4 comments about Barefootin': Life Lessons from the Road to Freedom.

1. I received the book in good time and the book is in good condition.



2. This is an extremely good book. The author not only graphically tells it like it was in MS in the 60's, but also relates her life story that can only encourage anybody. From a kid picking cotton in the Delta in the 50's to becoming a Harvard Fellow and a recipient of a McArthur Genius Fellowship later in life, MS Blackwell tells a Hell of a story. This book is a must read.



3. I am reading this book now, but more importantly,
   I saw Ms. Blackwell last night , at a reading at 61 coffee
   in Vicksburg Ms. She is an amazing presence, and the
   co-author, Joanne Morris, who read, also.
   This is well, just read it . You will love it.
   I have not written a review before, I love lots
   of books, but this one is special. I moved to Mississippi
   from Minnesota, and this is what I needed to hear about this
   state.



4. Barefootin' is as captivating and real as Mississippi Delta Blues.It is memorable, entertaining, and beautifully written.I learned a lot, felt a lot and cheered a lot while reading this wise, funny and brave recounting of the life and times of an American Renaissance woman, Unita Blackwell, who has lived long enough and remarkably enough to become an historical icon of the Civil Rights struggle. But, thankfully, her earthy humanity overcomess that pigeonhole and, as Barefootin' makes clear, Unita is a woman for the ages.

2 comments about Rebecca's Revival: Creating Black Christianity in the Atlantic World.

1. This was a great book overall. It was factual history that has been obscured and hidden for 400 years. We have been fed the stories of the "great white hope" who came to "save" the slaves from their heathenish African ways. This book clearly counters that claim by asserting that it was through the African slaves themselves that Christianity spread in the caribbean. It is well documented and purely factual. Anytime the author made a statement of opinion that wasn't quite factual he said "maybe", or "perhaps". Overall, it was an excellent book. It was somewhat of a difficult read, but it never hurts to expand your vocabulary!



2. This is a much needed study on the history of black evangelical Christianity in the black diaspora. As a black African evangelical Christian woman with ancestral ties to both Europe and the Caribbean, I have been informed, intrigued, amused, puzzled, saddened, challenged and overall inspired by the story of Rebecca Protten's life. The author has done a remarkably thorough job. Thank you!

5 comments about The Life And Legend Of Leadbelly.

1. There's some great information here, and the authors present the fruits of some painstaking research into Leadbelly's early life. We find out the true story behind his prison stints (and escapes) and releases. We also learn about a possible ultimate source for Goodnight Irene. The stories of Leadbelly's experiences with the Lomaxes are much more detailed and richly told because Lomax wrote many letters and kept an extensive record of his travels with Leadbelly.
   
   But a more attentive editor could have helped a great deal. For example, two dates for Juneteenth are given. Bruno Hauptmann's name is misspelled. Some clunky phrases are repeated within a paragraph of one another. The chronology of Leadbelly's trips around the Northeast is muddled and hard to follow at times. The information is all there, and it is great to read all about it, but it could have been much more clearly presented.



2. After reading this book you will have a real sence of leadbelly, the man and his music.
   A true original and free soul



3. very well put together biography based on a variety of sources. the authors present the myths and the 'facts' in a very cogent and objective manner allowing the reader to draw their own conclusions. not only is leadbelly explored in detail, but this book also contains great descriptions of the places, times and character of leadbelly's world.

   this book is also a nice read for those interested in john or alan lomax.

   i only wish there had been more photos - but those that survive are accessible on-line.




4. This is a fascinating biography of one of this century's truly seminal artists, from his days in the Shreveport red light district to his jail terms in Huntsville and Angola, LA., on through his "discovery" by John and Alan Lomax. The book is exhaustively researched and will delight both blues fans and history buffs.



5. This well-written, well-researched book is THE source for Huddie Ledbetter/Leadbelly information.

5 comments about Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson.

1. Jack Johnson was one of the early twentieth century's most controversial figures. He was the first black man to attain the world heavyweight championship title, an honor that had been the exclusive domain of white boxers since the sport began. His flashy personality, considerable wealth, and refusal to let his race limit his career and marital prospects belied the traditional concept of the servile, grovelling black. When Johnson beat up white men in the ring and consorted with white women in public, Caucasian America reacted violently. Blacks like Booker T. Washington worried that the hostile attention he attracted would reflect badly on them. "Just who do you think you are?" he was often asked- by both races. "Jack Johnson," he invariably replied.
   
