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Dawn
First Time Poster
Username: Dawn
Post Number: 1
Registered: 03-2004
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, March 03, 2004 - 08:21 pm: | 
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This fall a course on African American Men: Educating Society will be taught on campus. My teaching partner keeps telling me how much college students hate to read. I am on a quest to prove him wrong. Any book suggestions? |
Yukio
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Username: Yukio
Post Number: 60
Registered: 01-2004
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, March 04, 2004 - 12:17 am: |
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Gotta read some Richard Wright, John Edgar WIdeman, and some Ishmael Reed, malcolm x autobiography, hurricane carter, eldridge cleaver...chester himes, scare them with some baldwin and thomas glave..... |
Yukio
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Username: Yukio
Post Number: 61
Registered: 01-2004
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, March 04, 2004 - 12:18 am: |
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baldwin and glave should challenge and diversify their notions of manhood.... |
Cynique
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Username: Cynique
Post Number: 73
Registered: 01-2004
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, March 04, 2004 - 10:35 am: |
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Some of the books you mention are pretty heavy fare, Yukio. You gotta break them in with something a little more entertaining; get them in the habit of enjoying the printed word so they'll be motivated to move on to more challenging, thought-provoking works from authors like Toni Morrison and Wideman. (And the books don't necessarily have to be black ones.) Mystery novels usually hold a reader's interest and are a good place to cultivate a reading habit, so have them check out some of Walter Mosley's Easy Rawlins books, or better still, Mosley's latest "The Man in My Basement." It's short and engrossing. Also, another easy but compelling read is the classic "Manchild in the Promised Land" by Claude Brown. |
Yukio
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Username: Yukio
Post Number: 64
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: 
Votes: 1 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, March 04, 2004 - 11:33 am: |
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you are so true....I picked wright cuz most men are angry with the man...wideman cuz to talks about basketball, masculinity, and his style is hip hop(that is my opinion of course).......
If i taught the class, I would do so thematicly. I'd teach sections:
rape scence in love, for example, and engage it with richard wright's scene with the white girl, and maybe even Ralph Ellison sexcapade with the white girl..... |
Cynique
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Username: Cynique
Post Number: 76
Registered: 01-2004
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, March 04, 2004 - 11:48 am: |
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Right on. |
Thumper
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Username: Thumper
Post Number: 31
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, March 04, 2004 - 11:59 am: |
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Hello All,
I would have to go with Cynique on this one. I think its important to start anyone, not just AA male college students, with books that aren't heavy. Manchild in the Promised Land is an excellent suggestion. The Autobiography of Malcolm X is another good one. And I would even suggest, Black Mama Widow by Iceberg Slim. Just to start. Afterward there's Charles Johnson's The Middle Passage and The Oxhearding Tale. |
Crystal
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Username: Crystal
Post Number: 10
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, March 04, 2004 - 12:11 pm: |
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If you’re talking about reading for a class then those classics Yukio mentioned are good. My 20-year old son recently read Manchild in the Promise Land and while he enjoyed it he found it a little tame. I guess I was thinking of it in the context of when I read it in the early 70’s and was thrilled with the boldness of it. Yea, I’m that old.
If you’re talking of just getting them to read something then I agree with Walter Mosley’s Easy Rawlins and Fearless Jones books and I’d suggest Solomon Jones. I’d say Guy Johnson’s Standing at the Scratch Line but it’s a BigAzzBook and we don’t want to scare them. My son just finished and enjoyed Glenville Lovel’s Too Beautiful To Die – a mystery. Although I must say he’s not really that big of a reader. Current circumstances has given him specific pockets of time where reading is about all he has to do but left to his own devises he doesn’t just pick up a book and read.
