5 comments about Even After All This Time: A Story of Love, Revolution, and Leaving Iran.

1. What I love about this book is its ability to engender controversy.... just look at the reviews. I wonder if Ms. Latifi realized it would have such an impact when she wrote it? Every reader finds a different story between the covers....some see a touching tribute to parents, some see an inspirational tale of an immigrant family that overcomes substantial odds, some see it as the whining of a disenfranchised "Persian princess", some see it as a political novel (go figure!), etc. I see another aspect, a touching exploration of the toll of early loss in life. Ms. Latifi lost her father to execution at the hands of Khomeini's henchmen, and, effectively, her mother due to her absence for a critical period of her early life while Ms. Latifi and her sister were studying in Austria and the U.S. No wonder she says she was reluctant to risk loving and commiting herself to someone outside the family! Enjoy this book for all the different tales it tells. I applaud Ms. Latifi for her straightfoward storytelling (so what if it is not written to the standard of a great American classic.) She really tells it like it is, especially with respect to Persian and American traits, warts and all! (I also loved the Persian sayings sprinkled throughout.) Brava!



2. While I find the author's life interesting and give her and her family much credit, I found the book poorly written. Did anyone edit this book for the author, whose first language is not English? I found grammatical mistakes. Afschineh's story reads like a timeline - "we did this, then we did that..." The word "total" was used too often. For instance, on p. 220 "totally out of control" to describe the scene at the airport when greeting the mom. Or, "totally gorgeous" to describe a man. A 5th grader could have written a better description than that. On p. 244, "he really went all out" to describe Nassar's surprise Disney trip. This is a lame description. On p. 283 alone the setting moves from Tehran, to Indiana, to New York City! Also on p. 283, "nicest, most generous people" to describe Calder's parents. This is another weak statement. How were they nice? How did they show generosity?
   The author tries to cover too many events with this book. My sense is that the she wanted to write a book (quickly) to add to her list of accomplishments, without giving the quality and content serious consideration. Apparently the editors weren't concerned with the quality either for they did a poor editing job.



3. The author has many of the defects of your average American kid: Self-absorbed, superficial, etc.
   The book is, however, a graphic coming-of-age story of an immigrant child and has its charm. Not great, but worth reading if that's what you're after.



4. I started reading this book and couldn't put it down. This is the incredibly story of the Latifi family who persevered through the revolution in Iran and their immigration to the United States.
   I have spent quite some time in the Middle East and having this account of life and hardship in Iran helped me to understand the mentality and culture of women in Iran better.
   I immigrated to the United States myself and even though I didn't come here under political asylum I know how hard it is to try to fit into the American culture and still hold on to your heritage. The bonds of family and the will to succeed show once more that you can achieve in this country whatever you want. You just have to have the will to do so, something that we are too quick to forget. This is a must read!



5. This book discusses that how Ms. Latify father was executed due to 1979 revolution in Iran. As a result, this family's life torn apart. Two elder daughters left Iran and made their way to US and eventually one became a doctor and other one became an attorney. Plus, their mother and two brothers came to US and resided in US and earned higher education.

5 comments about Hattie McDaniel: Black Ambition, White Hollywood.

1. This has got to be one of the best books written about someone. The book is well written and an enjoyment to read. I hope all get a chance to read such a book. thank you.



2. A biography that was interesting in some spots, long and boring in others. I came away from this one with an "oh, well" kind of feeling. While I appreciated the author's fact based account, I was never able to really "get into" this story. McDaniel came from a life of extreme poverty to become the first Black person to win an Academy Award. The book goes into great detail about McDaniel's life story, her parentage, her work in vaudeville, her work on screen and on radio. We also read about her multiple marriages, her fight with the NAACP and her last days as she fought diabetes and breast cancer. The running theme of this book is courage and perserverance, of which Ms. McDaniel had a lot. I wouldn't recommend this for purchase, best to get it from the library. 2.5 stars.



3. THIS IS NOT JUST A BIOGRAPHY OF A FASCINATING WOMAN, IT IS ALSO A FASCINATING ACCOUNT OF THE PREJUDICE MS MCDANIEL FACED WITHIN THE MOTION PICTURE INDUSTRY, AND FROM THE NAACP. A FIRST CLASS ACCOUNT OF A WOMAN I FELT I KNEW PERSONALLY AFTER THE LAST PAGE, AND AN EQUALLY WONDERFUL SOURCE OF INFORMATION ABOUT PREJUDICE AND RACIAL PROBLEMS IN ALL ITS FORMS. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT



4. Looking back at Hattie McDaniel's life, I had to question why now? Why recognize her life with a stamp now? I sought out the answers by reading this book. This is a well documented biography written by a historian who is also a very good storyteller. She captures the times that Hattie McDaniel came up in as well as the story of her parents and older siblings. Her accomplishments are meaningful when effectively presented in that context. as Jill Watts has done in this book. Miss McDaniel managed to participate in every form of show business from vaudeville, blues shows, theatre, radio, movies and television. I read this book from cover to cover. The information I read complimented the biography I just finished about Lincoln Perry (Stepin Fetchit).



