An unflinching look at nineteenth- and twentieth-century African American leaders and their visionary legacies. In an accessible; conversational format; Cornel West; with distinguished scholar Christa Buschendorf; provides a fresh perspective on six revolutionary African American leaders: Frederick Douglass; W. E. B. Du Bois; Martin Luther King Jr.; Ella Baker; Malcolm X; and Ida B. Wells. In dialogue with Buschendorf; West examines the impact of these men and women on their own eras and across the decades. He not only rediscovers the integrity and commitment within these passionate advocates but also their fault lines. West; in these illuminating conversations with the German scholar and thinker Christa Buschendorf; describes Douglass as a complex man who is both “the towering Black freedom fighter of the nineteenth century†and a product of his time who lost sight of the fight for civil rights after the emancipation. He calls Du Bois “undeniably the most important Black intellectual of the twentieth century†and explores the more radical aspects of his thinking in order to understand his uncompromising critique of the United States; which has been omitted from the American collective memory. West argues that our selective memory has sanitized and even “Santaclausified†Martin Luther King Jr.; rendering him less radical; and has marginalized Ella Baker; who embodies the grassroots organizing of the civil rights movement. The controversial Malcolm X; who is often seen as a proponent of reverse racism; hatred; and violence; has been demonized in a false opposition with King; while the appeal of his rhetoric and sincerity to students has been sidelined. Ida B. Wells; West argues; shares Malcolm X’s radical spirit and fearless speech; but has “often become the victim of public amnesia.†By providing new insights that humanize all of these well-known figures; in the engrossing dialogue with Buschendorf; and in his insightful introduction and powerful closing essay; Cornel West takes an important step in rekindling the Black prophetic fire so essential in the age of Obama.
#2805312 in Books Citadel 2000-06-01 2000-06-01Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 1.57 x 5.38 x 8.20l; #File Name: 0806514213538 pages
Review
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful. Invaluable WorkBy unixglNote: This review was written for "Volume 3" of the series "A Documentary History of the Negro People in the United States." Unfortunately; doesn't distinguish very well between the 6 or 7 volumes of this series; so reviews for one volume of the book show up for others in the series. This item is Volume 3 of the series "A Documentary History of the Negro People in the United States;" covering 1933-1945. As of the writing of this review; the "Book Description" provided for Volume 3 doesn't actually match the contents of the book. The ISBN number listed on the page (0-8065-0438-2) does however point to the correct hardback version of the book. NOTE: ISBN 0-8065-1006-4 appears to be the paperback version of this book; but it does not contain all of the essays and articles that were contained in the hardback version.Now to the review of the book: I searched far and wide to locate this book; because it contains the only available copy I could find of a 1935 opinion piece written by a little known (today) black intellectual.Each chapter begins with a very short introductory paragraph written by the editor that introduces the article being presented. Editorializing is kept to a minimum and the actual wording of the original articles is kept intact. Subjects covered include (but are not limited to):- The case of Angelo Herndon (1933)- The American Negro Movement (1933)- What Does the Younger Negro Think? (1933)...- Jim Crow and Eating: Washington DC (1934)...- A Black Congressman on Political Parties (1936)There are 106 "Chapters" altogether - each chapter representing a separate essay/opinion piece; or subject (represented by a group of essays).Reading this book will definitely give you a wide perspective on the issues many black Americans found most pressing during early 20th century.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Loved it!By The Maat ProjectThese documents give a depth to the black experience in America that cannot be found anywhere else outside of talking to the elders. Very thick read; but worth it.