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Chrishayden
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Username: Chrishayden
Post Number: 14
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, March 04, 2004 - 03:24 pm: |
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Try Kevin Powell's books--Keepin' It Real and Who's Gonna Take the Weight,Maybe Tuff or Big Bank Take Little Bank by Paul Beatty, Flyboy in the Buttermilk (can't remember the author) this book about the hiphop generation--gotta get the name--and there is a collection of essays about Tupac Shakur edited by Michael Eric Dyson, and also Makes Me Wanna Holler. |
Whistlingwoman
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Username: Whistlingwoman
Post Number: 4
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, March 04, 2004 - 05:26 pm: |
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The Dying Ground
Too Beautiful to Die
Who's Gonna Take the Weight
John Henry Days
White Boy Shuffle
RL's Dream
Just a few off the top of my head. |
Yukio
Veteran Poster
Username: Yukio
Post Number: 65
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, March 04, 2004 - 06:13 pm: |
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well....i picked those particular books because those books and others say something to me about black masculinity, which seems, only Dawn knows, to be the focus. While the classics are "heavy" I do think that have enough interesting prose that will engage young men.....most men love sports, have been discriminated against, etc....Wideman's fiction has all of that....i'm sure others do....as whistlingwoman's list it think suggests.... |
Augustuzziah
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Username: Augustuzziah
Post Number: 2
Registered: 01-2004
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, March 04, 2004 - 07:18 pm: |
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Guy Johnson
Charles Johnson - Middle Passage
John A. Williams - Captain Blackman
J.O. Killens - And Then We Heard the Thunder
Robert B. Parker (only when Hawk is prominently featured - what can I say) |
Dawn
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Username: Dawn
Post Number: 3
Registered: 03-2004
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, March 04, 2004 - 09:38 pm: |
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Thank you. I'm overwhelmed! I have to logoff to go to the bookstore. All of you are on target. I like the idea of something very current and edgy. Being an avid mystery reader, I love that idea. Thanks for giving me a few new mysteries to read, too. I'm a fan of Powell's book. I also finished Todd Boyle's Young, Black, Rich and Famous book. It's good. Since most of the guys in class were born after 1980, Nate (teaching partner) is afraid that the sports,music,etc. are not current enough. I agree but would it be boring to the students? What is really "today"? I love the idea of the classics, too. If I had my way the course would turn into a curriculum. Do you think we could do justice to the classics by having them read specific passages in a coursepack?
Yukio, the class is in an embryonic state. Here's the official description: This course explores the dynamics of African American men in the
collegiate educational environment. We will analyze the obstacles and
challenges facing black men. We will study educational attainment and how it affects black men in society. This course examines the stereotypes society places on African American men and ways to overcome them. Finally the course will explore ways to be successful in college and gain a desired position in society.
We are hoping to get a great mix of guys at a large predominately white institution. We also hope to bring in a number of athletes who do to their schedules don't get to participate much when we bring speakers, etc. So, again, you are on the mark, students tend to say they don't know what they like but.... they like girls, sports, video games, and talking with friends about issues. |
Yukio
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Username: Yukio
Post Number: 67
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, March 05, 2004 - 12:10 am: |
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OK.....well, i'm not sure if the classics would do....this seems more of a social science class. I would look for research concerning black men in academic programs and sports programs, which should satisfy the collegiate ed. environment. Then could provide both social science..sociology, etc.. research for the obstacles black men encounter as citizens in the business world, as criminalized bodies. And of course, you can provide some fiction. I think John Edgar Wideman could bridge the gap between sports, lived experience as a black man, etc...There is a section in Reuben about a brother who should've went pro but for whatever reasons he didn't and now he was a traveling salesperson...who happened to murder a white man ...I haven't read Powell's book but it seems usualful and you may even have the class watch or read about the Anton Fisher story.....
Good luck! |
Blkmalereading
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Username: Blkmalereading
Post Number: 6
Registered: 02-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, March 06, 2004 - 12:14 am: |
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I would say that Kevin Powell is a good choice. I can't remember the name but he wrote a book that is like a diary and talks about his relation (at the time) with a woman. He's not far from their age and they probably remember him from the Real World.
Makes Me Want to Hollar would also be useful. Deals with a lot of issues that Black men deal with. Both of these brothers talk about the issues and challenges that they had to deal with and they have gone on to become 'successful'.
No one mentioned this but The Invisible Man is TIMELESS and they will see the anger and of course it may thrill them that he ends up getting back at the system in a clever way.
Manchild in a promised land is always good. As well as Malcolm X.
Tupac's book or Eric Dyson. Tupac's book is mostly poetry and the lyrics from his music so they should relate to that. You could even bring in the CD to play and they would certainly enjoy this.