5. This book on one of the most memorable Black performers from the studio period catches some of her vivacity--her mother is said to have given her youngest child a nickel on occasion to just stop singing, dancing and carrying on. The reader can't be sure that Mrs. McDaniel wasn't just trying to find a moment's peace or if she was attempting to dissuade her daughter from setting off on what she regarded as the primrose path. This bio does a good job of detailing her family's path from slavery to her role as one of the most visible representatives of her people to the average American in the '30s and '40s.
   
   Hattie McDaniel's ability to endure as well as her gift for imbuing her often subservient characters with much more edge than audiences were aware of at the time are delineated nicely in this biography. The author is remarkably thorough, mentioning Miss McDaniel's lifelong generosity to others, constant work to educate and make her industry more equitable, and even her participation in midget car races(Oh, where is the film of this?!)as well as her pioneering efforts to represent women, as well as Black Americans, as human beings. There is also some suggestion that Hattie McDaniel may have had to maneuver behind the scenes to maintain her preeminent position, though this is presented as indicative of the actress' savvy understanding of the inner workings of the Hollywood publicity machine.
   
   It's a little dry in parts, since the author, a professor of history, ascribes some conscious social and political motivations to this artist's early work that may be a bit hard to believe. Hattie McDaniel deserves to be recognized for her contributions, but sometimes, I suspect that like most of us, she did what she did in order to keep the wolf from the door. A worthwhile read.

5 comments about Lost Prophet: The Life and Times of Bayard Rustin.

1. I went on a sabbatical in the mountains but couldn't put this book down. It's one of the best books I've ever read. Incredibly well written. Amazing life story. Inspiring beyond almost anything I've read from the period. Check out Two Crosses too for his speeches. It's a good supplement while reading the biography.



2. "Visionary." "Inspirational." "Controversial." "Black." "Gay." These are some of the many words used as description for Bayard Rustin in Lost Prophet: the Life and Times of Bayard Rustin by John D'Emilio. He was a nonviolent civil rights activist who firmly believed in the effectiveness of this approach and, despite all of the challenges he faced, was impervious to setbacks - though he had many of them. The author portrays Rustin as one of the unsung heroes of the twentieth century and as an instrumental player in promoting racial equality who is often forgotten and lost in the shuffle of history. This biography is a testament to all that he accomplished; trying in earnest to ensure that his name and impact is no longer overlooked.
   
   Long before the civil rights movement gained momentum in the 1960's, Rustin was deeply involved in promoting equality through the means of non-violence. Raised a Quaker the ideals of pacifism were well embedded in his philosophies that it was only after joining forces with other pacifists, like A.J. Muste, that they together formed several successful organizations. Though his participation in these associations, like the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), was impressive it was his personal efforts that were most notable. In the 1942 while on a bus he decided to move to the white section; a decision that resulted in violence he refused to react to and imprisonment.
   
   As an African-American, a homosexual, a former communist, conscientious objector, and pacifist the challenges he faced were many. Not only was he battling the stigmas of his race, he was also battling the stigma of his sexual orientation at a time when recognition of homosexuality was minimal. One event in which he was caught in the midst of a "lewd act" nearly derailed his lifetime of work and goals. Yet, as he continually did, he overcame that seemingly insurmountable obstacle and furthered his role in the civil rights movement. He forged a strong relationship with Martin Luther King, Jr. and taught him the tenants of a nonviolent movement. As a common acquaintance Glenn Smiley said, King "knew nothing" of Ghandian pacifism before Rustin. Though he witnessed the realization of many of his goals, Rustin believed that the fight was never over. As the fight for racial equality slowed down, Rustin recognized that the next big hurdle would be the struggle for gay rights.
   
   D'Emilio's biography of this dynamic historical character is, without a better word to describe it, impressive. For a work of non-fiction, Lost Prophet, reads much like a novel. With simple prose and elegant descriptions, D'Emilio writes a thorough account without being daunting or arduous. He effectively contextualizes Rustin's movements from decade to decade with the appropriate political, economic, and social climate. Because of this we know, for example, that his flirtation with communism in the 1930's had less to do with Stalin's ideas and more to do with the belief that capitalism could not save the floundering American economy. D'Emilio researched Rustin's life so meticulously that one of my only criticisms is that, because he was too specific and detail oriented at times, my attention wavered slightly- though I would imagine that most people would not consider careful research to be a negative.
   
