Book Review: Uncomfortable Conversations With a Black Man by Emmanuel Acho

Uncomfortable Conversations With a Black Man

by Emmanuel Acho (305.8 AfrYa)

 

If I could give this book 11 stars, instead of ten, or even 12 or 13, I would! I absolutely LOVE the format of this book!!! I love the way Emmanuel Acho has a formula for each chapter: A brief description of the focus of that chapter; Let’s Rewind; Let’s Get Uncomfortable; Talk It, Walk It. It is so easy to follow, and the way things are explained are extremely clear and simple. I can’t express how much I appreciate Acho putting this book together (and his YouTube channel and episodes, which I didn’t know about until picking up this book). These are crucial topics to discuss and to research and spend some time thinking about, because we MUST work together to improve our current situation!

 

Acho mentions a TON of resources in his book. In fact, that’s a good portion of why I’ve purchased this book in print, after having listened to the library’s audiobook (streamed via Hoopla). I’m also quite tempted to buy several copies and distribute them to various people. I feel like we ALL could benefit from reading this book!

 

( official Uncomfortable Conversations With a Black Man web site ) | ( official Emmanuel Acho Twitter feed )

 

Recommended by Tracy T.
Anderson and Bethany Branch Libraries

 

Have you read or listened to this one? What did you think? Did you find this review helpful?

New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide website. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide Blog individually over the course of the entire month. Click the tag for the reviewer's name to see more of this reviewer’s recommendations!

Music Book Review: Hidden in the Mix: The African-American Presence in Country Music by Diane Pecknold

Hidden in the Mix: The African-American Presence in Country Music
by Diane Pecknold (Music 781.642 Hid)

 

There’s been a meme going around recently that lists a number of music genres with origins in black culture: “Blues came from black culture, jazz came from black culture,” rock n roll, funk, soul, disco, hip hop, house, and so on. The country music genre isn’t part of the list, and country is often discussed in terms of having come from folk music origins that trace mostly back to Western Europe.

 

But the truth is more complicated. A good portion of what made country music unique from its European folk counterpart is how it absorbed influences from black musical forms in the United States. Some of these were stylistic — blues music and jazz are obvious influences on country music, for example. Even musical instruments were absorbed from black culture: the banjo is a uniquely African-American invention, developed as a refinement of some West and South African instruments like the kora and the akonting.

 

In Hidden in the Mix, edited by Diane Pecknold, we find a collection of 12 great essays that look at the foundational influence of black music on the development of country music, the continued relationships between later forms of black music like soul and hip hop with more modern styles of country, and the experiences of early African-American country music performers as they navigated musical scenes and eras that were often hostile to their participation. Here we can learn about the history of artists like Arnold Shultz, a guitarist whose style was pivotal to the development of bluegrass music, and Fiddlin’ Bill Livers, known as the last African-American old-time fiddler from Kentucky, who suffered horrible racist attacks in childhood but grew up to be a dynamic entertainer who could bring white and black crowds together.

 

In the early days of the recording industry, we learn about the marketing of so-called “race” and “hillbilly” records, and how there was substantial participation by black artists in the “hillbilly” music of the time. On the more contemporary side of the spectrum, Adam Gussow’s essay “Playing Chicken With the Train” explores the trend of hip hop/country crossover tracks, a phenomenon that has become even more popular in the years just after this book was published, with tunes like the massive Lil Nas X hit “Old Town Road.” All told, this is a great book that presents a solid overview of the black influence on country music between its many well-researched essays. There’s a great bibliography at the back of the book for further reading on the topic, too.

(If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try Segregating Sound: Inventing Folk and Pop Music in the Age of Jim Crow by Karl Hagstrom Miller, or Country Soul: Making Music and Making Race in the American South by Charles L. Hughes.)

 

( publisher’s official Hidden in the Mix web site )

 

Recommended by Scott S.
Polley Music Library

 

Have you read or listened to this one? What did you think? Did you find this review helpful?

New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide website. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide Blog individually over the course of the entire month. Click the tag for the reviewer's name to see more of this reviewer’s recommendations!

 

Check out this, and all the other great music resources, at the Polley Music Library, located on the 2nd floor of the Bennett Martin Public Library at 14th & "N" St. in downtown Lincoln. You'll find biographies of musicians, books about music history, instructional books, sheet music, CDs, music-related magazines, and much more. Also check out Polley Music Library Picks, the Polley Music Library's e-mail newsletter, and follow them on Facebook!

 

Book and Audiobook Reviews: The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray

The Personal Librarian
by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray (Compact Disc Benedict)

Working in a library, as I do, I tend to flag any new books with “library” in the title, for my personal reading enjoyment. Sometimes they end up as duds, but sometimes you find a gem. This falls into the latter category.

