3 comments about The Complete Idiot's Guide to African American History (The Complete Idiot's Guide).

1. A book that gives a clear and concise history of African American. A format that gives teh reader a chance to pick up the releavnt information on a big subject.
   
   The review points at the end of every chapter help to remind the reader of the relevant points before moving on to the next chapter.
   
   The book in divided sensibly into broad chapters that allow any student trying to refresh their knowledge a real chance to organise their studies.
   
   Less Idiots Guide more like Well Organised Research Guide



2. I find most of the Idiot books pretty good. Not really for idiots - just easy, fun, quick reads that lay down a good foundation on the subject. The book is for idiots. Duncan writes well enough, but most of what she writes is of little value to a college history student - or anyone wanting to learn real history. Jimi Hendrix, Miles Davis, Chuck Berry all get more coverage than Fredrick Douglas. Ida Wells gets a paragraph while Shirley Chisolm gets almost two full pages. Oprah Winfry gets more coverage than the 54th Massachusetts. Much of the book is a long attack on the South, as if no discrimination existed in the North. Ducan has a political agenda as well and it is decidedly left wing. Duncan is not a historian - but a businessperson and it shows. Idiots Guide publishers - please get historians to write the history books.



3. Melba J. Duncan's new book is a must read for anyone interested in American history. Too often, books about the history of Africans in America fail to mention the significant contributions of Africans.

   In spite of great hardships, Africans propelled forward with such remarkable spirit; this book highlights those achievements.

   Melba Duncan looks at where we came from, where we are, and most importantly, where we are going and focuses on the importance of education, entrepreneurship, and strategy.

   I highly recommend this book to all!

5 comments about Aaliyah.

1. New Aaliyah fans would find this book to be very informative. I really like the fact that the book contains fabulous, colorful, high quality pictures of Aaliyah. There are a lot of books that don't have pictures let alone colored pictures. The only thing that I didn't care for was how the author mentioned a great deal of information regarding people who were associated with Aaliyah. There's nothing wrong with giving a few facts about other people but not too much to the point where you end up going off topic. Overall the book is great and I definitely feel that every Aaliyah fan should purchase this book.



2. I like this book because of all the pretty pictures that were inside, they were big and detailed. Sometimes the author would compare Aaliyah to other artist and sometimes get off topic. They just needed to focus on my girl only. THere is a picture of her and Dame in there when she is wearing a black dress and her nipple was showing. I dont like her exposed like that. But overall it was one of the best AALIYAH books I ever had.



3. Of all three biographies of Aaliyah that are out so far, I must say that this is the best one! Footman's book on Aaliyah's life is not only the first completely illustrated biography on her life to date, But the author was (unlike the other two writers, Farley and Kenyatta), is very detailed about her life and career. It pays tribute to the late entertainer in the loveliest way. Despite what the other reviewers claimed, I was never bored when I read this book. Most of the photographs of Aaliyah in this book are at least "8*10" in size, in full-color, and are very beautiful. They would make either lovely posters, or very nice screensavers,(If you can find these images of her on the internet.) There are also very nice pictures towards the end of the book of the murals on her billboard which promotes her last CD (in either N.Y. OR L.A.) and other murals/tributes that were created by her fans across the country after her passing. Her "Discography" and her short "Flimography" are also included. The author (Footman) at the end of the book puts it best when he simply says: "We may have lost Aaliyah, But at least we still have the music". To put it best, if you plan on buying a book about Aaliyah, This one is DEFINITELY worth buying. (Hopefully, one day, They'll make a movie about Aaliyah's life.) Until then,......WE LOVE YOU AND WE MISS YOU BABYGIRL.....MAY YOU REST IN ETERNAL PEACE!!!!!



4. Of all three biographies of Aaliyah that are out so far, I must say that this is the best one! Footman's book on Aaliyah's life is not only the first completely illustrated biography on her life to date, But the author was (unlike the other two writers, Farley and Kenyatta), is very detailed about her life and career. It pays tribute to the late entertainer in the loveliest way. Despite what the other reviewers claimed, I was never bored when I read this book. Most of the photographs of Aaliyah in this book are at least "8*10" in size, in full-color, and are very beautiful. They would make either lovely posters, or very nice screensavers,(If you can find these images of her on the internet.) There are also very nice pictures towards the end of the book of the murals on her billboard which promotes her last CD (in either N.Y. OR L.A.) and other murals/tributes that were created by her fans across the country after her passing. Her "Discography" and her short "Flimography" are also included. The author (Footman) at the end of the book puts it best when he simply says: "We may have lost Aaliyah, But at least we still have the music". To put it best, if you plan on buying a book about Aaliyah, This one is DEFINITELY worth buying. (Hopefully, one day, They'll make a movie about Aaliyah's life.) Until then,......WE LOVE YOU AND WE MISS YOU BABYGIRL.....MAY YOU REST IN ETERNAL PEACE!!!!!



