend a particular edition of the "Interesting Narrative," it would be the Penguin Classics revised 2003 edition. I much preferred it to this one. The Penguin edition has far more explanatory and textual notes, and it includes many letters Equiano wrote. (Which the Modern Library edition does not do.)



2. Saw the wonderful movie Amazing Grace & this man was a part of the real history of that time & wanted to read more. Excellant transaction. Thanks



3. This book is not for those with a passing interest in history. This is a book about a man who was trying to change his time. He did so by sharing his life. It is really good. But it is not that easy to understand.



4. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It does not speak as much about slavery as I thought and speaks a lot about ship life. There is a wonderful chapter on his faith. I recommend this book to those who desire to know about life during the late 1700's especially for a black man.



5. I can't help but think there's some bit of embellishing on the part of Equiano here, which calls the veracity of everything into question.
   
   As a semi-fictional account of a freed slave at that point in history, it's an interesting book, I suppose.
   
   There are probably more interesting and inspiring books related to Olaudah, Wilburforce, and the entire Abolitionist movement, although after reading this and a sub-average book on William Wilburforce, I lost steam on the topic.
   
   Get yourself a DVD of Amazing Grace, accept it at face value, and don't slog through Equiano's work in a tedious exercise of cross-checking facts, that quite frankly makes you look terribly pedantic, fella.

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.

2 comments about Life In The Struggle 2Nd Pb (Critical Perspectives On The P).

1. Like many biographies of American civil rights figures, A Life in the Struggle weaves a personal narrative into a setting of social contestation. However, this book diverges from such biographies in two important ways. First, Ivory Perry, the subject of the book, acts as a collaborator in the assembly of his story. Author George Lipsitz bases his research on interviews with Perry; newspapers, court documents, police reports, hospital records, military papers, and oral histories with Perry's family and acquaintances corroborate and fill in the subject's narrative. Thus the author combines traditional research methods with a familiarity of the subject's personality. Second, the subject's personality-while central to the story-does not dominate the narrative. Instead, the author uses Perry's life as a medium to discuss Antonio Gramsci's idea of the "organic intellectual," a social type which contests hegemonic cultures through an intimate and complex understanding of disaffected groups and of their traditions of resistance. In the various movements in which he participated, Perry held no high positions of leadership; his profile remained relatively low. He was uneducated, and throughout his life he struggled for subsistence. Yet because he remained among the dispossessed, Perry learned the mechanics of effective group resistance. This idea forms one of two components of Lipsitz's thesis.
   
   The second component relies upon the author's interpretation of Perry's narrative. Having constructed Perry as an organic intellectual, Lipsitz argues for an alternative interpretation of social opposition in American history. He cites the high standards for identifying viable group opposition which have been elicited by historians of social protest. For Lipsitz, the works of Aileen Kraditor, John Patrick Diggins, and T.J. Jackson Lears share the view that American radicals since the mid-nineteenth century have ultimately capitulated to the hegemony of "materialism, individualism, and privatism" which framed their experiences (p. 231). Lipsitz argues that such an interpretation ignores the dynamic nature of hegemony. Even unsuccessful groups have forced dominant institutions to make concessions and have thereby established an effective middle ground between capitulation and outright revolution. The author presents Ivory Perry's life as a model for treading that middle ground.
   
   This is an important book, not least because it offers an alternative to civil rights narratives. However, it is not only about the civil rights movement. It presents new possibilities for defining cultural hegemony, for viewing oppression, and for understanding the forms in which social contestation appears.



2. I really enjoyed this book because it put all of my history lessons on the Depression and the fifties through the sixties into better perspective. By following the life of Ivory Perry, a man who lived through these times, I was better able to understand the struggle that certain groups of people went through in their search for equality and fair treatment. I think this book is a wonderful teaching tool for anyone who has a difficult time with typical history books. It enables the reader to both enjoy history, and learn from it.

4 comments about Jazz in the Bittersweet Blues of Life.

1. Jazz, America's music, is an improvisational art. In Bittersweet Blues Marsalis and Vigeland do a lot do educate the reader just how this works. Not just on the bandstand but also on the road and in the life of jazz' leading spokesman. The book helps you see how musicians must comminucate, must hold each other with respect, must listen with an ear for creativity and must withhold judgement.