   The first half of `Unforgivable Blackness' traces Johnson's rise from Galveston street fighter to heavyweight champion of the world. It was hard going for years: white title holders refused to fight him, worried at the battering their legends would take if they lost to a black man. In what must be the epitome of persistence, Johnson chased the Canadian heavyweight champion Tommy Burns across the world, showing up in European cafes and Australian hotel lobbies to issue challenges. He finally defeated Burns in Sydney, Australia, in 1908, but hostile whites refused to acknowledge him as the new champion until 1910, when he beat the legendary Jim Jeffries, who had retired undefeated six years previously and only agreed to fight so he could show that "a white man is better than a negro."
   
   In the second half of this fast-paced volume, white America crucifies Johnson for his boxing success and affinity for white women (all three of his wives were Caucasian). Congress banned prizefight films from being taken across state lines, sparing thousands of whites the demoralizing sight of Stanley Ketchel and Jim Jeffries being defeated by a Negro. Policemen wrote Johnson tickets for driving a car that they felt no black should be able to afford. He was accused of violating the Mann Act, which made it illegal to take a woman from state to state for immoral purposes. Found guilty of `transporting' Chicago prostitute Belle Schreiber, Johnson fled to Europe with his wife Lucille and wandered the globe for years. He lost the heavyweight championship to Jess Willard in Havana in 1915 and hoped that he might finally go home now that the title had been reclaimed by a white fighter. But when he did, Johnson was arrested and spent 10 months in Leavenworth prison for the Mann Act conviction. Upon his release, he was considered too old to box professionally again and therefore reduced to minor film roles and speaking engagements. He was killed in a car crash outside Raleigh, North Carolina, in 1946, after speeding furiously away from a restaurant that refused to serve him.
   
   Geoffrey Ward has written Johnson's story in an highly readable style, combining sports history with popular biography. You don't have to be a boxing aficionado to enjoy `Unforgivable Blackness'. The entire book has an high-velocity undercurrent that keeps the reader turning the pages. Perhaps that's because Jack Johnson himself was an energetic, fascinating individual who only let himself be beaten in the ring.



2. THIS BOOK PAINTS A REAL PICTURE OF THE LIFE OF A MAN IN A RACIALLY CHARGED TIME IN OUR HISTORY. THE BOOK REMINDS THE READER THAT jACK jOHNSON IS A HERO TO SOME BUT ALSO WAS A VERY REAL HUMAN BEING AND HE HAD VERY REAL PROMBLEMS, AS MANY BOXERS DO.



3. I first read this book a number of years ago, pursuant to the Ken Burns production on PBS. I purchased a paperback addition, the spine of which broke during a second read; hence, the purchase of the hardback at hand.
   
   Needless to say, I consider Ward's book excellent. I say this both as a piece of general history and as a fascinating view of boxing in its infancy in this country. Johnson was polarizing, but no less interesting and influential. Consider his impact on Joe Lewis, Ali, and Miles Davis.
   
   Thoroughly recommend both the book and Burns documentary on DVD.



4. I thoroughly enjoyed this book on Jack Johnson. The man was the best boxer of his generation and lived his life to the fullest extent outside the ring.
   
   The author has produced a tremendous work that completely looks at the life of the champion and gives a look at the USA in that time. Johnson had to deal with numerous issues in his day and he handled it in a manner that few could.
   
   Well worth reading.



