Dreams, promises and disappointments: Hollywood's racial past, Virginia's forgotten free enclave, Jamaica Kincaid's search for flowers and other offerings.

Bright Boulevards, Bold Dreams: The Story of Black Hollywood by Donald Bogle Ballantine Books, February 2005 $26.95, ISBN 0-345-45418-9

This is a brilliant, detailed exploration of African Americans in cinema spanning 60 years. Bogle is already a well known authority on African Americans in cinema. With this latest work, he takes the reader on a historical field trip. At times, Bright Boulevards, Bold Dreams reads like an intellectual gossip column, and at other times it is an uplifting display of many key African Americans in power and in the world of intelligentsia.

It tells a poignant tale of the very real racism of that era with historical perspective that is so often overlooked in our world. He presents a sincere, well-researched recollection of a time gone by Poetic in its honesty, Bright Boulevards, Bold Dreams explores everything from actors, actresses, seamstresses, maids, to the hotels and clubs they stayed in, to the architects who created the hotels, the black press, stage mothers, romances, celebrity weddings, parties, social gatherings, gay Hollywood, musicians and choreographers. It is also filled with wonderful archival photos of public and private events, as well as juicy inside information. The author profiles black Hollywood with a dignified respect it deserves.

The book begins with the early days of filmmaking, and an historical foundation of the city of Los Angeles. It was interesting to read about the many ironies surrounding blacks in Hollywood. For example, black actress Madame Sul-Te-Wan forged the beginnings of blacks in Hollywood by being hired by movie director D.W. Griffith, who made what is considered one of the most racist movies of all time, Birth of a Nation. Madame Sul-Te-Wan and Griffith were good friends until his death. Other ironies uncovered in dude black architect Paul Williams who assisted in the design of the famous Shrine Auditorium. After this success, he opened his own firm and designed many spaces to which he in turn was denied entry. The distinguished actress Hattie McDaniel, who played the mammy character in Gone With the Wind and was the first African American to win all Oscar, wasn't allowed to attend the premiere in Atlanta because of attitudes in the South. And, of course, Stepin Fetchit is examined as the ultimate paradox.

With each decade, Bogle takes the reader on a quantum leap by which he feels like an invisible observer, and Bogle's writing style makes everything seem organic and familiar. This is a bright and bold work that all Americans should read.

Reviewed by Antoinette Dykes is the Food and Living editor for The Harlem Times in New York City and a freelance writer.