The Personal Librarian is historical fiction, based mostly on historical fact. Born Belle Marion Greener, to black parents, under her mother’s influence, Belle changed her name to Belle da Costa Greene, and as a light-skinned woman of color, managed to pass her self off as “white” in early 1900s society. While working at the Princeton University Library, Belle was encouraged by a nephew of the great financier, J. Pierpont Morgan, to apply for the position as Morgan’s “personal librarian” at the eponymous library he was establishing to house his collection of rare manuscripts and art work. She was hired for the position, despite her young age.

 

This novel, based on what historical records have survived, explores Belle’s life and experiences as she helps J.P. Morgan create one of the world’s foremost libraries, and her efforts to continue their work after his passing, all while she has to conceal her true heritage from the world at large. This is 50% “love letter” to the passion for the preservation of knowledge, and 50% about Belle’s personal life and the challenges she faces maintaining a public persona that differs from her true self.

 

All in all, I enjoyed The Personal Librarian quite a lot. There are lots of great “moments” or “scenes” throughout the book, though in the end I felt that the driving central plot was a bit lackluster. I found Belle’s on-again/off-again relationship with a distant suitor to be a bit tiresome and overwrought. Fans of historical fiction, and of literature exploring the sacrifices made by those of African-American descent in order to fit into a racist and demeaning society, will both find much to appreciate in this one. I listened to the book-on-CD audio adaptation of The Personal Librarian, narrated by actress Robin Miles, and she does a terrific job with this novel.

 

( US publisher’s official The Personal Librarian web page ) | ( official Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray web sites )

 

Recommended on audio by Scott C.
Bennett Martin Public Library — Public Service

 

When twenty-six-year-old Belle da Costa Greene interviews with J. P. Morgan in 1905 for the position of personal librarian to help collect rare manuscripts and art for his private Pierpont Morgan Library, she has to speak carefully. In part, she is hiding her limited library experience working at Princeton University Library and her teacher’s education. However she also is hiding a much bigger and dangerous secret. Belle is not who she seems. Her middle name is not da Costa and she doesn’t get her dark complexion from a Portuguese grandmother. Belle da Costa Greene is actually Belle Marion Greener. Her heritage is African American and her father was the first Black graduate from Harvard and a vocal advocate of equal rights. Although the book is fiction, authors Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray create a story of what it must have been like for real-life Belle Marion Greener to work with the out-spoken Morgan, act as an intelligent and witty competitor in a world of men, and all the while keep her true identity protected. Some women celebrate her accomplishments and use her as a model as they fight for equal rights; others would prefer to see her fail. In addition, she has to keep her romantic relationship discreet because of his heritage and her employer’s dislike and competition with the man.

 

As a historical fiction novel, I enjoyed the opportunity to learn more about this strong, clever, and inspiring woman, as well as the rare manuscript and art collection she helped assemble and eventually make available to the general public. Although there was always the underlying threat that Belle might be discovered, I didn’t feel an overwhelming urgency to the story. I didn’t find myself racing to get to the next chapter. Perhaps the two authors felt that it was important to put together a book to educate its reader rather than entice. I will say that if you are a lover of historic fiction, this is one to put on your reading list just to learn about this inspiring woman.

 

(If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try The Paris Library by Janet Skeslian Charles or The Last Bookshop in London by Madeline Martin.)

 

Recommended in print by Cindy K.
Bennett Martin Public Library — Public Service

 

Have you read or listened to this one? What did you think? Did you find these reviews helpful?

New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide website. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide Blog individually over the course of the entire month. Click the tag for the reviewer's name to see more of this reviewer’s recommendations!

Book Review: Stella's Stellar Hair by Yesenia Moises

Stella’s Stellar Hair

by Yesenia Moises (jP Moises)

 

This book has a cover of a brown-skinned girl with big, curly hair. We can also see a few outlines of stars and a little dipper constellation on the cover. This story is set in our solar system with a few planetary facts that complement Stella’s great head of hair. Since Stella has a gala to attend today, she wants her hair to be perfect for the event. Her mom encourages her to visit her aunts, who live on other planets, to see if they can give her the perfect hairdo. Although I wouldn’t necessarily use this to teach about our solar system, I think what it says about the way hair acts in different environments could definitely help a young child understand that their hair is perfect and normal no matter how different it looks from day to day. As a curly-haired reader, I found this book to be very lovely.

[If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try Hair Love by Matthew Cherry, Sulwe by Lupita Nyong’o, Bedtime Bonnet by Nancy Amanda Redd, Cool Cuts by Mechal Renee Roe, Super Hair-o and the Barber of Doom by John Rocco, Mommy’s Khimar by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow or Crown by Derrick Barnes.]

[ official Yesenia Moises web site ]

 

Recommended by Naomi S.
Eiseley Branch Library

 

Have you read or listened to this one? What did you think? Did you find this review helpful?

New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide website. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide Blog individually over the course of the entire month. Click the tag for the reviewer's name to see more of this reviewer’s recommendations!