5. I have made a study of this man and he fought at a time when a referee was basically the guy with the best seat in the house, as there were no such things as "standing eight counts", as a knockdown was the end of the round and this is why Jack Johnson, who started as a much lighter man, and he seriously had an I.Q. of a 4 year old, but, when he hit, the canvas shook!~!~! He was the first...the "VERY first BLACK MAN to be the 'International Heavyweight Champeen of the World' ". He respected no white man, and he showed his disdain by always having beauteous white women on his arms (plural) and he knew that he whipped up a frenzy where ever he went and esp. when he fought. He waited..a long time as NO WHITE man would show his face to get into the ring. The man "James Jeffries", dared to be the man to 'wipe Jack out'..he was called "The Great White Hope", and the whole world wanted the death of Jack Johnson by any white hands..he was that HATED!~!~! But, this man, worked out, not in a gym, like a "ROCKY" movie, He stood all day in the middle of barns as his best accomadations would be for Jack. He had barrells full of rocks (where do you think "Stallone's Barn scene in Russia" came from???) That was Jack Johnson for real, heaving as much as he could heaving and heaving those barrells as much as he could until all he was spent... he was a muscular man who could take your head off as Floyd Patterson did when he was the first "Heavyweight" (at 180 lbs)to regain the world's Heavyweight Crown before Muhammad Ali did it three (3) times!...Back to Jack Johnson...I cannot say much more except that when James Jeffries went down, he had NO HEART to get up..not one more time would he stand before what Jack Johnson called: "Da Hevywate Champeen of da world"! As he kept taunting his manager with that question time and again..."WHEN do I get a try"? So, the day 's temperature was over 100 degrees , if I recollect, and no wind blew, but, Jack entered into the ring first...then the "GREAT White- Hope", James jeffries, with thousands standing in that heat for what seemed as scores of years...and he was the first to leave, heaving the "spit bucket" at the newspress people, as he ran under the ring and on a waiting train...heading for "HIS FORM of GLORY": You shall read it, I know, and you will understand prejudice, hatred, violence in boxing, for it is gone as we see the sport today...this was a day of gladiators...standing, swinging, falling, the opponent standing above his opponent, waiting for a knee to leave the mat, them, again...POW!..before the "ref" even said "get back"!Jack would stalk the dizzy, man falling on the ropes, the mat, almost left the ring a few times..never a count to ten...it was down and out ...that was boxing in the "Glory Days" of the baddest Men in the world, not, greatest, or the hardest left hook, or the fastest jab..that all meant nothing.
   What was the value here was round 20, round 30, round 50...and the band beat on! As did Jack Johnson...in HIS lifetime~!~!~!..this must be read by sports heros of today who are covered with padded armor for protection and for millions and millions of US Dollars. Jack walked proudly everywhere, with a pocket of change and died a poor man... Yes, these were the true Boxers of the past..this was the ONE!~!~! The ONE that you'll remember...for a long, long time!~!~!
   Rick, "Strings"

No comments about Keeping Faith: Philosophy and Race in America.

4 comments about Don't Let My Mama Read This: A Southern Fried Memoir.

1. Like the reviewer before me. I happened on this book at a book store close out sale - Strand's in NYC. What a lucky find. His humor is right up there with the best. I found myself smiling, laughing a lot and stifiling raucus gaffaws while reading it on my subway commute. I reccommend it as a must read for my book club and for everyone.



2. Unless you want people to look at you because you will be laughing out loud while Hadjii explains what it was what like for him growing up in the South. I picked this up because I am teaching memoir to my students and I wanted a variety of examples. I read a portion of the chapter on school to my students and they loved it. Several asked to borrow the book when I was finished. Don't miss the chapter on Christmas! I am a white girl from California and I can relate to this. So can you!



3. When Hadjii says, "don't let my mama read this," that's exactly what he means. His southern-fried memoir, DON'T LET MY MAMA READ THIS, is bold, at times funny, and not for the faint of heart. He tackles issues like race and growing up in the south candidly and with an "in your face" style I couldn't help but appreciate. I laughed, shook my head and gave silent high-fives. This is definitely one guy who isn't afraid to say what's on his mind and, just in case you don't like what he has to say, he offers his apologies up front - sort of. Reading about his journey to manhood was entertaining, to say the least.
   
   Reviewed by T. Shelly B.
   of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers



4. Recently, the washington DC metro area lost one of our bookstore landmarks. Karibou books closed it doors during January 2008. This store provided books written about and by Black people for over 15 years. Well like most store closings, there was a huge sale and I happened to pick up "Don't let my mama read this". Makes you wonder how many more authors will not have the opportunity to showcase their works to the community before mass release. Now on to the book :-)
   
   I'm in the beginning stages of this book but already know that I will enjoy it. Hilarious, is all I can say. Thus far, I've worn a constant smile while reading this book and thinking, "I know exactly what you mean, Hadjii!"
   
