Brotherman: The Odyssey of Black Men in America--an Anthology

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

This outstanding collection of writings by African-American males has been edited by Boyd (Down the Glory Road) and Allen (The Port Chicago Mutiny) with a commitment to inclusion and diversity. More than 100 pieces are organized by subjects such as forefathers, relationships, racism, sports, music and other themes that define the black man's experience. There are contributions from notables James Baldwin, Countee Cullen, Ralph Ellison, Jackie Robinson, Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr., but the editors also include material from emerging creative writers and political thinkers. The powerful opening excerpt by Frederick Douglass evokes his boyhood as a slave, and the collection closes with an eloquent discussion of the race problem today by Cornel West. A distinguished addition to black studies. Illustrations not seen by PW. (Mar.)

Library Journal

The editors' attempt to gather essays, poems, and segments of larger works as well as short stories covering every aspect of the black man in America-past, present, and future-explains this book's thickness. Their scope is truly comprehensive; selections range from some of the great names of literature and history to figures who are currently in vogue. But if you already have a reasonable collection of works by and about African Americans, you may find this offering to be somewhat redundant. Readers would have been better served by a smaller book of new essays to represent each theme and a bibliography referring to the theme's seminal works. Recommended for libraries that do not have much to offer in their coverage of black studies; otherwise, an optional purchase.-Anita L. Cole, Miami-Dade P.L. System, Fla.

Booknews

An anthology of writing by black men, about black men. Authors such as W.E.B. Dubois, Ralph Ellison, Paul Robeson, Malcolm X, Kareem Abdul- Jabbar, Alex Haley, and Ice T explore the black man's experience as adolescent, lover, husband, father, worker, warrior, and elder in some 100 selections arranged by issues such as forefathers, male bonding, relationships with family and women, racism, class, sports, politics, and music. No index. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)