Whether you look at the past several weeks of “talkin’ ‘bout
race” as a tipping point, a watershed moment, or a wake-up call, the fact is
that a lot of potent writing has occurred on topics that clearly
need our attention. The problem we call Racism stems from a
lack of understanding and empathy. At the root of all the upset surrounding
the recent police shootings is a systemic illness of distrust, disrespect, and
ignorance.
So for this year’s READING LIST, I chose to highlight five (of the many) books I read this year, each of which enhanced my understanding of the history
and the reality of black/white misunderstanding.
Please note: The title links will take you to Amazon.com
synopses, intended for ease of research. But PLEASE, buy from independent
booksellers whenever possible. Or borrow from the library. Amazon’s bullying
tactics toward the publishing industry should not be supported.
OK. Here you go:
BROWNGIRL’S YEAR-END
READING LIST, 2014
FIRE SHUT UP IN MY BONES,
by Charles M. Blow (c. 2014)
This new memoir details the author’s childhood in the poor,
segregated South, and follows him through college, to his first job in big city
journalism, and fatherhood. As a pre-teen, Blow was molested by a male cousin -
an event that would haunt him throughout his sexual relationships with women,
as well as his friendships with men. Questions of sexuality underscore the bigger
issues of self-labeling and conformity, in the context of a modern, urban, professional
black man emerging from his rural southern roots.
THE GRACE OF SILENCE,
by Michele Norris (c. 2010)
I was struck by the distinction, “A Family Memoir,” on this book’s
cover because I wondered whether the story was a collection of family members’
memories, or of Ms. Norris’s family memories. It’s both. In researching her
Alabama past, specifically the mysterious circumstances of her father having
been shot in the leg, Ms. Norris uncovers her family’s Jim Crow-era survival
stories. In the telling, she offers the historical context of black “silence”
with regard to struggle, as well as anti-white racism in the black community. The
personal accounts of both near and distant relatives are compelling and
convincing.
WHITE GIRLS, by
Hilton Als (c. 2014)
This is radical writing. It’s a collection of long essays,
and reminds me of James Baldwin’s work in that it speaks so richly of a time
and place. And know that I don’t make that association lightly; James Baldwin
is one of my few heroes. By showing us his raw self in an array of
unpredictable scenes, Mr. Als reveals American race relations with real clarity.
He also depicts 1980’s New York City the way I remember it, though I was too
young to have enjoyed the decade like he did. (I’m also too female, and too
straight.) He gives clear, hard-to-hear testimony about being a black, gay man “on
the scene”; i.e. with none of the privileges of being a white girl. Some of his
strongest prose tackles the trappings of art and fame. When he rants, his point
of view is cohesive, engaging and real.
THINGS FALL APART,
by Chinua Achebe (c. 1959)
This poetic novel retains its relevance, bedecked in
fifty-five years of accolades. It’s a beautifully paced story of a man caught
up in his traditions, family strife, and community conflicts. His struggles are
both universal and specific to his strange tribal paradigm. Achebe’s memorable
last pages expose the racist ignorance of the empowered outsider, through a
missionary’s utter lack of compassion for the Nigerian people.
THE SILENCE OF OUR FRIENDS, by Mark Long, Jim Demonakos, and Nate Powell
(c. 2012)
I didn’t expect to find a book like this in the Graphic
Novels section of our local library. I generally browse the shelves on behalf
of my young daughter, hoping for material that will engage but not terrify her.
She likes comics, “but not the babyish ones.” The cover illustration has
obvious racial connotations. The story is about an incident in Houston, TX in
1968, which divided a community along racial lines. The author Mark Long explains
that the story is based on real events, involving himself and his family. I
enjoyed the graphic treatment of the story, as well as its message of
brotherhood.
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I hope these recommendations help you with any last-minute
book shopping you might be facing, for loved ones or for yourself.
Happy Reading… and Happy New Year!