I also think the Miseducation of the Negro may be a good one. Non fiction but thought provoking.
They would also be able to relate to Richard Wright's and Bigger Thomas. Since lately in the news so many Black men are getting into trouble with white women. So this is also timeless.
A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest Gaines.
Some of these have videos that can be used which my be helpful.
These are short stories but Almos' a Man by Richard Wright and The Boy Who Painted Christ Black by John Henrik Clarke. These are available on video and are very moving and the latter will fit in with what's going on with The Passion of Christ debate.
Good luck. Sounds so interesting and I wish you the best. |
Mike_e
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Username: Mike_e
Post Number: 3
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, March 06, 2004 - 01:31 am: |
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David Bradley's Chaneysville Incident is a good book for a black male reading group. Also Wesley Brown's Tragic Magic & Raymond Andrews Appalachee Red [the quintessential badass negro book]. Albert Murray, John A. Williams, Arthur Flowers & Cecil Brown's The Life & Loves of Mr. Jiveass Nigger are also worth checking out. |
Yukio
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Username: Yukio
Post Number: 69
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, March 06, 2004 - 05:32 pm: |
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blkmalereading:
"No one mentioned this but The Invisible Man is TIMELESS and they will see the anger and of course it may thrill them that he ends up getting back at the system in a clever way."
March 4:
Yukio wrote:
"rape scence in love, for example, and engage it with richard wright's scene with the white girl, and maybe even Ralph Ellison sexcapade with the white girl....."
what do they say....minds think alike? lmao! |
Blkmalereading
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Username: Blkmalereading
Post Number: 9
Registered: 02-2004
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, March 06, 2004 - 07:08 pm: |
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Yukio:
Yes, like minds think alike!! <wink>
This post has forced me to pull out old books and add them to my large pile. Oh, I have forgotten about Raymond Andrews: Appalachee Red!! One of our unsung authors.
So many interesting choices I wish I could join the class.
I need to find some groups whose reading choices are similar to these. Any Male groups on the internet? |
Dawn
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Username: Dawn
Post Number: 5
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, March 06, 2004 - 11:28 pm: |
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Thanks again. Blkmalereading my pile is growing too. I'm impressed that you didn't have to go out to buy your pile. Yes, there should be a reading group on the interent. I haven't seen any yet. Maybe you should start one?? If you did start one, which book would you begin with from the many listed above?
I just finished Cynique's suggested "The Man in the Basement." Engrossing definitely describes it. There are so many layers...it's easy to weave in other articles, music, etc.
I must confess, if you haven't noticed from the writing, that being a woman let alone a white woman can easily get in the way of the class. The ideas and discussion have to come from the students themselves. My way of contributing is to offer thoughtprovoking materials. Nate, an African American man, promises to help keep me from ruining the course. Thank you for doing the same!
This is a long way of saying do you think I should bring up the white woman thing? They aren't going to think I have an agenda?
I'm off to reading... |
Cynique
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Username: Cynique
Post Number: 89
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, March 07, 2004 - 01:32 am: |
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Jeeze! I don't think anybody realized you were white. LOL! Well, don't fool yourself into thinking your students will be color blind. They will be alternately suspicious and amenable in their interaction with you. And if you're fine, they will develop a crush on you. So avoid too much eye contact with them because I've learned over the years that no matter what your color is, if a woman holds a man's stare too long, he'll think she wants to give him some. I know! I know! I'm being frivolous! Seriously, good luck in your worthy endeavor. |
Yukio
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Username: Yukio
Post Number: 70
Registered: 01-2004
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, March 07, 2004 - 03:05 pm: |
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If you're comfortable with "the white woman thing" then you should bring it up....though i'm not sure what you mean by the "white woman thing"....if you think it pertains to the theme of the class you should address it....people need to learn to distinguish what groups and individuals do don't necessarily mean that everyone of the group will do or think the same as those responsible for injustices....For example, if we say that there is a large percentage of young black males committing certain types of crime, is it fair to assume that every young black male that meets those characteristics will(or have) committ(ed) that crime.....this is what they teach in criminal justice course, unfortunately...... |
Bookgirl
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Username: Bookgirl
Post Number: 19
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, March 08, 2004 - 01:16 pm: |
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How about Michael Datcher's book; Raising Fences?