   The book alternates between Vigeland's discussion of the events in life of Marsalis' Septet and Wynton's discussions of what it means to be a jazz musician. This interplay is what gives the book it's beautiful tone and variety. In a sense, you see the two authors improvising around each other's styles. What amazed me the most was the pace of Marsalis' life and the breadth of his associations. I enjoyed learning more about the creative process behind some of my favorite music as well.

   I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in road stories, jazz or how artists create the ir art.




2. You can't just say those words without putting music to the most famous road anthem by Willie Nelson. That's what this book is about: life on the road with jazz musicians.
   
   Co-author Carl Vigeland was invited to travel the country and Europe with jazz superstar Wynton Marsalis and his band.
   
   This is about the music of jazz, the blues and the road. Vigeland and Marsalis make numerous references to the book's title "Jazz In The Bittersweet Blues of Life. Vigeland covers personal observations of life with its rigors of the road, the overwhelming passion to produce quality performances. You don't get too much of the personal life of Marsalis, he shares little about his two older boys living in New York.
   
   Brother Branford splits for a rock band
   We also get very little info on tenor saxophone Branford Marsalis along with member Kenny Kirkland who left the band in the early 80's to play with rock superstar Sting. Branford also did a short stint as band leader for Jay Leno's "Tonight Show." In the book, we DON'T' get a clear understanding about the departure of his brother Branford and member Kenny Kirkland. Little is known here about Branford's departure, only mentioned here is "that others have thought that it may have been hurtful to have your brother leave for a rock musician." This book doesn't discuss that a rift was occurring and the finality was the departure. But I believe now, all is well with the brothers.
   
   Marsalis, on the other hand, shares keen insight into the world of jazz, his composition style, and rhythm including his relationship with the trumpet. About the trumpet, he says "you can never force the trumpet, you got to baby it, treat it gently, coax it. It's always there when you need a high note, or something very loud. If you don't handle up on it, it won't respect you"
   
   He teaches us about playing the songs and how the members produce an evening's show. We learn about his amiable personality and he exudes the passion to please his audience.
   
   Observations from the Jazz man
   Just from this book alone, we get the impression that Wynton Marsalis is cool and collected, caring of young children, family man and friend. His insights into life are fascinating. Of people who hang out at bars, discos, etc., he says are the unhappiest and lonliest blankety blanks in the whole world. He says, "If you want to be happy, go inside. Inside yourself, inside the people you love, inside your art. Inside seems much lonlier than outside, don't be fooled, you go far enough, it's always warm and good."
   
   But most of all, Wynton gives us an idea how he works, how he composes; it's incredible. It may be no surprise that he is also an accredited author with his books by "Marsalis on Music" and "Sweet Swing Blues on the Road." Wonderful read....MzRizz



3. Picked up Marsalis + Vigeland's work and just couldn't put it down! From descriptions of events, to understanding the personal struggles of band members, Jazz in the bittersweet blues of life fully expresses the goings on of the Wynton Marsalis Septet. Above all, I found Marsalis's commentaries on life, love, and music striking chords within my soul, and left me pleading for more.



4. Jazz in the Bittersweet Blues of Life is a chronicle of one artist's ten year journey as he shares his gift and talent with the world. Marsalis' words, which appear in italics throughout the book are both profound and poetic. As you read, you can hear him speak, but most of all you feel the passion he has for his craft. He poses the question early in the book when explaining that everyone is an artist, "...how do you want to make me feel with your art, and what insights do you have that distinguish your ideas from someone else's?" A rhetorical question for every artist.

   You get a sense of the daily experiences of Wynton and the other musicians in the Septet, from composing on the road, to the daily pick-up basketball games, to the lectures in schools across the country to the musicians ironing their clothing before each performance. It is a demanding, yet rewarding life. Throughout the book (and his travels) Marsalis not only meets and encourages young musicians, but he keeps in contact with them through periodic phone calls, updating himself on their growth as musicians. Some of the young musicians he met early in his career became members of the septet.

   Jazz in the Bittersweet Blues of Life, has shaped me as both an artist and author. I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Marsalis at Book Expo America. He is as personable, down-to-earth and charming as he appears in this book.

5 comments about Beyond the Narrow Gate.