   Finishing this biography of a man I had never heard of, yet who was clearly quite influential, leaves me curious about what else I do not know. Growing up, we are told of the importance of Martin Luther King, Jr. and the movement he lead, yet little attention is paid to the behind the scenes efforts and the other people involved. Bayard Rustin is a shining example of how popular history can have a blind-spot. And because of this, I thank John D'Emilio for writing this informative biography and for teaching me some forgotten history about the Lost Prophet.



3. I just finished reading this book for my class on The Civil Rights Movement. I have say this book was very good. It gave me much insight into how the movement was more complex than what I was taught in grade school. If you're one of the people like I was who thought Dr. King was the total force behind the movement, you must read this book. You will become far more educated on how much of an impact this man was not only to the Civl Rights Movement, but other endeavors as well. It is sad how easily Rustin has been tossed aside because of prejudice of all things. But this is why it is important to have books like this one that educates and informs.



4. Rustin's story is a curious one -- how is it that a militant Quaker pacifist, a man who chose to go to prison during World War II, is found defending Lyndon Johnson's Presidency in 1968? The answer lies in the various tragedies of the '60's: the vestiges of the Cold War that shaped American policies; Johnson's ability to commit to progressive domestic policies but inability to shake free of the worst of the Cold War mentality; the triumphs and the tragic splintering of the American Civil Rights movement; and perhaps in Rustin's personal tragedy, that of a gay, black pacifist whose biggest political obstacle was not found in the radicalism of his ideas but in his attempt to live his personal life as a gay man.
   
   D'Emilo appears to capture all those elements of Rustin, and suggests both how Rustin shaped those political movements in which he involved himself and how they served to shape him.
   
   My students generally all are familiar with Dr. King's speech at the 1963 March on Washington. With few exceptions, however, they have never heard of the two men who planned the March: labor leader A.P. Randolph and Rustin. D'Emilo's book serves to remind us of just how much an injustice it is that Rustin's role in the Civil Rights movement has been so much forgotten.



5. Like many other people, I had not learned that 1963 March on Washington organizer Bayard Rustin was also homosexual. Because Rustin lived in a time when homosexuality was stigmatized (and march organizers had believed public recognition of his homosexuality was not 'respectable' Rustin had to keep this portion of his life hidden in order to have impact at this event.
   
   Rustin complied with the now-unthinkable directive because social justice had always been a passion.
   
   Rustin's Quaker upbringing influenced his passion for social justice. In college, he became an organizer for the Young Communist League; he later quit when they advocated World War II participation. Rustin's strong sense of morality would not allow him to enlist in World War II, he believed that a sentence in the federal prison system was the only moral option.
   
   Rustin began freedom riding with the Fellowship of Reconciliation (FOR) as early as the 1940's. Although these people were ahead of their time on many issues, they could not accept his sexuality. Rustin later found employment with the War Resisters League (which in that era at least stayed neutral on the issue) but the experience undoubtedly stayed with him.
   
   Fortunately, Rustin was able to later come out in the 1970's. Until his death he was open about his identity as a gay man. Discrimination was the problem, not his sexuality.
   
   Today, we continue to see inadvertent consequences from the earlier decision to minimize Rustin's identity as a gay man. The allegedly liberal mass media has largely persisted in portraying GLBT issues as universally white, and gave substantial airtime to Alveda King, a niece of the late Martin Luther King who denounces homosexuality.
   
   The mass media tellingly elects to ignore the public GLBT rights support of Jesse Jackson and Coretta Scott King, who recognize there are many more blacks like Rustin. We cannot work towards the world he had envisioned without acknowlleging his whole self.

5 comments about Space Is The Place: The Lives And Times Of Sun Ra.

1. Sun Ra has remained one of the most misunderstood musicians of our time. And in the case of many music geniuses, Sun Ra would keep the critics and fans at arm's length, but welcome musicians into his world of philosophy and art.
   
   Author John F. Szwed does an almost impossible task of peeling of the layers of myth and disinformation to present the real life, struggles and triumphs of Sun Ra. Szwed brilliantly weaves through the situations which shaped his life while growing up in Birmingham, Ala., the highs and exteme lows in the jazz world of Chicago and New York City & how persistence finally yielded an understanding - on various levels - from fans who also wanted to challenge the barriers erected in the music industry.
   
   The philosophy of Sun Ra is explained and Szwed shows how it influenced every facet of his life on and off stage. I strongly believe Szwed ends any debate on how Sun Ra lived his life and what he demanded from those around him.
   
   This must have been a very difficult undertaking for Szwed, but his outstanding research and balanced reporting yields a fantastic biography on a person we can continue to learn from.



