Cradle of Freedom

This post is one in a series of reviews commemorating Black History Month

Cradle of Freedom: Alabama and the Movement That Changed America, by Frye Gaillard (2004)

Longtime author and journalist Gaillard has written a thorough account of the Civil Rights movement as it happened in the state of Alabama. From the Montgomery bus boycott to Bloody Sunday in Selma, some of the most pivotal events of the time took place in the heart of Dixie.

What sets this book apart from others is stories of lesser known figures of the time. Reverend Fred Shuttlesworth, for example, gets more coverage here than in most books on the movement. The Birmingham leader is one of many who was fighting the fight long before more famous folks like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. came to town, bringing the glare of the spotlight with him.

We also read of the accomplishments of Sam and Amelia Boynton, a husband and wife team, who began fighting for the right of themselves and other blacks in their county to vote starting as early as the 1930s. Amelia would later stand as one of the "courageous eight," a group who defied a court order forbidding civil rights activities, to invite Dr. King to come to Selma.

The tension between local leaders and the better known national leaders figures large in this volume, but Gaillard is fair to all parties involved. While King's presence in a city brought national exposure, he was regarded by many to be too cautious, too willing to negotiate with white political leaders and business interests. Younger blacks, in particular, were ready for things to change more quickly than did some of the national leadership.

The book also tells the story of dozens of foot soldiers in the movement, like Viola Liuzzo, a white mother of five from Detroit who was slain by Klansmen while ferrying freedom marchers outside of Selma. We also read of black laborer J. D. Cammeron, and of the indignities he suffers as he is involved in scuffles with police in Gadsden.

While many books have been written about seminal events in the movement, this volume's appeal comes from the many personal stories it tells. This is a tale about real people, everyday men and women who, through individual acts of bravery become an army that finds collective gains. Nearly any reader interested in the Civil Rights Era will find something of value in this well-written offering.

Originally reviewed 12/17/2004

Mercy, Mercy Me: The Art, Loves & Demons of Marvin Gaye

This post is one in a series of reviews commemorating Black History Month

Mercy, Mercy Me: The Art, Loves & Demons of Marvin Gaye, by Michael Eric Dyson (2004)

Dyson has written a fascinating analysis of the life and career of the late Marvin Gaye, a book that will appeal even to readers who don't know Gaye's music all that well. That having been said, this is a weighty tome, which touches on the religious, cultural and social influences of the black community and how they shaped the singer.

For example, in examining the effect of childhood abuse on Gaye, Dyson traces the problem of domestic violence in the black family to slavery. While this is an interesting discussion, it sways quite a bit from the book's star. Some readers will find these diversions tedious.

Because Gaye's relationship with Motown founder Berry Gordy is discussed at length, anyone who has studied the studio and its music will find something of interest here. References to the black church and family will ensure this book's place in programs of African-American study. Finally, the last chapter is in large part about present-day soul star R. Kelly. Dyson's discussion of how both men merged concepts of spirituality and sexuality within their music is interesting. In short, this book is a real find for a musicologist or sociologist, but it's not a biography "for the rest of us."

Originally reviewed 1/20/05

The Coldest Winter Ever

This post is the first in a series of reviews commemorating Black History Month

The Coldest Winter Ever, by Sister Souljah (1999)

Winter Santiaga is born on a bitterly cold Brooklyn day to her mother, a homemaker, and father, who oversees a drug syndicate in their neighborhood in the projects.

Though the streets around them are poor, the Santiagas want for nothing thanks to the father's nefarious trade. Winter grows up with all of the material gods she could ever hope for, and she moves through her rough neighborhood unheeded as she has the protection of her name.

With life getting more dangerous for his family, Ricky Santiaga decides to move to Long Island. He put his wife and three daughters into a palacial home in an exclusive neighborhood. Meanwhile, he commutes back to the city to monitor his business.

When this new life garners the attention of federal authorities, Winter finds her father incarcerated and all of the family fortune confiscated. She goes from getting diamond tennis bracelets as birthday gifts to fending for herself on the streets. She spends some time living with friends and family, on the run from the Bureau of Child Welfare, which gains custody of her two younger sisters.

The protagonist puts herself above all others. She possesses a supreme sense of entitlement and while she seeks to build a criminal business of her own, she never stops looking for a man to take care of her. I find the dichotomy between her desire to get ahead of everyone around her, yet to be subservient to a strong man one of the more interesting and troubling aspects of her character.

Eventually, Winter's path crosses with that of the author herself, Sister Souljah. The activist and rapper is hosting talks with members of the community to discuss life choices and black unity. Will Winter shed her hard, selfish path and decide to change her life?

The book is like few things I've read. The language is raw but genuine, and while the story is somewhat predictable it's a powerful read. Highly recommended.

Originally reviewed 2/18/06

Between Worlds

Between Worlds: The Making of an American Life, by Bill Richardson (2005)

The current governor of New Mexico has only recently announced his intention to run for president but when he wrote this book with journalist Michael Ruby he was preparing for his second gubernatorial bid. He would go on to win the following year by a wide margin, having garnered praise from voters across the political spectrum for his conservative fiscal stance and his education proposals.

Born in California to an American father and a Mexican mother, Richardson never completely fit in with white kids or with the Mexicans with whom he grew up in Mexico City, but his is hardly a fish out of water story. In fact, the man seems to have excelled at most everything he’s tried save academics.

As late as his college days, the man who would go on to become Ambassador to the United Nations was a largely apolitical creature, preferring instead the thrill of the baseball diamond. He had become a star prospect until injuries to his pitching arm sidelined him. Though he wasn’t a terribly motivated student he did well enough to get to graduate school. After his schooling he made a calculated move to New Mexico, where he launched his political career.

The bulk of the book concerns Richardson’s trips abroad during his service in the U.S. House. The congressman faced tough negotiations with some of the world’s most notorious leaders, including Saddam Hussein and Fidel Castro. President Bill Clinton nominated him for ambassador and Richardson was later given the challenging assignment of Secretary of the Department of Energy.

The governor’s ego is evident in every chapter and he comes off as something of a braggart at times. He recounts butting heads with a number of figures, often fellow Democrats. He describes his often-public dustup with Democratic National Committee chair Terry McAuliffe as Richardson seems determined to keep himself and his state in the limelight, even though it ruffles some feathers. Through it all, he seems to enjoy the political game as much as the end result.

Richardson’s description of state politics hardly matches the excitement of the first half of the book and this makes for a somewhat anti-climactic reading experience. Even so, this gifted and determined politician has written a tale that many followers of politics will find very interesting. Recommended.