1. This is not a terrible book. But it's not a good one either--especially in a field that has so many extraordinarily well-written memoirs (like "Wild Swans").
   "Beyond the Narrow Gate"'s lack of originality and style are its biggest problems. The author is telling a story that has been told many times before. Although Chang's women immigrants are better-off financially than the immigrants most memoirs are about, that fact actually makes "Narrow Gate" LESS interesting, because the women's hardships are less stark, more psychological than physical, and thus extremely difficult for Change to adequately convey.
   Chang's writing style is unexceptional. Her words do not draw the reader in, and there is a lack of complementarity between the story Chang is trying to tell and the words she uses to tell it with. Her language could be much richer, her descriptions more textured (adjectival phrases are our friends!). Worse, this story, of which the personal impact for the author is constantly reiterated, is not told in an intimate manner or with any sense of humor whatsoever. The telling is extremely straightforward, with too few embellishments and too little intimacy, which is off-putting, to say the least.
   There are also some smaller, but similarly irritating problems. First, this book touts itself as a record of four Chinese women's journey to America. In fact, that story is recounted as a background for excessive odes to Chang's mother that are not related to the story. There are frequent and redundant discussions of Chang's mother's exuberance in life, complete with unnecessary anecdotes that are neither contributory nor all that interesting.
   Also, especially in the first half of the book, Chang goes into long tangents about poets, such as the rather obscure Wallace Stevens, or earlier American authors. She tries to weave their experiences into the story of the Chinese immigrants' experiences--to what end, I have no clue. The device merely irritated me.
   Chang jumps between spaces, time, and characters in a wholly disconcerting manner. It's never made clear why certain characters, like Suzanne and Delores, feature heavily in some chapters and not others, since the book is not written in a consistent chronology. Chang also throws in a lot about herself as she was doing the research for the book--half of one chapter is devoted to a visit to an old priest in New York, who doesn't even remember Chang's mother. For a book that's supposed to be about the elder Chang's immigration experience, there is an excess of anecdotes about the author's research-related experiences.
   Last, Chang's insistence on writing out the character's exact words, no matter how broken their English, is annoying. Most children of immigrants, while acknowledging that their parents' English is nonstandard, have grown up hearing that version of English and therefore it sounds natural to them, and not broken. Therefore, Chang could still be true to her subjects by recording their speech as standard English, because that's how their children actually understand them. The broken English is very hard to read and takes away from the seriousness both of Chang's subject and often of the conversations that are being recorded.
   Overall, like I said, this isn't a TERRIBLE book. If it dealt with a topic that had fewer volumes already written on it--say, for example, the Thai or Hmong immigrant experience--I would actually give this book another star. But the Chinese immigrant experience is one that has already been recorded in some of the best tomes of this century, and so I don't think readers should waste their time with as mediocre a book as "Beyond the Narrow Gate."



2. Ever since the Joy Luck Club came out, it seems like "Asian heritage" books have been everywhere. I can't get into many of them - not entirely sure why - but this book is one of the exceptions.

   This story rings very true for me. My mother went to the Taipei high school where the four main characters meet, and this is what first drew me to the book. It was like finding out about her life though I'd never been able to ask the right questions (a process described early in the narrative, too). And I can see parts of my growing up reflected in most of the second-generation characters.

   But I like this book mainly for its wisdom, for the perspective Chang has gained through the process of writing these stories and how she shares that with the reader. It reminds me about the freedom we have here, to define our dreams however we want and do all we can to pursue them. (We're not forced to study biochemistry just because we're good students, and our culture helps give us the courage to change careers if we're not satisfied.) It's also interesting to see how the parents' experiences affect their children's lives in this area. Wei goes to New York to be a dancer, and Peter tries to pursue public policy instead of medical school. There's a line about a father who was so American that he encouraged his child "to go to Oberlin instead of Harvard" - perfectly characterized, I thought.

   I thought this book was nicely written, other than the occasional awkward foreshadowing. The stories do jump around, but this is inevitable, and they are described clearly enough that they really aren't too hard to follow.

   This is a relatively quick read, and definitely worth it - it paints an accurate picture of both generations' lives in the U.S. and throws in a nice China/Taiwan history lesson as well. It's definitely among my favorite "Chinese" books now, along with Mona in the Promised Land (Gish Jen) and Legacies (Bette Bao Lord).




3. A daughter researches the life of her mother through the eyes of her mothers friends.



4. A fascinating story of 3 generations of Chinese/Taiwanese women. Chen beautifully paints a contrast between the older generation and her young self on a personal journey to discover her roots. What makes this book so wonderful is that Chen not only tells of the difficult journey from Taiwan to America but also the battle of thoughts and emotions that take place in their hearts.



