Kbrooks' Biography Reviews



African American   

                                                    Something Must Be Done

                                                         by Peggy Wood

       This is one woman's story about her life as a black woman in the early 1900's as a middle class member of society.  Little has been written about the black middle class during this period.  Mrs. Wood is a social worker and she and her husband dedicated their lives to black community centers in various communities that tehy lived in. Her husband was president of several HBCU's.   This is a very good and fast read.  I give it *** out of five stars.

 

Wrapped in Rainbows:ittl

The Life of Zora Neale Hurtston

by  Valerie Boyd

 

    This book will give the reader a peak inside the characters of the Harlem Renaissance. From the same sex relationships from both famous men ad women to the eccentric nature of the artist, the book delves into the friendships and fights and fun that these notables enjoyed. There are excerpts from various books and research so much of what is here can be found in other places. But if you would like an analysis of the life of Zora Neal Hurston based on her writings and the writings of others this will be a good read. Much of the book contained Ms. Hurston's travels and not a lot of substance of how it related to her writings. All in all it is very informative and a good account of her life.  I give it *** out of five stars.

 

A Journal for Jordan

by Dana Canedy

 

    This is a heartwarming story about Dana Canedy, the girlfriend of a soldier killed in Iraq. Before he left for Iraq, Charles King was given a journal to leave for his unborn child.  He wrote his thoughts down for his son to follow and this book is not only the journal entries, but a love story of how he and Dana met. Dana also discusses her inner struggles of having a soldier for a boyfriend, especially one that is stationed far away in Iraq.  This story will tug at your heart and is very well written. Dana is a journalist for The New York Times and she delivers with this book.  I give it **** out of five stars. 

  

 

Don't Let My Mama Read This

by Hadjii

 

    This has got to be the funniest book I have read in a long time.  Hadjii writes about his experiences as a child growing up black. He sees the world through the lens of a comedian. He talks about family, his education, his girlfriends and anyone else that happen to cross his mind.  You never know when to take him seriously since he warns you early on that some of the book is exaggerated. If you grew up in the seventies or eighties, this book will take you down memory lane.  It is one of those rare books that will make you laugh out loud.  I give it **** out of five stars.

                                                   

With Ossie and Ruby Dee: In this Life Together

by Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee

 

 

 

 

No Disrespect

by Sista Souja

 

 

     Sister Souljah writes a very moving book about her experiences in ghetto life and beyond. She is open and honest in her depiction. This book is not for everyone. If you can not handle what really goes on in some urban poor communities and feel the need to have it censored then this book is probably not for you. But if you have an open mind and would like to see life from many angles and/or are in the process of trying to inspire inner city kids to rise above their present conditions, then this book will start you on your way. Although you may not agree with the path Ms. Souljah traveled, she ends up at a great place to inspire others. I give it **** out of five stars.

One Drop

by Bliss Boyard

 

 

 

 

 

 

Friends: A Love Story

by Angela Bassett

 

 

 

 

 

A Hope of the Unseen

by Ron Suskind

 

If you know someone from an inner city high school preparing for college entrance exams and are struggling to make the grade, this book will inspire them. It is the story of Ron Suskind who was the number one student in his class, voted most likely to succeed, maintained straight A's throughout most of his academic career and yet can not score high enough on the SAT. This book examines the case for affirmative action and begs the question: When a school fails the student, should the student be penalized? This young man applies and is accepted in the M.I.T.E.S program at MIT (which exposes him to life altering mentoring experiences) and is later accepted at Brown University. Very inspirational. I give it **** out of five stars.

Vernon Can Read

by Vernon Jordan

 

 

Vernon Can Read and he can also write. This book chronicles his life and tells much of what is already known about his rise to the head of the Urban League and the NAACP. This is not a tell-all book, so do not expect to find juicy dirt about Monica Lewinsky or President Clinton. He sticks to what is important to him for his readers to know and how he would like to be remembered. He does open up about how he was attacked after leaving the house of a white colleague and ended up in the hospital with severe injuries. This is an interesting read if you are trying to understand the civil rights movement or you are just looking for more information on the author. I give it *** out of five stars.

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