Breaking Down Racial Reading Shelves

Having just re-watched Carleen Brice’s brilliant video, “National Buy a Book by a Black Author and Give it to Somebody Not Black Month,” I figure it’s time I add to the effort to get rid of the African American Authors separate and in no ways equal sections in some bookstores. (Haven’t seen it in any Indie in Boston–anyone else?) According to those who know, sales are less for non-white authors, promotion is less, and crossing the reading divide from White to Black (as opposed to vice-versa) is less. So, let’s promote, folks.

First, I recommend CHILDREN OF THE WATERS by Carleen Brice. A drama about sisters (you all know I love sister-stories, right?) finding each other, but not easily, across the racial divides. Not giving away any more, but there is love, family tragedy, secrets, mothers hiding truth, dog-lovers, and more. A page-turner, this book is warm, and wonderful.

Second, CAUCASIA by Danzy Senna. Again sisters, this is the story of biracial sisters from a troubled marriage. Eventually, the sisters separate—one to each parent. This is a book that won’t let go. I’ve read it twice, and I bet I’ll probably read it again.

Third, hard for me to pick, I’ve loved every one of her books, JUMP AT THE SUN by Kim

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Tony Soprano, Rhett Butler, or Atticus Finch: Who’s Your Type?

I’ve been accused of harping on domestic violence, and after working in the field (with batterers) for many years, I admit my abuse-radar may be higher than some. There were times my daughters dreaded my meeting their boyfriends, anticipating my narrowed eyes as I looked for signs of danger.

Recently I took a hard look at this, after the woman editing an article I was writing warned me not to throw ‘exciting’ men in the same pot with ‘dangerous’ ones. Was I being too hard in my judgments? How does one know the difference between edgy and over-the edge? You may think you have Hans

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Hate the Way You Lie: Eminem’s Video

Does violence at home have a throbbing beat for a backdrop and erotic sex burning up the house? Eminem might think he’s presenting a case against domestic violence, but with lines like these:

“Just gonna stand there and watch me burn

But that’s alright because I like the way it hurts”

pouring from co-star Rihanna’s beautiful lips as her liquid kohl-rimmed eyes show us how caught in erotic fascination she is, we see one long rationalization about how two people caught up in alcohol and sex flame out to a passion-soaked burn.

That’s the song your kids will be humming and dancing to while they watch a glamour-drama of domestic abuse amidst love gone wrong.

After watching Eminem’s “Love The Way You Lie” video, I wonder if it’s meant to warn women from bad boys, or if the message tells us to be more understanding girlfriends, and thus rescue our tortured battering boyfriends. Certainly Eminem shows himself as an alarmingly appealing, if dangerous,

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It Takes a Bureaucracy to Raze a Library

According to yesterday’s Boston Globe, writing about the Boston Public Library system: Circulation in the system has risen 31 percent in the last three years.   This in an article headlined: Boston Public Library may close 10 of its branches. According to me: The dollars that a city or state will invest in their libraries, … Read more