5. Unfortunately this book was written very poorly. Author swings from one end to another trying to catch a big fish. However she is a good observer and takes you into the complicated relations of four women with their families. She described well each woman during different time periods of their life in China, Taiwan, and USA. Unfortunately, this book consists of many small stories of each of them. There is no main story. However I found it helpful as well.

5 comments about A Song Flung Up to Heaven.

1. This is one of the six autobiographical works by Maya Angelou.
   
   Here, Maya Angelou returns to the U.S. after living in Ghana working with Malcolm X.
   
   When she gets back to her home, she finds out Malcolm X has been assassinated. This saddens and upsets her but confuses her too, since a black man has killed him. Eventually, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. asks Maya to go around to black churches to try to gain support for the Poor People's March. But he too gets assassinated.
   
   This work is full of depth and words that will help you delve into yourself and your feelings.
   
   If you like this book, you may like to read I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings which follows this.



2. First let me say that I am a huge Maya Angelou fan! I couldn't wait to add "A Sung Flung Up to Heaven" to my library. When it arrived, I poured a cup of tea and dug in. When I finished, I felt a little cheated. It seemed that she rushed through this book, leaving me wanting more. It's a lovely book overall, but I expected more detail, more artistry... more Maya... in this final installment. I wanted more personal perspective on her relationships with Malcolm X and Dr. King. I'm still a big fan, but this book missed the mark a bit for me.



3. When a representative of Random House contacted Angelou with the suggestion that she write an autobiography at the tender age of forty, she demurred, and he lay down a challenge by saying that she might be right to refuse, for writing autobiography as literature is nearly impossible to do. Angelou picked up that challenge and met it squarely, for her six-volume autobiography does indeed qualify as literature. As has been noted in several reviews of her other books in this series, she writes not the dry facts of her existence but rather the colorful and expressive interpretation of those facts. Instead of recounting happenings, she paints for the reader her interpretation of them, their significance, and their place in her universe. History may underlie her writing, but it is the view that Angelou has of those historical events that gives her books interest and meaning.
   
   A SONG FLUNG UP TO HEAVEN is the concluding volume of Angelou's autobiographical writings, and, by itself, it is of limited instruction for the reader. It is quite brief, easily read in a single sitting. The first short chapters present a skeletal synopsis of her personal history. The final chapter gives wing to her philosophical view of humankind. In between, the reader is given a glimpse of the frustrations leading to the Watts Riots and of the despair occasioned by the assassinations of Malcolm X and of Martin Luther King. This volume also continues earlier books' insightful descriptions of King, Malcolm X, and James Baldwin, adding much to the understanding of these men by the general public.
   
   This slim volume is indeed the conclusion of the other five books that comprise Angelou's autobiographical works detailing the first half of her life. It is no more logical to begin reading this book without having first read the others than it is to read the final chapter of a novel before enjoying all of the preceding chapters. If one is to comprehend this book fully, he must begin with I KNOW WHY THE CAGED BIRD SINGS and follow with its successors until he reaches A SONG FLUNG UP TO HEAVEN in the proper course of things.
   
   If a criticism must be lodged against this book, it is only that its brevity is such that it scarcely warrants being published as a separate volume. It could easily have been appended to the preceding book, ALL GOD'S CHILDREN NEED TRAVELING SHOES. The fact that the end of the book comes so quickly forces the reader to wonder whether Angelou tired of her writing project, ran headlong into an ultimate publishing deadline, or wished to eke out a bit more recompense from her publisher by forcing one additional volume through his presses.
   
   Some of the preceding autobiographical volumes have been described as having perhaps a bit too much virulence against Whites, perhaps a little too much hyperbole concerning the enduring effects of historical slavery. Some of Angelou's statements reveal a "reverse racism," to use one of her own phrases. Of course, the social climate in the United States during much of Angelou's life hardly engendered loving relations between White and Black citizens, yet the non-aggression of a Martin Luther King grew and matured in this environment, making Angelou's strident condemnations of the White population as much a factor of her own personality as of her social environment, and, after many pages, that stridency becomes tiresome. This final volume, however, is free of such hostility and is much more accepting of good people regardless of their color.
   
   In brief, if one has read the first five volumes of Angelou's autobiography, then by all means do finish with this sixth one. On the other hand, picking this one up and reading it first will deprive the reader of an accurate appreciation of Angelou's artistry, in both its strengths and its weaknesses, as a prose writer and may well leave the reader with a complete mis-perception of Angelou's autobiographical books. Angelou's autobiographical series is one of those things that really should be experienced in the order of their creation, and doing so will give the reader a captivating view of this most unusual author and poet.