   Even if you can not relate to his story, you are bound to laugh with him as you experience a slither of his life.

5 comments about Equiano the African: Biography of a Self-Made Man.

1. A slave, slave trader, and then an abolitionist, Equiano was the best known African in the 18th Century.



2. An absorbing and beautifully written biography by possibly the leading expert on Equiano today.Caretta's revelation that Equiano may have been born in South Carolina rather than Africa only serves to make him an even more intriguing figure for those who are familiar with his autobiography. This is scholarly history at its best.



3. This is indeed an excellent, full and fascinating biography with much new information about Equiano. I regret having given it only a single star previously because of what I see as its one error of judgment, in questioning Equiano's claim to an African birth and childhood. I do think that the authenticity of Equiano's autobiography is what makes it and his life of interest to a general public. It would be a pity for readers to pass up such a vital 18th century classic on the assumption that it's fraudulent.



4. Carretta's latest book is a scholarly examination of the autobiography of Olaudah Equiano, aka Gustavas Vassa. This book has generated some controversy in its claim that Equiano may not have been born in Africa. Carretta's detractors, however, completely miss the point of this book, which places Equiano squarely in the same vein as other important Enlightenment writers like Benjamin Franklin. This book does not detract from the importance and usefulness of Equiano's autobiography. Rather, by providing thoughtful analysis of Equiano's narrative; it helps to illuminate how the he saw himself in a time and place where identity (and nationality) were instable. What is important is that Equiano saw himself as African, whether or not he was actually born in Africa. This distinction is important to getting the most out of this book.



5. Carretta has provided a startling, yet convincing new perspective on one of the most influential of all slave narratives and the man who created it; he's also created a rich social history of the Atlantic world of the 18th century and the multiple roles Equiano played within that world. Carretta's detective work uncovers much new information and challenged long-held assumptions about a man we thought we knew so well. This is masterful scholarship and a terrific read.

5 comments about Aaliyah: An R&B Princess in Words and Pictures.

1. This book paid tribute to the late Aaliyah. It wasn't written to talk about her airplane crash or the investigations that the last reviewer talked about. Aaliyah fans get loads and loads of pictures of the singer and get to learn about the person she was. To alot of people she was cinderella! In the Remembering Aaliyah chapter, all the quotes by other famous entertainers make that clear!



2. First of all, I did'nt buy this book--I checked it out of the library. I have to honestly say that I was very disappointed with it. The Author said in her introduction that she had planned to do this book with Aaliyah herself shortly before she died. It's a shame that she did'nt get that chance. The book that the author ended up with after the entertainer's passing was very fairytale-like, almost childish, and very unrealistic. It was almost as bad as reading a modern day version of Cinderella--minus the happy ending. It might as well been written by any one of Aaliyah's fans. The author doesn't even really go into detail about the day of the the plane crash or the investigation. It doesn't even bother to talk about the "Wrongful Death Suit" that Aaliyah's parents filed against her second record label, Virgin, and the (now out of business) airline company that was involved in the crash, Blackhawk. The highlight of this book is the very candid black-and-white photos that the author provides of Aaliyah with her family, friends, and other industry notables. The author also provides nice quotes made by other enterainers about Aaliyah in the last chapter called "Remembering Aaliyah" as well as a short "flimograpy" of her flims and her "discography" of her music. I know that this author wanted to pay tribute to the late entertainer in a loving way, but just because a person is deceased (famous or unknown) , does not mean that we have to put them on a pedestal and pretend that thay were perfect while they were alive--No one is! If you want a more accurate story on Aaliyah's life watch the documentaries: "E! true hollywood story:Aaliyah" or "VH-1's behind the music:Aaliyah" . Bottom line: Check this book out of your local library , but don't buy it!



3. Coming from a person who never saw AAliyah, never been to her concerts, and never spoke with the woman.... she seems to have still made me one of her numero uno fans! I admire this woman; her beauty, intellect and just every possible thing about her. I was very heartbroken when I heard what happend to her. Everyone knows that I was a diehard fan. Nevertheless, God needs his angels to come home early sometimes and it is not up to us to actually say when that is. I read this book once (my close friend is also an AAliyah fan) and it really touched me. I felt as if I knew her just a little bit more than what I learn from the media. Sometimes people never realize that stars are "people" too and they act goofy and want to have fun. My advice is to read the book-not TOO informative but still worth reading.



