Reading List 2014

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!