Wow! What an awesome read! I have never been so ashamed of our country's past as I was after I finished reading this book. The fact that this young man was able to so articulately describe his family's past and the pains, trials, and tribulations that they had to overcome is absolutely breathtaking at times. This quote from the books pretty much sums up the idea that slavery is something we all need to be made aware of so that we never come anywhere close to repeating it:
"When I think of slavery it makes me mad. I do not believe in giving you my story, 'cause with all the promises that have been made, the Negro is still in a bad way in the United States, no matter in what part he lives. It's all the same. Now you may be all right; there're a few white men who are, but the pressure is such from your white friends that you will be compelled to talk against us and give us the cold shoulder when you are around them, even if your heart is right towards us."
The thought that people still feel this way literally makes my stomach hurt. I guess I need to realize that these tragedies in history have an effect that will probably never completely go away.
Other books by Julius Lester include:
The Folksinger's Guide to the 12-String Guitar as Played by Leadbelly, co-author with Pete Seeger, 1965
Look Out, Whitey! Black Power's Gon' Get Your Mama, 1968
Search for the New Land, 1969
Revolutionary Notes, 1969
Black Folktales, 1969 (Grove Press)
No comments:
Post a Comment