4. I love everything about Aaliyah, cause she was trully an entreteiner, a sweet little girl that will always be in our hearts..!
   She was not only beautiful, but a great person with a lot of dreams, some of them came true, but not all...
   Iam sure that she is watching us right now, and that she would love to see us smile whenever we think about her...
   i loved this book, its treasure for me that i will always carry and another way to know that iam alive, and to fight for my dreams because we never know when is our time to go..!



5. Aaliyah was a true inspiration in life and still remains to be in the after-life. This book told Aaliyah's story and the pictures were also a nice addition. The only thing that faltered in this book were the small spelling errors on the picture pages. Other than that, this book should be in all Aaliyah fan collections.

3 comments about Ester and Ruzya: How My Grandmothers Survived Hitler's War and Stalin's Peace.

1. This is a great story of how two women survive the unimaginable horrors of WWII. Both are Jews. Ester is from Bialystok, in Poland, a city which would be turned into a ghetto, and whose Jewish residents were rounded up and deported by the Nazis. Ruzya is Russian, and she endures the terror of Stalin's regime, where she is regarded with suspicion. Both women are separated from their parents, sibilings, and husbands at one point or another, and end up meeting in Moscow at the war's end. Masha Gessen weaves both of their stories into a single stirring memoir. It is not free of bias, these are Gessen's grandmothers, and she obviously views them in certain ways, but she is an exceptional storyteller, and takes what they have told her, and merges it with her own research. It is certainly not the only memoir about WWII, but it does offer some fresh insight, particularly in the way it describes the Soviet Union during the war, with vivid imagery that conveys a stunning sense of panic and confusion, words that aptly describe the Soviet reaction to the German invasion. It also conveys pain, loss, and desperation. Overall, a good, easily readable text recommended for any student of history.



2. A friend lent me her copy of Ester and Ruzya and I liked it so much I bought copies for family members. This book is informative, well written, and deeply honest. Many of us have some knowledge about the Holocaust and what happened to European Jews, but this narrative about the author's family in Russia during WWII and after gives the reader insight about a different Jewish experience. I recommend it highly.



3. It's been said of this memoir/biography that it reads like a novel, but of course that's not quite true. Even the most abundantly lively literary creations are still creations, whereas the heroines of the title here are undeniably real. It's a tribute to their personalities, and to Gessen's skill, that they seem so from the first page.
   
   The story--basically that of the twentieth century itself--is of such unimaginably wide scope that Gessen's tight focus on her family makes perfect sense, and she doesn't need to indulge in literary pyrotechnics or crazy stories to justify it. But when picking the perfect one-paragraph vignette, and particularly in the extended section in which she describes the death of her great-grandfather at the hands of the Nazis--told as three completely different tales, based on the multiple reconstructions she was able to piece togeher from survivors' stories--the craft and creativity that went into shaping this becomes apparent.
   
   It's fascinating from beginning to end, marred only by an oocasional brusqueness, as if the hand that elides so much to keep the focus along has become impatient. These moments are often followed by a few paragraphs of florid embellishment, as if to overcompensate. But Gessen need make no apologies: this is compelling reading, and an important resource for understanding the human reality of history.

5 comments about Fighting for America: Black Soldiers-the Unsung Heroes of World War II.

1. This is an excellent book, really makes justice to these american citizens. The history about Robert T. Browne is specialy touching, and Robert Fikes, in "The Triumph of Robert T. Browne: The Mystery of Space" (APA Newsletter,Vol. 6, Number 2, 2007) gives aditional glances on the life of this remarkable man of mysteries.



2. 
   Chris Moore's chronicle of black patriotism from Colonial times through World War II is nothing short of an excellent walk through history. As a history buff I found myself eager to turn each page. I would sit with highlighter in hand marking special passages as though I was still a college student studying for an exam. Moore has a special way of transporting the reader back in time, allowing one to almost hear the voices of those who wrote the letters featured in the book. I never realized just how much we as a people contributed to the early Colonial battles that set America as a country free.
   