2. Frankly, Sun Ra seemed to go out of his way to make a biography pretty much impossible. Professor Szwed is to be commended for his effort, though I think at times the professor takes Ra and himself too seriously. It is a hip jazz disease that Ra played off of brilliantly and would have been amused by.
   
   What is of value is you get some idea of the depth of this fellow, the complexity, the seriousness and simultaneous playfull nature. In being too deep or altogether dismissive of him, we missed the amazing creations.
   
   The book confirmed my evaluation of Ra's heart and motivation. A few years prior to reading this book, I went with my family to an assembly of jazz musicians who processed, played outrageous free jazz, and did this while listening to an old woman recite Sun Ra's poetry while "dancing" and "singing" in Wichita. My young daughter was squealing with delight and loving the wild affair. The adults were being so "into it", solemn, and so serious. This book confirmed to me she was likely the only one Sun Ra would have concluded got it. He probably would have commenced to direct the band to improvise off of her squeals.
   
   He from above probably was smiling and particularly happy that a little white girl "understood the vibrations" and would have been encouraged for the future of the earth which he was convinced would take all the races working in harmony to rescue.



3. Great book.
   If you have an interest in who Sun Ra was you ought to read this. Not a lot of musical analysis, but an extrordinary explanation of the ideas and philosophies behind it. Good job on the life as well.
   I wish the highly-praised Lewis Porter Coltrane biography was a quarter as good as this.



4. This is, simply put, the greatest jazz biography I have ever read. Sun Ra is a complex and fascinating character, and Szwed's narrative more than lives up to the challenge. The most impressive thing about this book is that Szwed places Ra's, shall we say, bizarre beliefs in a context that makes him seem brilliant, lonely, compassionate, and vulnerable--in a word, human. Interwoven with the facts of Ra's life, his childhood, his musical development, his status as 60s cult icon, Szwed goes into long, fascinating digressions on the roots of Ra's beliefs--from ancient Egyptian mythology to the Bible. After reading this book, it was as if a whole world had been opened to me, and I now enjoy and appreciate Ra's art so much more. I wish I could convey how much this book moved me...it is more than the best jazz biography I have ever read, it is one of the best biographies I have ever read, period. If you are at all interested in Sun Ra, experimental jazz, or modern mythmaking, then DO NOT hesitate to pick this book up.



5. The book is well-written and does what it sets out to do - explain who Sun Ra was and what he was doing. This is no mean feat. Sun Ra was a man of many interests and beliefs, of whom many misconceptions exist. Even most of his fans (I've been listening to Ra's music for about 10 years now) will probably learn much and gain tremendous perspective on him from this book (I certainly did).

   The book's story is one of a man with artistic genius within him, who probably could have been a millionaire and musical "star" - who chose to do other things instead. Here is the unusual story of what he did and why he did it.

   There is room for another book in the world on Ra's discography, that traces the patterns, forms, and themes of his vast catalogue of recorded music. There is room in the world for a book that tells the stories of the members of Ra's Arkestra. But this is not those books, this is the first logical step in studies : an explanation of Sun Ra himself. It's a difficult job very well done.

2 comments about PROPHESY DELIVERANCE.

1. West's books is an eye-opening account of racism since modernity and a proposed response. He begins with an account of modernity and proceeds to an insightful genealogy of racism. Racism, he claims, comes from a combination of an emphasis on science, Cartesian philosophy, and Greek thought and aesthetics. West then turns attention to four common African American responses to the problem, highlighting humanism as the preferable option. Finally, West spends 2 chapters arguing for a combination of Christian and Marxist perspectives for a revolutionary Christianity.
   
   There is no doubt that West is brilliant, articulate, and passionate. His diagnosis of the problems of racism and modernity are indespensible. The reason the book only receives 4 stars is that I am not sure Marxism is the correct choice for Christians. Without a doubt, Marxist thought provides insights Christians need. However, it seems to me that another political system will bring about more problems. I suggest that the church itself is political, so Christians need not seek out another source of more effective political thought. The church, when it functions as it ought, is all that is needed to reform society.



2. I read this book for the first time as a young graduate student! It was one of the most exciting books I had read at the time. It's fine combination of intellectual insight and grounding in the best of the prophetic Christian tradition did more to help shape my religious imagination than many other books I have read before or since.

No comments about Black and White Racial Identity.

5 comments about Angel on My Shoulder: An Autobiography.