5. THIS BOOK WAS A VERY GOOD READ!! THE AUTHOR SAID ALL THE FACTS ABOUT HER LIFE AND DID NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT HER LIFE. IF U R A TRUE AALIYAH FAN, U WILL BUY THIS BOOK!! THE PICTURES ARE BEAUTIFUL IN THIS BOOK!! HER LIFE IS TALKED ABOUT IN DEPTH IN THIS BOOK. I'VE ALREADY READ IT TWICE. BUY THIS BOOK!!!!

2 comments about Paul Robeson Speaks: Writings, Speeches, and Interviews, a Centennial Celebration.

1. If you can't believe the websites of Rutgers and Princeton Univiersities, and just have to read it for yourself, this is the book for you. Just being able to read Mr. Robeson's beautiful ode to one of last century's most influential world leaders, Joe Stalin, is worth the price of the book! I'm tickled pink (or should I say "red") that the United States Postal Service has done their homework and honored Mr. Robeson with his own postage stamp!!



2. What can I say? Paul Robeson put his money where his mouth is. He gave up millions for what he believed in and stood his ground. He fought for Black freedom and also took up the cause for poor whites and workers. Whether you agree with him or not, this man is one of America's greatest heroes! It is amazing how his life and contributions are overlooked. Buy this book and read about a great American hero.

1 comments about The Martin Luther King, Jr. Companion: Quotations from the Speeches, Essays, and Books of Martin Luther King, Jr..

1. THIS WAS AN AWESOME MAN!! HE WAS TRULY A GOD SEND AND A BLESSING TO BLACK PEOPLE AS A WHOLE AND ALL WHO LISTENED, BELIEVED AND LEARNED FROM HIS MESSAGES AND SPEECHES!! A TRUE BLACK KING!! THIS BOOK IS A COLLECTORS ITEM AND A TRUE HEIRLOOM OF A BLACK LEGACY!!!!

4 comments about To Keep the Waters Troubled: The Life of Ida B. Wells.

1. And one of the ten most impressive people I've ever read about, period. I can't say too much about how awed I am of the life of Ida B. Wells. Had I been her contemporary I would have worn out my knees trying to propose to her until she married me. McMurry's book shows how this woman has been short changed by history due to her uncompromising belief in African American equal rights and self-respect. She and people like another African American who doesn't get his due, Monroe Trotter, have been marginalized merely because in their day they demanded the same degree of self-respect and political and educational rights that Caucasians of every stripe took for granted. They were considered "radical" and "militant" for not compromising the way virtually all other African American leaders did during their era. Their marginalization goes a long way in explaining why the African American persona has never featured the degree of chutzpah and daring it has needed for us to advance farther than we have. Instead, all of us have been too heavily influenced by leaders promoted over Wells-Barnett and Trotter, who instilled caution within us as a people, virtually as second nature. Not even W.E.B. Du Bois conducted himself with the degree of pride and fortitude that people like Wells-Barnett and Trotter did. McMurry's book deserves a place on all reading lists in American history classes so that everyone can truly understand the troubling forces that made this country what it is today, and the manner in which people like Wells-Barnett were purposely silenced as part of a plan to keep African Americans oppressed.



2. This book is interesting and easy to read, but hard to take. Ida B. Wells-Barnett was a complex person: incredibly smart, brave and strong, but at the same time, prickly and ultra sensative.The book also puts America's current racial and gender problems into perspective, showing us that we haven't come very far from the late 19th century's attitudes toward and treatment of African-Americans and women. This book is a must-read for anyone who cares about a great American or wants to face and learn more about America's shameful history. That said, the author's style makes it easy to read. Amazingly enough for a scholarly biography, I would often find myself reading late into the night because I couldn't put it down.



3. McMurray's biography of Ida B. Wells-Barnett is a rare triumph. Wells-Barnett was a courageous American whose valor is depicted in full color. All too frequently, when there is a discussion of the impact of race, there is a mistaken assumption that black males comprise the affected population. Similarly, when gender is raised as an issue, the false assumption is that white women are the only ones to be affected. Wells-Barnett was an American woman of African descent who fought the societally-mandated strictures of race and sex until her death. I am emboldened by her deeds since too many of the same strictures still exist. I applaud McMurray for her scholarship in this biography's portrayal of the life of Wells-Barnett. This book is definitely recommended.