   Even though black Americans have fought and died in every war this country has faced, only the heroes of recent history get recognition. Yes, we grew up with a knowledge of Crispus Attucks, but what about heroes like Seaman Doris 'Dorrie' Miller and Pfc Robert H. Brooks. Miller was aboard the USS West Virginia, when she was attacked December 7, 1941 by the Japanese at Pearl Harbor. Miller, a naval messman, managed to save several lives when he shot down four enemy planes with a .50-caliber anti-aircraft gun he'd never been trained to use. Miller was later presented the Navy Cross for his efforts. I was never taught in school about Pfc Robert H. Brooks was the first soldier to die at Fort Stotenbugh in the Phillipines, when the Japanese attacked December 8, 1941.
   
   There was also airmen Eugene Bullard, who was not allowed to fly combat missions for America. Bullard was however, welcomed by the French army and became an ace pilot during World War I. Bullard flew more than twenty missions against the Germans and was credited with shooting down at least five enemy aircraft. Moore introduces us to black female heroes like pilot Willa Beatrice Brown. In 1941 Lieutenant Brown became the first woman officer in the U.S. Civil Air Patrol. Throughout WWII Brown served as an instructor in the Civilian Pilot Training Program.
   
   Moore's research on the Red Ball Express, the 320th Barrage Ballon Brigade, the 161st Chemical Smoke Generating Company and the countless Engineer Aviation Battalions such as the 810th and the 811th paved the way for Allied victory. Moore allows the reader to feel the shear determination of black enlisted men and women who fought a duel war. One war was against the Germans and Japanese and the other war was against the prejudice they faced daily from their fellow American service men and women. Although this book began as a tribute to Moore's parents S.Sgt. Bill Moore and Pfc Norma K. DeFreese Moore his four year journey turned out to be so much more. Though not written as a text book, this book should be incorportated into the half written history books our children are taught from. It is a book that my family will read again and again.
   
   Reviewed by Felecia R. Ellis Memphis RAWSISTAZ



3. What an interesting subject, presented with historical perspective in Fighting for America, written by Moore to honor his GI Joe Mom and Dad.
   
   I found myself saying out loud, "I didn't know that" as I got a history lesson about the role African-Americans played in fighting for America since they became "Americans."
   
   Even in a movie like "Saving Private Ryan," the important role of several hundred black soldiers at Utah and Omaha Beach on D-Day was not shown. Throughout the book that focuses on World War II, we learn about heroism, camaraderie, segregation, exclusion, demoralization, prejudice -- and patriotism.
   
   Often black men were sent on the most difficult missions - ands then their efforts were greatly downplayed or excluded from history (both when it happened) and in written-down history.
   
   Black women also served as nurses and with other support units. The 6,888th Central Postal Direction Battalion, an all-black unit, assigned some 80 black women to handle mail sorting at a base in Birmingham, England. Those women were the first black people many English had seen, and they helped to shatter stereotypes.
   
   Many of us have heard of the Tuskegee Airmen and all they accomplished. Other black soldiers, trained as paratroopers, were sent to the West Coast of the United States and became firefighters. Their job was to jump into remote forested area and put out fires caused by airborne incendiary bombs sent aloft by the Japanese.
   
   Also, a third of the 10,500 soldiers who built the Alcan Highway (from Canada through roughest Alaska) were black. This major construction project was rushed to ensure that America had a way to get supplies to northward to defend our borders if the enemy blocked our supply ships.
   
   The book was filled with such interesting facts that any history buff will love it. And if you just like to read good stories about good people, it will meet that requirement.



4. If you are a fan of history or not this is wonderful book. Having read a several other history books on WWII in college, this is the first book that has captured me. The journey the reader takes through the life of the author's family and through other soldier's personal experiences allows the reader to relate to the war rather then simply read about it. If history books in school were written like this one, history class would not have been dreaded.



5. To anyone with any common sense, it should come as no surprise that African American soldiers carried the load, literally, during the Second World War. FIGHTING FOR AMERICA does a superb and meticulous job in detailing all of the many ways which black soldiers helped to win the war. It is simply a national shame that most black soldiers who fought in WWII have gone to their graves without any recognition for their bravery and heroism. This book is loaded with bonafide heroes who are worthy of our applause and any monument which can be erected in their honor. I recommend this book highly.