1. I am not (at least I wasn't until recently) a big Natalie Cole fan. Never seen an interview or a concert, only owned one album. But a few months ago I listened to her Love Songs CD at the book store and was so moved by those old songs that I bought it and then strangely, I found I couldn't take it off my cd player in the car. I listened to it over and over, just magnetized by the sweet girlish vulnerability under the power of her voice. There is a mysterious quality about her singing----it's happy, and upbeat, but underneath it, there is a.... longing, and it's not in the melody, or the words, it's in her essence. I've been going through a hard time (in love) and I decided to google her and see if she had written a book that might give me some clues as to the strong sense of connection I was getting from this CD; this book came up and I ordered it. I can't say it's the absolute most stellar literary endeavor I have ever set my eyes upon but I can say this: I found a life-long friend in the pages of that book. I found an allie. A kindred soul who had the guts to reach out and say, I hope you can understand me and my words touch you in some way so you don't feel as alone as I have. (my analysis) I found someone who's willingness to strip down bare-naked and tell her story, including her lonliness that went all the way back to childhood, not ever feeling mothered or loved the way she needed to be, of never feeling that she really mattered or that anyone saw her or had time for her, of losing the most profound relationships of her life before she was 35, of sitting in the car in her garage weeping from a deep desire to belong to someone and have someone belong to her. I was brought to tears over and over. I can so relate. And you know what? Natalie if you're reading this, you are NOT alone. There are so many powerful, smart, educated, talented, spiritual women who have "made it" AND who still, and will always long for the love we never got and so badly needed at the most tender stage of life----and yet, brave on day in and day out anyway, often wondering "What does God even want me down here for?" Don't EVER think you're alone in that.
   
   I am so grateful that she wrote this book because listeneing to her music, I always assumed she was one of the lucky ones in love, singing all about how she found the greatest love and it's going to last forever and all that... that music just tears your heart right out of your chest cavity when you don't got nobody---especially when you feel like you don't NEVER got nobody and you suspect you never will. When the right person never seems to show up, year after year and you fall in love with the wrong ones who never stay anyway. There is an advertisement for E-Harmony, a popular dating site that runs their commercial 4 times a damn hour with "everlasting love" in the background and although it's one of my favorite songs, it about killed me everytime that commercial aired because it seemed like that was the anthem for all the straight, happy people in the world who had found everlasting love---a private club that I will never belong to. But after reading this book, I LOVE that commerical because now I know it's just B.S. We ALL hurt that way. If SHE can feel alone and sing THAT song the way she she sings that song---hell we ALL feel alone. Now I listen to all her songs and I understand the attraction I have to her voice---this is not a woman celebrating the abundance or romantic love in her life. This is the story of a woman who sings about what she wants the world to be. A place of fulfillemnt and forgivness and gentleness and hope and being home in another's arms----for all of us. Tell ya the truth, I read her book in 4 days and it was like being with someone, who "got" me. I looked forward to opening those pages and just being with her. May sound weird but I think we've all had the experience of falling in love with a character in a book, and I fell a little bit in love with the girl and woman in those pages. Only problem is, I miss her in my life now.



2. I saw the TV movie of Ms. Cole's life a few years ago and found it interesting. I was looking for something to read and came across this book on Amazon. It is GREAT, even better than the movie! I love the writing style, it seems like she's sitting across from you telling you her life story. At the end, I felt that I knew and liked her. She has been through alot, but did not try to place the blame on anyone else. The story is very candid and I found myself laughing like all hell on the train while reading this book. I would say its probably one of the most even handed non-fiction books I've ever read (and thats saying alot because its an autobiography).



3. What can I say. This book is one of those that you can't put down. Very frank and honest account from the daughter of one of the greatest singing legends. Natalie, (I call her by her Christian name because having read this book, I feel I know her well, which I find important when reading someones autobiography) has had some difficult times and gone from riches to rags, and back to riches, with some life altering experiences along the way. The 'Unforgettable with love' album is also amazing. I'm off to buy 'Ask a woman who knows' concert. READ THIS BOOK!



4. Natalie shares with astounding truth, humbleness, and shows us all how much she has been through, and how she - with the Divine help in her life - has triumphed from the darkest days. This book is an astounding beacon of hope for anyone who has been through both the highs and lows of life, and wants to genuinely rise from within.
   Natalie shares much about her childhood, her relationship with her relatives, and so much about her own life, and how many times she thought it was all over for her, only to see that she can rise again - no matter what she has been through.

   On a personal note, in 1995 I had dinner with Natalie, her candor and honesty took me back so much that I wrote about her with deep respect in my own book, `Individual Power'. She is a true soul, and I have the utmost respect for her, the courage she has shown, and how she is a beacon of hope for others.

   If you want to read a book about one incredible woman, who humbly and candidly shows how no matter what you go through, you CAN triumph, I HIGHLY recommend this book. It is a gift that will touch you because of its authenticity.