4. I came away from this book with new respect for Wells, and her courage. I was overwhelmed with sadness after reading some of the details of the lynchings and the effect on the survivors. The book contains an excellent analysis of the real reason for many lynchings:economic competition.

2 comments about Dancing Spirit.

1. It is unusual to have a book reduce one to tears. That is usually reserved for a live performance and it is unusual, humbling and not a little frightening. I first read Judith Jamison's autobiography in 1995, and every time I re-read it, the effect is the same! The final pages summerize her philosophy concisely and with such power you can almost hear bells ringing in her voice. Your shoulders instinctively drop, your chin lifts and that strange core of yourself resonates along with her; along with her extraordinary vitality. Would that I could see her perform LIVE! Her words will have to be enough, and combined with the fine work she is still producing, they are! Ms. Jamison became the artistic director of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in 1989, after the founder's death. It is a visionary company and a powerful force in dance, and her promotion seems to be a logical and natural progression. "I don't feel as though I'm standing in anyone's shoes. I'm standing on Alvin's shoulders. The horizons become broader...." The book chronicles Ms. Jamison's dancing role in the company along with earlier personal factors in her life that are her story. Faith, discipline and an extraordinary amount of love and guidance, ethnocentrism and family meld in this woman of great strength and purpose. Her clarity and focus are to be emulated and admired and her attitude toward dance and dancers is precise. She seems truly gracious in all her writing. Her respect for those who came before is profound. Many personal photos are interspersed with studio shots and snippets of insight on life and dance nail down her philosophy. Ms. Jamison's great spirit and intelligence permeate. Stark recognition of her great dance ability is always tempered with humility and truth. Often written with a gutsy awareness of ther Afro-American heritage (along with writer and poet Howard Kaplan) the vernacular is often set inside quotation marks, lending humor to this woman who is so many things, most formidibly a professional. The word Goddess surely applies. How shocking it was to see this book translated into dance a few seaon's back! And again, greatly humbling at the artistry that so completely transposed the written word into a dance of great beauty and feeling. "Dance from the top of your head to the bottom of your feet....even when you're stationary you must be moving and alive...." Read this book and feel alive-full of spirit and GIVE it to any young dancer you encounter!



2. Judith Jamison is an amazing woman and an amazing dancer. I have learned more about her through her performances than I did through this book. I found it to be very focused on outward events in her life, rather than what was going on inside. She seems to take great care to omit information about her own personal life, leaving gaps in her life story and ultimately, a disappointed reader. It's another arts-celebrity biography full of tales about premieres, events, honors, hard work, but no real window into her innermost self.

5 comments about It's Like That: A Spiritual Memoir.

1. I didn't know much about Run until reading this memoir. He let's you know that all your dreams can come true, and that you have to help God help you. He tells how the group was up one day and down the next, and that you should always have a backup plan. This book is for anyone who needs encouragement through any circumstances.



2. I could not put this extraordinary book down because it is filled with Universal Laws to improve the quality of life. I did not know what to expect when I selected this book, but I have been pleasantly reminded by someone whose career and life has gone through life's changes about God's goodness. Rev. Run did an excellent job of putting these spiritual truths in a manner that can be followed easily to change the tides of one's fortunes.

   This was an excellent piece that won't be soon forgotten.




3. RUN-DMC were truly the movers and shakers of the rap industry during the 1980's. Then suddenly, their fame slipped through the hands like grains of sand. Joseph Simmons (RUN) was a victim of his own fame and success. Thank goodness he was able to find help by way of religion and now see himself as a spiritual to help other young artist see through his mistakes.



4. I thought this book was a great book to read. I myself have been a Run DMC fan since i was like 8. Im 18 now. They influenced me so much and They should be on the walk of fame not to mention on the next grammys to except alot off awards for the work they have done. As far as the book. I thought it told it all. Its a very good book and i give it five stars.



5. I found this book to be a very accurate and down-to-earth account of Rev. Run's life. I have always been a big fan of Run D.M.C.'s music, and I was always curious about the man behind the music. Although Rev. Run seems to have fallen on hard times, his faith in God and how he shares it with us in this book should be applauded and shows that God will bring you back from anywhere. I also found that the self-help tips keep it real. I believe this book is a hip-hop jewel.

4 comments about Whitney Houston: The Biography.