4. I am an avid fan of Ms. Angelou and actively collect her books. Please continue to provide her works, especially her older books.



5. About the book: She tells her story in wonderfully simple, delightfully entertaining narrative. As a very young woman when I read her first autobiographical installment (I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings) I became an ardent fan of her craft. Her story gave me entrance into a sisterhood; some of her poetry still stirs and inspires me.
   
   However, in my listening experience, most authors (even some of my favorites) should NOT read their own works for audio publication. Maya Angelou is no exception. Instead of being transported into her experience, I heard a reading--and not (in my opinion) a particularly memorable one.
   
   Nevertheless, Ms. Angelou remains, without doubt, a voice of the time and a woman of vast accomplishment. Well dang, one person can't be perfect in all things now can they?! LOL!

2 comments about Leading Between Two Worlds: Lessons from the First Mexican-Born Treasurer of the United States.

1. "The American Dream is the fundamental story of this country, and my life is a grateful reflection of its reality." This quote on the back cover of the paperback edition of the book sums up the heart of this true-life story.
   
   Rosario Marin, coming to America as an immigrant child via Mexico, had no expectations that her life would be any different than the path that her family, culture and fate had laid out for her. Yet the beauty of the American dream, and the heart of Rosario's true-life story, is that someone can come here, with nothing, not even speaking a word of English, and can find herself becoming an influential person in state and national politics within a matter of a few years.
   
   The wonder of the California dream imbedded within the larger American dream is that in the Golden State, one can rise to greatness even without family connections, a famous last name, money or influence. California, especially Los Angeles, where Marin spent the last of her childhood, is the one place where anything is possible, and even an immigrant who arrived without any particular dreams of greatness would find herself truly living out the best of the American dream. With the words Si, Se Puede! Yes, We Can! Rosario Marin ends the preface to this wonderful book.
   
   This book is truly inspirational and well worth reading.



2. Rosario's story was a well-written, easy read. I could feel the heart she put into it. She revealed a lot of sensitive, personal information without coming off as maudelin. Many of the stories within the story contained useful advice for any one, especially any woman, wanting to break into politics.

No comments about The Cornel West Reader.

2 comments about Growing Up Black.

1. Of all of the so-called minority groups in the United States, African Americans occupy a special place. They were brought over to America as slaves and attempts were made to deny their humanity, strip them of their culture and rob them of their souls. It didn't work. Not only did the Africans survive but they thrived and gifted America with its own unique culture.

   Growing Up Black is the story of the childhoods of those African progeny who survived the sordid racial hatred of America. Unlike other books in this series, this text is exclusively non-fiction and culls the works from the authors' autobiographical memoirs. The young people represented (now old) are a diverse group from the 19th and 20th centuries.

   Learn about what it feels like to be called a "nigger" as a child and going home to get an explanation from your parents. Walk through a mob to attempt to integrate a school which would deny you your education. Experience being a light skin Black who can melt into the white majority culture. These are the varied experiences of these young people who show courage, great tenacity and creativity in growing up in a land which would deny them their humanity. Read about these young people for they point to hope for our future.




2. Far too often, the thoughts of Black youth are presented to us through well meaning, but biased sociologists or historians. It's refreshing to catch a glimpse of childhood memories from memoirs and autobiographies, rather than from the pages of yet another treatise on the plight of Black America. One section incudes the memoirs of William Holtzclaw, founder of the Utica Normal and Industrial Institute. It includes a description of an arrangement between Holtzclaw's uneducated father and the landowner for whom they all sharecropped. The father had an agreement to keep one quarter of the crops the family grew, but at the end of each season the landowner would calmly explain that Holtzclaw's family "ate" their share of the cotton harvest during the year. This young child's introduction to political powerlessness, interest rates and creative bookkeeping has far more impact than anything that you're likely to find in every financial self-help book ever published. The book also contains the childhood memories of Malcolm X., Angela Davis, Booker T. Washington, Maya Angelou and more. But it is merely a series of excerpts and it lacks the editorial voice that could connect these stories. That's either good or bad, depending upon what you're looking for. If you're looking for a comprehennsive understanding of Black youth, this isn't it. But if you're looking to connect with the stories of a culture that you already know, this book is a must have.