   Thank you Natalie for being a beacon of Light and Hope for so many. Keep Going Girl - You are One Awesome Gem!




5. Natalie shares with astounding truth, humbleness, and shows us all how much she has been through, and how she - with the Divine help in her life - has triumphed from the darkest days. This book is an astounding beacon of hope for anyone who has been through both the highs and lows of life, and wants to genuinely rise from within.
   Natalie shares much about her childhood, her relationship with her relatives, and so much about her own life, and how many times she thought it was all over for her, only to see that she can rise again - no matter what she has been through.

   On a personal note, in 1995 I had dinner with Natalie, her candor and honesty took me back so much that I wrote about her with deep respect in my own book, `Individual Power'. She is a true soul, and I have the utmost respect for her, the courage she has shown, and how she is a beacon of hope for others.

   If you want to read a book about one incredible woman, who humbly and candidly shows how no matter what you go through, you CAN triumph, I HIGHLY recommend this book. It is a gift that will touch you because of its authenticity.

   Thank you Natalie for being a beacon of Light and Hope for so many. Keep Going Girl - You are One Awesome Gem!

5 comments about The Life of Langston Hughes: Volume I: 1902-1941, I, Too, Sing America (Life of Langston Hughes, 1902-1941).

1. 
   The man that poetry made stands luminous
   on the broken corners of history's suicidal cravings,
   he watches splashing in the street
   birds cleaning their feathers inside
   the crystal flow of words he gave them,
   
   he is a vintage wine now,
   traveling with ease over the tongues
   of other people's intentions,
   he is a quilt
   made of one billion black hands
   spread like guarantees from a single living God
   over the heads of the misbegotten.
   
   The man that poetry made wonders
   on which day will he finally recite his soul.
   Ask him who his mother is
   and he will sing for you memories
   of bosom-heavy haikus
   filling his mouth with the milk and nectar
   of joy neverdying.
   Ask about his father
   and he will boast about a ballad
   that thundered all the way
   from Spain to Zaire
   bouncing him like a sack full of sonnets
   upon his broad whistling shoulders.
   
   This man that poetry made stumbles barefoot
   through the city, a huge blue ribbon wrapped
   around one big toe, a small pink one tied
   to the other, ragged jeans loose
   upon free-verse hips, fluorescent eyes blinking
   surrealistic kisses of negritude revisited--
   
   To the woman confused
   by his lust for peace
   he begs "forgive me lovely genius
   I was not born as you were born,
   my blood was written
   by a different kind of coupling."
   To the man frustrated
   by his lack of animalia
   he sang, "Beauty is a thing finer
   than exalted fears of actual love."
   
   The man that poetry made sometimes
   blows himself to pieces with bombs
   made from metaphors, he enjoys watching
   the words that shape his life
   scatter like golden ashes of imagination
   then one by one float back down to earth
   covering him with forms and meanings
   he never knew existed.
   People passing the corner
   where he stands luminous and throbbing
   rarely see a man at all.
   They look at the man that poetry made
   and see a public toilet
   or a burning bush flaming in the most unlikely place.
   Sometimes they see him as a rare jewel
   and snatch him up before anyone else
   can look. He is always curious riding along
   inside the pockets of strangers
   wondering how they shall react
   when they see him for what he is,
   and he reveals, with
   love lighting up his every cell
   exactly who they are.
   
   
   by Author-Poet Aberjhani
   author of I Made My Boy Out of Poetry
   and Encyclopedia of the Harlem Renaissance (Facts on File Library of American History)



2. Long before the advent of the 1960's motto of black pride and black beauty, there was Langston Hughes who championed and celebrated black pride and black beauty, both African and black American, at the height racial inequality in the United States.
   
   The two definitive biographies of Langston Hughes are written by Faith Berry, LANGSTON HUGHES: BEFORE AND BEYOND HARLEM, and, the two by Arnold Rampersad's, THE LIFE OF LANGSTON HUGHES VOLS. 1 AND 2. For those able to do it, I would recommend reading Berry's biography first and then DEFINITLY follow it by reading Rampersad two exquisite biographies of Hughes. Reading the two is the only real way to get a complete and accurate picture of Langston Hughes. Both books briefly address Hughes family background which isn't unique to him alone in the black American community as those non-persons of African decent on the outside repeatedly fail to understand. Both books address Hughes' humanity despite of the racism he faced as an extremely confident and proud African-American. Both acknowledge Hughes dislike of those blacks like Toomer ashamed of being black and their African heritage. Both reveal his living through all the moments in early 20th century American history like the Harlem Renaissance and meeting and befriending such figures as Dubois and facing McCarthy on charges of communism while punctuated moments of his life with wanderlust in world travels. Both books address the obstacles and triumphs he faced as being only the second black American to earn a living by writing , the first being Paul Lawrence Dunbar who was also Hughes idol and influence alongside Whitman and Sandburg. Both books take care to explain how Hughes relationships with his parents and grandmother may have shadowed his other relationships in terms of his race pride and the half hearted and insincere assignations with women he was linked to.
   