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Solomonjones
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Username: Solomonjones
Post Number: 1
Registered: 02-2004
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, March 08, 2004 - 11:16 pm: |
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Kudos to Crystal for mentioning a black male author whose work is both contemporary and engaging. I recommend Solomon Jones, too! Both Pipe Dream and The Bridge offer chilling glances into modern urban issues that male students will enjoy reading and discussing. As a teacher, I would ask the students to come up with the causes and effects of the drug scourge that is examined from many angles in both novels. Then I would watch the debate take shape. After that, I'd make them read my new novel, Ride Or Die, which comes out in August. |
Klb
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Username: Klb
Post Number: 2
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 09, 2004 - 11:42 am: |
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How you present the material is more important than the work chosen. I think with just about any blk male author they will see something they recognize in themselves. This may be for a teacher the equivalent of telling a model she's ugly but suggestions on how to present the material with a fresh spin may be in order. Just a little brainstorm. I'm sure you got the major stuff under control. I can remeber having to read stuff that made me say what the hell- but if/ when the instructor lays it down right it was all worth it. Mr. Jones has an excellent idea perhaps he could really stop in and chat with the brothers. |
Solomonjones
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Username: Solomonjones
Post Number: 4
Registered: 02-2004
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 09, 2004 - 05:04 pm: |
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KLB -
When my first book came out, and we were really broke, I would go around to barber shops and beauty salons selling copies. The sisters would be genuinely interested in reading, while the common response from brothers was, "I don't read." To hear black men open their mouths and say such a thing was chilling. It made me feel like there was very little hope for these brothers to rise above the various challenges we face as black men, because without education, our advancement is limited, and without reading, our education is limited, as well.
I go to a lot of schools, colleges, reform schools, and prisons, talking to black men. I'd be happy to come and speak to brothers who are reading my books in a classroom setting. Because it's important to me for black men, when challenged about reading, to say something other than, "I don't read." |
Chrishayden
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Username: Chrishayden
Post Number: 28
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 09, 2004 - 05:33 pm: |
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Solomonjones:
I know plenty of black men who read but they don't read fiction--and when I, who write it, examine my reading habits I'd have to say that most of what I read is non fiction.
But I know a great number of professionals and they have no books or magazines in their homes.
Again, you say this about black men but our society as a whole is not reading--the culprit--tv, vcrs, video games, and this internet we are on right now. |
Thumper
Regular Poster
Username: Thumper
Post Number: 38
Registered: 01-2004
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 09, 2004 - 09:18 pm: |
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Hello All,
Chris: I have to disagree with your last statement. A TV, VCR, Playstation 2 nor the internet is going to stop anyone from reading if that's what they want to do. Besides, I have all of those things and that don't stop me from reading...well it does sometimes, especially when I get a new video game. I am a firm believer that this can change if more men became aware of other books existing that don't feature Tornleisha and her crew finding, dumping, dogging or getting dogged by men. I know I don't want to read those types of books all the time either.
The key to rectifying the situation is who we raise our children. When we drop the pretense that it is more acceptable for girls to read books than it is for boys, then a change will come with the newer generation. I applaud those parents that are trying to change this trend. I guess the message for the rest of us is to keep doing the best we can. |
Solomonjones
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Username: Solomonjones
Post Number: 5
Registered: 02-2004
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, March 10, 2004 - 05:33 pm: |
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KLB -
I can only tell you what brothers have told me - to my face, and with no shame. They didn't talk about VCR's, televisions or the internet. They didn't give any excuses or rationale. They simply said to me, proudly almost, "I don't read." I can tell you, without fear of contradiction, that the majority of the $350 million in annual African American book sales comes from black women. It is not our society as a whole that is not reading. And it is not black men in general who are not reading. But in the 'hood, among regular black folk, black men are less likely to read than black women. Period. Could there be a correlation between the aversion to reading among young brothers and the high homicide rate, the low college attendance, the high imprisonment rate, the short life expectancy? I dare say yes. I don't say this argumentatively. I say it as a statement of fact.
