cjeanne99's reviews
977 reviews

In May of 1892, a white owned newspaper in Memphis, TN published this editorial response to Ida B Wells’ words (in italics - not credited directly to her) 

Wells was in New York City at the time. Her newspaper offices were seized by “creditors” and she was advised to not return to Memphis.
She then writes this essay which she self publishes and delivers as a speech to a number of audiences. She closes with this paragraph:
Nothing is more definitely settled than the African American must act for himself. I have shown how he may employ the boycott, emigration and the press, and I feel that by a combination of all these agencies can be effectually stamped out lynch law, that last relic of barbarism and slavery.

Lest we think that this horrific behavior has died out - read Selin Thomas’ short story A Haunting. (publ https://delacortereview.org/2019/06/24/a-haunting/ )
Although it’s not entirely clear when Thomas visited Alabama - references are made to events in 1987 and 1997 as if they were at least 20 years prior. But still - white people still taking the law into their own hands - carrying out “justice” similar to the lynchings of the 1890’s. 

Remarkable audio book - compilation of historical essays, short stories, personal vignettes and poems - this book touches the surface of 400 years of what it means to be black, and particularly African born or descended, in the United States.
I learned a lot - and have pages of notes of follow up books I want to read and stories I want to know more about.
Recency is affecting my thoughts here - I realize that it’s impossible to include ALL the events that have shaped the Black American experience of the past 400 years - but when talking about the integration of the US military in the 1940’s - no mention is made of the disproportionate number of African Americans serving as enlisted men in the Army during the VietNam war.
And when Alicia Garza reads a list of victims of racially motivated murders - many of them committed by police officers - she does not include Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, Jonathan Ferrell or LaQuan McDonald.

In the final chapter, Keisha Blain ties things together -   “400 years after the 20 or so black people arrived in Jamestown, Virginia, black people across the nation continue to face the same problems our ancestors fought to correct.  . . . .
The task ahead is not an easy one - but we can help chart out a path that leads us ALL to a better future. The kind of future that will more closely resemble our ancestor’s wildest dreams.” 

Hughes encourages negro artists to stop embracing and emulating white culture and instead embrace their race and their uniqueness. 
An artist must be free to choose what he does, certainly, but he must also never be afraid to do what he might choose.

What a delightful book. The growth of the friendship between Marge and Enid made this an enjoyable read. Margery Benson transforms from a large woman who teaches school in England, puts her own interests on hold and counts on others to take the lead - into an independent entymologist living in New Caledonia. Enid is hired as Margery’s assistant. Enid is a whirlwind of enthusiasm and innocence - sort of.  
Never understood why Mundic was included in the story. His presence as the potential stalker/foil just never materialized. He was pitiable - not menacing. 

A touch too kitschy for me. But a good story based on lighthouse keepers in 1838 Ireland and 1938 Newport, Rhode Island. . 

Quick, fun, chuckles. It’s Dave Barry. 

Non-fiction - reflections from Murakami about his life as a marathon runner - and tri-athlete. Talking about fitting exercise into his schedule - running 26.2 miles aone in Greece - running the NYC marathon. I especially enjoyed the chapters about tri-athlon and his biking challenges. 
But - as a firm believer in Jeff Galloway's Run/Walk method - I did not appreciate his comment of "at least I didn't walk". 
There is no shame in walking part of your running race people!