1. I have always been a huge fan of Whitney Houston. I read it a few years back before her divorce and new comeback. I hope they update the book or someone writes a new book. She is a talented artist and I found some things I never knew about her.



2. Whitney Houston is rarely out of the tabloids, so it is tempting to think one knows all there is to know about her. Leave it to Mr. Parish to get beyond the headlines with a fascinating look at this major talent. It is a well-researched look at Whitney Houston, her family (esp mother Cissy) and an era of pop music in which she came of age. From the projects to mansions we follow every step of her rise to the top (including set-backs along the way). This is also a well-rounded look at her marriage to Bobby Brown, a marriage that has continued to defy predictions of doom. Whether a fan or not this is a highly readable book.



3. Whitney Houston is rarely out of the tabloids,so you may think you know all about her. Leave it to Mr. Parish to get beyond the headlines and give us a well-rounded look at this diva. This is not the just the story of Whitney Houston, but of her family, esp. mother Cissy and of the era of pop in which she came of age. From the projects to mansions, from ups and downs, it is a fascinating look at a great talent. It gives an in-depth look at her marriage to Bobby Brown, a marriage that continues to defy predictions of doom. Whether a fan or not this is a very enjoyable book.



4. This was one I could not put down untill I finished it. Completely up to date, covers her life,rise to fame,and ends on trip to Israel. Mr. Parish has walked the tightrope of keeping his feelings out the book, but still gives warts and all. Has a couple of pictures I never saw before, and is very quick moving as books of this type go. Learned some new things about my favorite DIVA!

4 comments about Repossessing Ernestine: A Granddaughter Uncovers the Secret History of Her American Family.

1. I read this book some years ago. I even called a friend who now lives once more in her home town of Memphis, TN. She assured me of the accuracy of events and names. Reading this book was equivalent to eating and enjoying a good multi-course meal. However, before I could finish the dessert, the table was cleared. As with many, if not all readers of this book, I hope that there will be a follow up book delving further for explanations. We are left hanging in mid air over quite a few issues. Does Marsha Hunt feel she gave all that she felt we needed to know, or did she grow weary and/or scared of finding more answers? Truly she cannot be content with the finality she offered to us. Still, bravo to her for her determination.



2. Repossessing Ernestine is a very interesting, compelling novel, however, Marsha Hunt should have given the reader more history of the "Talented Tenth". I am sure there some readers were lost and confused with many points in the book. More information about the "light skinned" elite in America and their history would better explain how Ernestine's world evolved, thus, lending credence to the idealism that was her true captor. Ernestine Hunt was a victim of social mores, beliefs and practices more so than alleged "mental illness".

   Marsha Hunt did not explain how it came to be that her mother and father met, married then divorced. The reader is not given an explanation of why her father was not present in your life and how she truly felt about that. These facts would speak to the evloution of the "Talented Tenth" tradition up to 1956.

   Repossessing Ernstine is a fabulous outline of an interesing memoir/biography. Marsha Hunt should follow up on this novel with another, giving more depth and insight into important historical incidences of Ernestine's early life. The reader needs to be re-introuduced to Ernestine Hunt - this time, instead of offering participant observation facts, invite the reader into Ernestine's world.




3. I must firstly disagree with the review that I have read. This book was capturing, and I was unable to put it down, I was reading in ques, while travelling and staying awake late into the night to finish it. I am a Mental Health nurse, and can understand the chain of events in Ernestine's life, especially in the era which she lived. Ms Hunt did an exceptional job of locating her 'lost and forgotten' grandmother, and whatever her motivation was, she appeared to increase the quality of Ernestine's life. I would be interested to learn how she spent the following years. Again Ms Hunt is to be commended. I have recommended the book to many friends,who have all enjoyed it, and after four years, I recommended it to another friend only last week.



4. Yes, I know that Marhsa Hunt had a child with Mick Jagger (how many times does she remind us?), but aside from that, her story is compelling although her reasons for searching out Ernestine seem to end once Hunt has enough Material for her book. I was left wondering about this cold, distant family and the children who wanted nothing to do with their mother until cousin Marsha takes an interest for whatever reason. None of the proposed questions are ever answered: Was Ernestine insane (unlikely)? Why did they lie about her educational background? Why did her children take so little interest in her? How did this family come to so callously turn their back on a "ill" mother especially when they became psychologists themselves? And, what role, if any, did race play? A sad story and wholly unsatifying, if you are looking for answers other than who is the father of Marsha Hunts daughter...you will not find them here. Ernestine Exploited is a better title.

5 comments about Catching Dreams: My Life in the Negro Baseball Leagues (Sports and Entertainment).