Thumper, it's good to see you on this thread. And I agree with you wholeheartedly. There is no excuse for brothers not reading. Nowadays, there are more and more offerings that are relevant to the black male experience; books that brothers can easily enjoy. Now, all we have to do is read them.
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Cynique
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Username: Cynique
Post Number: 96
Registered: 01-2004
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, March 10, 2004 - 06:39 pm: |
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It's very ironic that many brothers do get around to developing an interest in reading while serving time. Some of our most well-read black men have been, or are in prison. What a sad commentary this is on what's wrong with this country. |
Shevi
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Username: Shevi
Post Number: 4
Registered: 01-2004
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, March 10, 2004 - 07:17 pm: |
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I agree with you Cynique. My son was incarcerated for a short time recently and developed an interest in reading fiction and non fiction by black authors. It seemed he could not get enough to read. It is sad that it takes being removed from society to develop an interest. I can only comment on my son, but if he had the interest before maybe he would not have been there in the first place... |
Solomonjones
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Username: Solomonjones
Post Number: 7
Registered: 02-2004
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, March 10, 2004 - 09:58 pm: |
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I had a very close relative who didn't read either of my novels until he went to prison. Ironically, the other brothers serving time with him had already read them both.
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Thumper
Regular Poster
Username: Thumper
Post Number: 44
Registered: 01-2004
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, March 11, 2004 - 08:52 am: |
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Hello All,
I can not deny the near complete influence black women has on what is being published and what isn't. It's where the money is, but I can't fail to see the negative side to this as well. In order to grow, our books have to include the men. Yawl know, as well as I, that a bird can't fly with one wing.
As far as reading while incarcerated, I have no answer. Although, it's a damn interesting question. One that deserves to be answered. I wonder if the answer is is that the number of things a prisoner can do is limited and that reading in itself is a form of escapism. |
Yukio
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Username: Yukio
Post Number: 74
Registered: 01-2004
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, March 11, 2004 - 10:38 am: |
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well....i will say that parents need to interest their children in reading.....of course, this assume that the parents themselves known the value of reading.....i didn't begin to appreciate literature until i was 19yrs. old, which isn't very long ago....the change occurred when i lived in an environment that reading was norm....so many books and magazines were around the apartment that it was natural that i would begin to pick up a few books and read them first because i had nothing else to do....and eventually for pleasure |
Cynique
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Username: Cynique
Post Number: 97
Registered: 01-2004
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, March 11, 2004 - 11:51 am: |
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I would imagine that once a brother is incarcerated, especially if it's for an extended period of time, he starts to re-evaluate his life and in the course of his soul-searching, it occurs to him that knowledge is power and that reading is the key to knowledge. And, as Thumper suggested, reading is also a good form of escape. |
Blkmalereading
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Username: Blkmalereading
Post Number: 18
Registered: 02-2004
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, March 12, 2004 - 08:07 am: |
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I believe there are many Black men who are reading. You can't tell me the Muslim, Hebrew Israelites and other afrocentric based religions and organizations aren't full of Black men who proudly read. I agree with the statement that these men tend to read more non-fiction books or are more drawn to the classical Black authors, many of the titles being mentioned here. It is also interesting that reading takes on a different status while incarcerated. It's good to see that we have a new group of comtemporary Black male authors who are writing books that are not a carbon copy of comtemporary female writers, many times the only difference being, the authors name. Hopefully this will slowly bring about a change in reading habits and give us more choices and perspectives on life. Unfortunately, it's more impressive to be seen with a cellphone in your hand than a book. How often have we all been in a setting and watched a Black man pick up the newspaper and immediately read the sports page and toss the rest of the paper to the side? |
Yukio
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Username: Yukio
Post Number: 76
Registered: 01-2004
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, March 12, 2004 - 12:21 pm: |
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hmmmm...i think black men in general read....but the question is, WHAT? Most men probably don't read fiction...now, of course the muslim, hebrew Israelites and such are a minority of the black male population....there are also teachers, black professionals, etc....that also read....in other words, we can either look at the population as a whole, pinpointing the reading population in porportion to the larger pop. and then breakdown the reading pop. and qualitify what exactly black male readers read.....i would say the newspaper, sports magazines, and those male mags, such as ....then u can look at the ages...and then u find hip hop mag, such as the sources....etc.....black men read....but not fiction and probably not profound non-fiction, such as biographies and issues that pertain to the economy, politics, and the state of black america.....i think, however, but this is an American situation.....not necessarily specific to black men |
Bookgirl
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Username: Bookgirl
Post Number: 20
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, March 12, 2004 - 05:45 pm: |
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This is a very interesting exchange. I agree that as parents we need to have just as many books in our homes as we have CDs and video games.