   Where the two books differ is in discussing Hughes being gay. Berry appears unbridled by prejudice in acknowledging use as gay. Rampersad, a conservative black scholar and now part executor of the Hughes estate, is too eagerly fulsome in his attempts to deny Hughes being gay along with the coded references Hughes used to describe his affections for black men in poems which are similar to those used by Whitman in describing his same sex interest. This dangerously borders the homophobic line. (** READ the recent appendix in Rampersad biography where he rightfully takes issue with being called homophobic by his critics.**) This has been the chief criticism by many of Rampersad two biographies of Hughes. The great irony is that Rampersad actually confirms Hughes being gay by indicating the price Hughes would have paid if he was openly identified as gay at the wrong time in history (even in some circles of the black community today for that matter). Plus, in volume 2 of the LIFE OF HUGHES, Rampersad is less virulent in denying Hughes being gay and pretty much comes close to acknowledging him being gay but holds back for reasons of
   his own.
   
   Moreover, Berry discusses Hughes in a straight foreword manner. Rampersad biography is almost lyrical in its historical documentation of Hughes life like a number of biographies being written these days by certain scholars. Rampersad goes into great psychological analysis of Hughes and barring certain before mentioned instances gets it right.



3. "'The Africans looked at me and would not believe I was a Negro': ...
   `You - white man'," they said. Repudiating the idea that he was not one of them,
   Hughes asserted "the unity of blacks everywhere." Hughes' choice to embrace
   his African-American heritage is a major theme of Rampersad's biography.
   Hughes rejected his father's path and the chance to pass, to escape prejudice
   and win easy acceptance as a member of Mexican society. Poetic inspiration
   came from Harlem, from Jazz, and from anger at prejudice. Despite, or because of
   its format, with chapters divided by years, this book made riveting summer reading.
   Along the way it introduced me to wonderful poetry in the context of the life:
   -----
   Mercedes is a jungle-lily in a death house.
   Mercedes is a doomed star.
   Mercedes is a charnel rose. ... ----
   AND:
   Passionate, cruel,
   Honey-lipped, syphilitic -
   That is the South.
   And I, who am black, would love her
   But she spits in my face . . .



4. This is the most complete writing on Hughes' life. Beautifully written yet very thorough. Arnold Rampersad is probably the most talented biographer alive.



5. I thought this was a very interesting book. It is VERY well written, I recomend it!

5 comments about Inner City Miracle.

1. Very good book. Nothing held back. the real truth about Judge Mathis's
   life story. A very compelling book if your feeling sorry for yourself.
   It shows you what a mothers influence on a child can acomplish.
   This is an amazingly frank and in your face book.If you like Judge
   Mathis's court show of honesty,humor,fairness,tough love,and the
   justice system as it should be,you'll love reading this book.
   Mike J.



2. The book was alright, I just prefer to watch him on tv.



3. This book should be required reading in schools. Judge Mathis started out on the wrong foot but he turned his life around and made something of himself. If you watch his show, you'll see that he is a good man and very fair.



4. I THINK JUDGE IS A POSITIVE PERSON ,AND HIS STORY SPEAKS FOR IT SELF, IT IS UPTO YOU TO MAKE A DIFFERENT IN YOUR LIFE. YOU CAN DO IF YOU WANT IT BAD ENOUGH. AND I FEEL IT IS ALL WANT YOU WANT OUT OF LIFE. WITH PRAY, AND WITH GOOD PEOPLE BEHIND YOU WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENT. AND IT GOES TO SHOW AND THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT JUDGE MATHIS DIDWITH GODS HELP. BECAUSE HE HAD TO HAVE GOD IN HIS LIFE IN OTHER TO GET AS FAR AS HE GOTTEN. I LOVE THE MAN, HE MAKES MY DAY. AND MAY GOD CON'T TO BLESS HIM AND HIS FAMILY. AND FROM WHAT I HAVE READ SO FAR I LOVE THE BOOK. HE IS A ROLL MODEL I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO MEET HIM . ONE DAY
   AND I LOVE HIS SHOW KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.BECAUSE HE IS A COMDEIAN ALSO HE COULD BE ONE



5. The courage Greg Mathis exhibited in turning his life around is phenomenal! This book not only serves as inspiration for inner-city young people but anyone who has taken a wrong turn in life. This wrong turn could be criminal in nature or it could be a mistake in choosing a mate or career. Whatever the mistake or wrong turn, Greg Mathis' life proves you can "turn it around." I know Greg on a personal basis and met him through my friendship with his aunt Eva and her son, Walter. I can truly say Greg is a compassionate and down to earth man who freely shares his blessings with family and friends.