1. This book faithfully recreates the world of Frazier Robinson and the Negro Leagues. Outstanding and fascinating. It would make a perfect gift for any baseball fan. Paul Bauer inserts nothing between you and his subject. It is a must have book for any serious fan of the game.



2. This is a wonderful book that needed to be written. I had the opportunity to meet Frazier while living and I am so glad that his stories live on in this book. It brings back the memory of the time when players played the game for the love of the game and not for what they were being paid. And worrying about what deal they could acquire in the off season. Also in a time when color mattered over talent it should remind us that never again should we engage in human exclusion



3. Being a baseball history buff (addict) for the past 42 years, I've read just about everything I could get my hands on. I cannot now think of an autobiographical book to which I could attach a higher recommendation that "Catching Dreams" by Frazier "Slow" Robinson. This true gentleman travelled the dusty roads that connected the sites of Negro League baseball during the 30's, 40,s and even the 50's. Although produced by the University of Syracuse press, there is no attempt to make the book erudite or complicate it with an assortment of exotic literary techniques and obscure words. Instead, the publisher and co-author, Paul Bauer have presented the story of Slow Robinson in language truly spoken by the man himself. When you read this book, you will feel that you are seated beside Mr. Robinson as he speaks with words, terms and expressions uniquely those of a man with little formal education, who gained his lessons in life on the fly and had to learn his own language. His ability to recall a voluminous list of names and anecdotal material from his experiences, and to relate them descriptively, suggest a man who would have had little trouble dealing with a formal post-secondary school education. His relationships with such Negro League stalwarts as Josh Gibson, Cool Papa Bell, Leon Day and Satchel Paige are detailed with humour, insight and compassion. He is forthright without offending his old friends, as in Ball Four by Jim Bouton. In his own words, his goal in life was to be remembered as a nice guy; he passed with flying colors. If you choose only one book to read on this subject, you simply cannot go wrong with Catching Dreams.



4. I consider myself a student of Negro League history, and I read virtually everything I can locate on the subject. I have also developed friendships with many of these players over the years, and many of them have written books/memoirs regarding their playing days. In speaking with these great pioneers of professional sport, one quickly surmises that certain "stars" spent a fair amount of time embellishing legends and perfecting the art of self-promotion once their playing days ended. A handful have even managed to parlay this ability into a modest supplement to their income via baseball memorabilia shows, and I sincerely hope this trend continues for all who have mastered it.

   Truthfully however, this group comprises only a tiny percentage of the remaining Negro Leaguers (they're just the loudest, so they garner the most notoriety, I suppose). Should you attend any gathering of former players, you will notice that these "showmen" are generally shunned or otherwise discredited by their peers. That speaks louder than anything I could write here. While these spotlight-lovers' ability to spin a yarn surely brings furthered interest and financial benefit to personal appearances by ALL former players, it likely also speaks to the historical accuracy one can expect from their books.

   A select few didn't go the Barnum route -- they were who they were, they did what they did, and, while proud of their accomplishments on the diamond with arguably the greatest ballplayers of ANY era, they continued to live as they always had after their baseball careers ended. I am thankful when any player publishes a book, but when one of these select players leaves a record of what they saw, heard, accomplished and/or overcame, free of hyperbole, that book takes on a "treasured" status on my bookshelf. More than just a treasure, CATCHING DREAMS is flat-out the best of the genre. Buy it, read it, and learn something. I wouldn't recommend it this highly if it wasn't this good. It is.

   Kudos to Paul Bauer for his efforts in faithfully documenting what was said and getting it published. I was fortunate enough to know Mr. Robinson well, and this book is an accurate representation of his character and personality -- it's honest, accurate, and self-effacing. You could waste time and money on lesser efforts by better-known players, or you could read something that captures the feel of a private audience with the author (with the added bonus that it's all TRUE!). I knew him well enough to know. I find myself wishing everyone else could have, too. Trust me. Buy the book.

   Please find and read books by these authors, too:

   Wilmer Fields (another honest account), Monte Irvin (yet another honest account), Effa Manley (difficult to find, but remarkable), Kevin Keating/Michael Kolleth (guide to the Negro League autograph collecting hobby, exhaustively researched and thoroughly enlightening), Phil Dixon/Patrick J. Hannigan (also hard to find, but still the best collection of negro league photos ever, and also well-researched).




5. This book tells how things realy were back then. When Mr.Robinson told his story, he did not sugar coat anything. You don't find this in alot of the other books that were written about the Nego Leagues. I highly recommend this to book to any baseball fan.