A Black Way of Seeing: From "Liberty" to Freedom.* A Black Way of Seeing: From "Liberty" to Freedom by Paul Robeson Jr. Seven Stories Press, May 2006 $23.95, ISBN ISBN abbr. International Standard Book Number ISBN International Standard Book Number ISBN n abbr (= International Standard Book Number) → ISBN m 1-583-22725-3 Among the several things to commend in A Black Way of Seeing is the singular voice and perspective of Paul Robeson Jr. In the Introduction, he announces: "I speak only out of my own personal way of seeing, feeling and thinking." Fortunately, his summations are shared by millions in the country who are fed up with the Bush Administration and its unjust war in Iraq; who believe they were hoodwinked in the last two presidential elections; and who, like Robeson, blame the current regime for the deliberate and cruel neglect of the black and poor along the Gulf Coast following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina  Editing of this page by unregistered or newly registered users is currently disabled due to vandalism. .
One other thing should be noted: In the subtitle sub·ti·tle n. 1. A secondary, usually explanatory title, as of a literary work. 2. A printed translation of the dialogue of a foreign-language film shown at the bottom of the screen. tr.v. , Robeson places "liberty" in quotation marks quotation marks Noun, pl the punctuation marks used to begin and end a quotation, either `` and '' or ` and ' quotation marks npl → comillas fpl . He cites the Declaration of Independence to make his point, noting that the great document "stresses liberty," but makes no mention of freedom. It could not have used the word "freedom" without directly confronting the issue of slavery as the ultimate denial of "liberty," he observes. Therefore, "freedom" was omitted. In one of the book's most compelling chapters, Robeson handles an old bugaboo among black activists and public intellectuals: the race/class dichotomy. If either can be given primacy, it's the aspect of class that, in his opinion, has overtaken the issue of race per se. Even so, he views them as linked and integral. He writes: "Economic issues are given secondary status, whereas they are inseparably intertwined with the issue of race." Some will bristle at Verb 1. bristle at - show anger or indignation; "She bristled at his insolent remarks" bridle at, bridle up, bristle up mind - be offended or bothered by; take offense with, be bothered by; "I don't mind your behavior" his critique of black leadership, whose overall strategy, he declares, is merely an "update of Booker T. Washington's accommodationism laced with touches of symbolic cultural nationalism." Feminists might take exception to his not listing even one black woman among the six icons he would summon TO SUMMON, practice. The act by which a defendant is notified by a competent officer, that an action has been instituted against him, and that he is required to answer to it at a time and place named. from the past to enable the black masses today. Yes, Robeson marches to a different drum, but he tends to be right on the beat and in step. A Black Way of Seeing is, for the most part--and for most of us--our way of seeing. --Reviewed by Herb Boyd Herb Boyd's recent book is The Gentle Giant: The Autobiography of Yusef Lateef Dr. Yusef Lateef (born William Emanuel Huddleston, October 9, 1920) is an American jazz musician. He plays principally on tenor saxophone and flute. He is known for his innovative blending of "Eastern" music with American jazz. (Morton Books, January 2006). |
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