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Books : Black Genius: African American Solutions to African American Problems |
List Price: $15.95Amazon.com's Price: $12.44 You Save: $3.51 (22%)Prices subject to change.
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Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 305.896073
EAN: 9780393319781
ISBN: 0393319784
Label: W. W. Norton & Company
Manufacturer: W. W. Norton & Company
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 314
Publication Date: 2000-02
Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
Sales Rank: 672192
Studio: W. W. Norton & Company
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Editorial Review:
Product Description:
From Spike Lee's encouragement of independent community fundraising to Joycelyn Elders's warning about the failings of our "sick-care" system to Stanley Crouch's disputation on "heroic" versus "anarchic" individuality Black Genius is an exceptional, unique colloquy. Conceived by acclaimed novelist Walter Mosley and sponsored by the New York University Africana Studies Program and the Institute of African American Affairs this book originated as a series of community conversations where "visionaries with solutions" shared powerful views on personal and communal struggles triumphs and aspirations. The list of contributors suggests the range of perspectives and talents brought to bear on such issues as economics political power, work, authority, and culture Black Genius is a point of departure for vigorous discussion of our current realities and goals for the future -- and a portrait of "genius" that leads the way to enriching American life in the twenty-first century.
Amazon.com Review:
These essays are taken from a symposium held in New York University's Africana Studies Program, whose participants included gifted writers and thinkers from the upper echelon of Afro-American achievement. The organizer, novelist Walter Mosley, writes, "The intent of Black Genius was to assemble a group of black intellectuals, artists, political activists, economists who have broken the visor and seen beyond the fallacies of race.... We wanted to present the stories of women and men who had made it in spite of the system." Farai Chideya delivers an on-point analysis of the media's misrepresentation of blacks and offers a blueprint for more up-front and behind-the-scenes representation in the newsroom. Critic Stanley Crouch body-slams the negroidal nihilism and black "gansta" mentality in rap music, while Angela Davis delivers a nightmarish assessment of the growing African American prison population. Others--including Julianne Malveaux, Randall Robinson, Spike Lee, and Anna Deveare Smith--take aim at health, the film industry, Wall Street, and the state of African-descended people around the world. --Eugene Holley Jr.
Average Rating: 
Rating: -
Why are we intrigued by all of Spike Lee's Movies no matter how bad or good, or Easy Rowlin's character in Walter Mosley's Devil In A Blue Dress? Is it the casting of characters, the mystery of the black experience or the marvel of these geniuses who seem more talented then life itself at times. they are the folks who encourage to hold on to life, catch a dream, and believe that success doesn't have to be a thought but a realization. This book contains the very folks who may or may not seem like geniuses to everyone, but just the mere power of their actions has transformed a generation through movies, literature, sports, fashion, journalism, and Humanitarianism. I always sink into these anthology compilations because I am curious to find out the reasoning behind some of the great Black African Americans featured in anthologies like this. It may be true that to be a success is to know success, but for those who don't have that convenience...why not read about it?
Rating: -
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Too many times the Black community is treated as if we all believe only one idea or follow one way of doing things. "Black Genius" brings out the qualities our many talented Kings and Queens by providing personal narratives with solutions to many concerns that effect the Black Community daily. I highly recommend this book. If you are concerned about issues in the Black community you wont be dissapointed.
Rating:  -
This is some of the heaviest reading I have chosen in a long time. While I must say I did not agree with several of the viewpoints of the collective writers, the writing was done with conviction and the ideas were thought-provoking. I recommend this book to any students of African American history, Journalism or Economics. I thought a better title for this work would have been Collective Black Genius.
Rating: -
The only reason I bought this book is because Walter Mosley's name was attached to it. Mosley is one of America's most valuable treasures, and I jump at any opportunity to experience his words. However, while his essay is excellent, the other authors more than hold their own.
I don't know who the intended audience is for this book, but I think it should be required reading for everyone. From age 15 through 90. Liberal, conservative, egalitarian, libertarian, agnostic, spiritual, what have you.
I cannot put my respect for this book into words. I am saddened with the realization that this book will go unnoticed by many because of a number of reasons. This book deserves much more recognition than it has received to date.
Rating: -
This is a very serious piece of writing. So often, African-Americans look to others for help in "handling our business." Here are 13 essays from people of thought and action that have decided to lay out some ways we can handle it ourselves!
The real beauty of this book is the accessibility of what is written. No offense to Cornel West and other Black Intellectuals (they have voices that must also be heard and heeded!), but this book is written in such a way that even the casual reader will be touched and moved to action. There is no lack of depth here but rather a casual familiarity as well as a sense of urgency that will immediately draw the reader in.
Further, there are a variety of voices presented here. From Spike Lee to Randall Robinson to Walter Mosley, these essayists cover a tremendous amount of ground and touch all of us along the way. There is something here that speaks to the many facets of the African American experience.
Buy this book - I dare you not to be inspired by it!
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