My god son is two years old and his mother had to return to work when he was two months old and I was his major caretaker from that point on. I bought him some of those baby board books and I used to sit him on my lap and read them to him showing him the pictures. His teenaged sister laughed that Auntie had bought the baby some books before he could even sit up. But you know; now at two years old the little man will not sit on the potty chair without a book. LOL As soon as he started forming words; he would hold his book in his hands and go through the pages making sounds like he was reading. He reads the Cherios box in the morning while he eats his ceareal. Everybody buys him books now.
Another grand nephew who is three asks me for a new book everytime he comes to visit. My five year old grandson favors his books he got for Christmas over his racing cars. It's something we got from my mother. She read books. We read books. Our children read books and now the grandchildren find value in books.
It's not just Black males; but like Yukio said; it's an American situation. |
Blkmalereading
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Username: Blkmalereading
Post Number: 22
Registered: 02-2004
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, March 14, 2004 - 10:07 am: |
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This is always an ongoing discussion. There is truth in all the above statements. But I say that Black men are not only readers of "profound non-fiction, such as biographies and issues that pertain to the economy, politics, and the state of black america", they are usually the authors of such work, compared to Black female writers.
I also wasn't thinking of Black men in just America but more on a global scale. I think it benefits America to continue to push the image that Black men are not readers and deep thinkers. When we change that image, we will see a change.
Just like all Black men don't play or watch sports, to the extent that it's promoted. So the message and the image is Black men = Sports. We can change that image and say Black men = books. Then our Black boys will pick up books just as readily as they pick up a basketball. We're able to do both, you know.
Continuing to do some of the things that have been mentioned here will hopefully change that image. But on a world wide stage, I believe Black men read as much as any other group of people. |
Yukio
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Username: Yukio
Post Number: 83
Registered: 01-2004
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, March 14, 2004 - 03:38 pm: |
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hmmmm.....although i agree with your position....it seems to be that there is one thing to push a political idea, ie-that black men are both readers and producers of intelligent work--in order to encourage young(er) black men and boys to read, and another things to disqualify that fact...Most brothers don't read "quality" books and/or magazines.
Now,I believe that it is not racial, but class and education. Black men are no different than white men in this case....
Even if we consider the world, the reading population is always a percentage of the entire, and if one was to measure the qualitiy of the literature(non-fic and fic) then it is probably a small percentage of the actual socalled "literate" category....this is how it is...everyone will not read toni morrison, achebe, or marquez...nor will they read dubois, clr james, or senghor....this fact doesn't change the fact that we need to encourage folk to read it this type of literature....providing the image that black men read globally is not incompatible with these facts....and indeed we need more than images...we need parents and responsible educators to encourage our children to read....i'm not convinced that brothers either know or care what images "America" promote.... |
Thumper
Regular Poster
Username: Thumper
Post Number: 45
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, March 15, 2004 - 11:36 am: |
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Hello All,
Although we have been discussing what, when and how Black Men read, we really should discuss what they will NOT read. Maybe, it's just my family where the black men read, and not just non-fiction either, but most of the books that the black reading female audience are reading, they wouldn't touch with a 10 feet pole. Because black men are spending their money buying books, but its not the U-go-girl books. I have two or three male cousins that I would swap books with all the time. But the books we were swapping were Stephen King, Anne Rice, Tom Clancy, and others that write in that same vein.