5 comments about Spiritual Journey of Joseph L. Greenstein: The Mighty Atom.

1. When you watch the Olympics, remember that Chill that goes down your spine when you see someone do the impossible? I had that feeling repeatedly reading this book. You follow the Mighty Atom through his childhood, learning valuable life lessons with him, that serve you both well. You picture in your mind's eye what it must take to bend steel in your bare hands, break chains across your chest, and other impossible feats. This tiny man who performed feats of strength into his eighties, through sheer willpower and determination....
   
   I've never read a more inspirational book. I can see why copies are almost impossible to find.



2. If I could own only two books, one would be my Bible and the other Ed Spielman's remarkable biography of Joe Greenstein, a.k.a. The Mighty Atom.
   
   Here was a man who exalted in life, exuded life and understood life far, far better than most.
   
   Do you have problems in life? Who doesn't? After you read this book you will be able to take to heart the words of the Atom's protege, Slim Farman: "I never had to prove to him that I was somebody. He told me I was."
   
   And the words of Joe Greenstein himself: "There is no such thing as a little man, and nothing is impossible."
   
   Whatever it takes, GET A COPY OF THIS BOOK!



3. Ever heard of man bite through tempered iron with his teeth...or hang from an airplane by his hair? Just because you may not have heard of Joseph "Mighty Atom" Greenstein or his accomplishments it does not mean you should ignore this book, quite the opposite in fact. I got this book as a young child in the 1980's and have read it many times. A riveting and inspirational read. Anyone interested in sports, martial arts, nutrition, spirituality or just looking for a self help guide would be wise to read this. A fascinating life with lessons for all of us...not just philosophical but practical too. Joseph Greenstein was not only the strongest man in the world, he was a giant of a character...raising a large family and much money for charity, providing health lectures and products for thousands of poor Americans. If I had just ten books on a desert island this would be one of them.



4. In his prime, Joseph Greenstein was the world's "strongest man" physically and billed as 'The Modern Hercules,' 'The Young Sandow," and 'The Ancient Samson' all in one -- The Mighty Atom, though he never did fly out of a canon. He rose from the ghettos of Poland, in Eastern Europe, to become the most famous of the weightlifter-strongmen ever.
   
   He was a slim 5'4" body builder, weighing in at 145 pounds; the photo shows him as a young man showing off his becepts. In vaudeville at the Apollo Theatre he was billed as Joseph Green. He looked like a freak in bushy hair and Tarzan outfits complete with matching headband and funny looling shoes which strapped up his leg to the knee. That must have been the style in 1909. In his act, he straightened out hourshoes, crushed spikes in his hands, even had strong teeth -- bit through iron bars.
   
   He used Asian techniques of concentration, Jewish mystical writings, and a natural begetarian diet. Who said it akes eating meat to make one strong? He later developed a more balanced body physique. Joseph appeared on Coney Island, the playground of the world, as shown in the movie, 'Inside Daisy Clover.' At Madison Square Garden he put on a martial arts show.
   
   We all have an inner strength with the potential of a brick-wall. It doesn't take meditation to surpass hurdles, but a strong-as-iron determination to prove you're right. When I started out in PTA as a young mother, 5'l", 97 lbs., as a local unit president, I was given the honor and silver platter from the female school principal who called me a "brick-wall." Unlike those who preceded me, I did not acquiese to her rein over fund-raising profits. We paid for necessary items such as a paved area and playgfround at the school but would not finance building repairs -- that was the responsibility of the school board. I learned my speaking ability by appearing before them (and getting my way through friendly persuasion) on occasion, and conducting the PTA Meetings. As Regional Director, I visited and informed units throughout thirteen counties, which included the famous Tullahoma, Tennessee -- near Lynchburg.
   
   Joseph was such a sensation that articles about him appeared in 'The Sun,' 'New York Journal,' 'New York American,' 'New York Telegram,' and 'New York Post,' as well as 'Buffalo Evening Times.' He proved that sometimes little is big and here's great strength in small packages.
   
   Finally acknowledging his Jewish heritage, in 1978, he appeared with his protege, Slim Farman (who towered over him), in a black tunic with a Star of David over the chest. He was an old man, age 85, with white hair, beard, and mustache. He had achieved "the impossible."



5. I simply can't say enough good things about this incredible story. If you love weight-training and strength sports, if you want a snapshot of a nearly forgotten part of early 20th Century American life, if you wish to be inspired, read this. You will not be disappointed.