But it seems to me that the black female reading audience do not want to loosen their grip on what is being published. Could it really all come down to control, and who don't want to lose it? Really, other than mothers who read who want their sons to have a love of reading, do any of you want to share your books with your man? *eyebrow raised* "Honey where did you put my E. Lynn Harris?" "Woman, I done told you I ain't done reading it." And then it's off to the races with a big ol' argument. Yawl know I'm right. *smile* If indeed Black Men = Sports, where are the black sport fiction novels? Science fiction needs to be heavily promoted. But, I dare say that it may have to be up to the wives and girlfriends to help move this thing along a bit. |
Yukio
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Yukio
Post Number: 87
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, March 15, 2004 - 03:17 pm: |
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men are less likely to read u -go-girl fic, perhaps....becuz..they just hoe around, cheat on their girlfriends, go to the strip clubs, etc...subject matter that is replicated in the (ugg)novels, but from a socalled "female" perspective.....lmao!
Seriously, though...folk need to read regardless of their sex...least 25% of one's life should be spent reading and 10% of your reading should be of substance..fic or non-fic, religious, etc....all contribute to literacy! |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 103
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, March 15, 2004 - 06:48 pm: |
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Show me an avid reader, and I'll show you a person with a sense of curiosity. Being curious, no matter what your sex, is something that will greatly motivate you to become a reader. Unfortunately, curiosity seems to be an innate personality trait that you either have, or you don't have. |
Blkmalereading
Newbie Poster
Username: Blkmalereading
Post Number: 23
Registered: 02-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 16, 2004 - 02:46 am: |
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I don't know if sports turned fiction is something that is of interest. But I think writers of young adult fiction: Walter Dean, readily comes to mind, as writing a few books dealing with sports in a fictional book. But there are many biographies with and about sports.
Again, I think that Black males worldwide read as much and at the same rate and in every category as any other group, but seem to be more prone to reading books that are non-fiction.
I think sharing your book(s) with your mate could enhance a relationship.
Yukio, where do you come up with these %s? 25% and at least 10%. LOL! I need to check and see if I've filled my quota.
Did you become a reader from curiosity Cynique? I became a reader because I was read to by both parents and saw them always reading. I think I was just copying what I saw. Later we had family reading time. I began to love reading because I quickly realized it was a way to learn about anything in this world, travel, share and fantasize. I guess curiosity comes into play when I'm reading a autobiography.
Yokio:"i'm not convinced that brothers either know or care what images "America" promote...."
I'm not always sure when you are serious or making a tongue-in-cheek statement. I think Black men are extremely aware of the images that are put out there. Some may not care and then we get to repeat this discussion....what group of 'brothers' are you talking about?
Not sure when this post took a turn... |
Yukio
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Yukio
Post Number: 89
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 16, 2004 - 05:36 am: |
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bmr: thats funny...just abitrary numbers...that i thought were doable....
perhaps grown azz men are aware to some degree but not the younger men(teenagers) you seem to be talkin about...at any rate, i agreement with you...
solomonjones' post slightly shifted gears, though there were some moderates shifts before his...but i'd call the one right after his the watershed.... |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 107
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 16, 2004 - 05:49 pm: |
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Well, blackmalereading, everybody who watches other people read doesn't become a reader, and everybody who becomes a reader hasn't watched other people read. The bottom line is that avid readers have an enhanced capacity for "wondering" - which is what being curious is all about. |
Thumper
Veteran Poster
Username: Thumper
Post Number: 52
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, March 17, 2004 - 05:59 am: |
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Hello All,
Cynique and blkmalereading: Actually, I think you're both right. I believe both have to come into play. If a non-reading person don't have the curiousity of what is inside of a book when watching another person reading a book, the non-reading individual will not become a reader. Speaking from personal experience, if I had not seen my mother reading books, I would not have become a reader. But, it was me being nosy which gave me the motivation. |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 115
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, March 17, 2004 - 10:35 pm: |
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Yes, being nosy fits right in with my theory, Thumper. And their tendency to be nosy is probably why women read more than men! LOL |
Soulofaauthor
Newbie Poster
Username: Soulofaauthor
Post Number: 2
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, March 25, 2004 - 08:58 am: |
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when i saw this post a few good ones came to mind 1 Mama black widow by Iceberg slim 2yesterday will make you cry by Chester Himes 3 Portrait of a young man drowning by Charles Perry 4 soledad brother by George Jackson. and let me think I got to put at least one Donald Goines book in their i guess i'll use Dopefiend |
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