Black History Month -- Collected Booklists from the Lincoln City Libraries

February is traditionally Black History Month. In conjunction with displays on this theme at several of our library locations, the staff of the Lincoln City Libraries has created a variety of new and updated booklists related to Black Authors and Black History.

We've combined them all into a single page located in our BookGuide readers advisory pages.

If you're looking for a good Black History Month read, check out the resources at the following page:

Black History Month -- Collected Booklists

New Booklist on BookGuide: Living Black in America

In light of the recent social turmoil, inspired by an act of racial disparity and violence, the Lincoln City Libraries’ BookGuide readers advisory site has put together a booklist that features a list of African-American authors' writings on the experiences of living as a Black man or woman in America, and the race, racism and race relation issues that continue to permeate the American landscape into the early 21st century.

Check out Lisa's list of recommended materials at the following link on BookGuide:

Living Black inAmerica

New Award Winner List on BookGuide: The Coretta Scott King Awards

New "Award Winner" Booklist

The Coretta Scott King Book Awards have been presented since 1970, by the American Library Association, for outstanding books for children and young adults by African-American authors and illustrators.

The BookGuide reader resources page has added a page to our selection of Award Winners booklists, which includes all the winners of the Coretta Scott King Book Awards from the origin of the award up to the present. Titles owned by the Lincoln City Libraries are hotlinked from within that list. Titles not currently owned by the libraries can be requested through our InterLibrary Loan service.

For many years, there have been "Honor Books" identified which didn't quite win the award, but came close. Our page for this award has links to where you can find lists of these Honor Books.

Check out this list of debut novels at the following link: 

The Coretta Scott King Book Awards

DVD Review: Hidden Figures

Hidden Figures
[DVD Hidden]

This 2016 film is a historical biopic, loosely based on the non-fiction book of the same title by Margot Lee Shetterly. It looks at the experiences of three African-American female scienctists working at NASA during the early days of the space race in the early 1960s. Taraji P. Henson plays Katherine Johnson (nee Goble), a brilliant mathematician who is ultimately called upon to calculate the flight trajectories of the Mercury flights and other missions. Janelle Monae plays Mary Jackson, an engineer in training who joins the team working on the heat shields for the Mercury vehicles, helping to identify a fatal flaw in their designs. And Octavia Spencer is Dorothy Vaughn, who initially serves as the “acting supervisor” for the African-American workers on the project, and then learns FORTRAN computer programming (from library books!) and teaches it to her team, in order to form one of the earliest computer programming units within NASA. Additional cast members include Kevin Costner, Mahershala Ali, Kirsten Dunst and Jim Parsons.

The film highlights both the racial and sexual prejudices the three central characters faced and overcame in their careers at NASA, and shines a light on a little-known chapter in America’s history of space exploration. Indeed, I was completely unaware of the events chronicled in this film, including Katherine Johnson’s incredible contributions to the Mercury program. Oddly enough, about the same time this film was in theaters, an episode of the NBC time travel series Timeless also touched on this exact same storyline. I was fascinated by the events portrayed in this film, and enjoyed reading even more about it in Shetterly’s book.

[Also available in traditional print format, by Margot Lee Shetterly.] [ Internet Movie Database entry for this film ]

Recommended by Scott C.
Bennett Martin Public Library

Have you watched this one? What did you think? Did you find this review helpful?

New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide website. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month. Click the tag for the reviewer's name to see more of this reviewer’s recommendations!

Between the World and Me by Ta-Hehisi Coates

Between the World and Me
by Ta-Nehisi Coates [305.8 AfrYc] 

The book was written by the author as a letter to his son. Though only 152 pages, it is of a dense nature, which offered me a lot of information. The author examines the racism, oppression and fear that he has experienced as a black man, while also examining the history of race in the United States. History is his passion, and I learned about historical figures outside of our country as he recounted stories of leaders he had admired and then saw through a new perspective. Within America, he shared experiences of his life at Howard University, his life visiting the South, his time spent examining life in the south side of Chicago, and his visit with the mother of a friend . . . a friend who had been shot and killed by the police. I found this to be intense reading, and would highly recommend it for individuals and book clubs. My favorite author, Toni Morrison, called this required reading.

[If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try The Book of Harlan, by Bernice L. McFadden.]

[ publisher’s official Between the World and Me web site ] | [ official Ta-Nehisi Coates Twitter feed ]

Recommended by Jodi R.
Gere Branch Library

Have you read this one? What did you think? Did you find this review helpful?

New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide website. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month. Click the tag for the reviewer's name to see more of this reviewers recommendations!

Roots (on DVD)

Roots
[DVD 929.2 Hal 2007]

Roots is, arguably, one of the most significant television productions of all time. When it aired in 1977, Roots was a ground-breaking achievement -- a long mini-series, focusing on a long-ignored chapter in United States history -- the long, shameful involvement of multiple generations of Americans engaged in the practice of slavery. The cast was phenomenal, from the young LeVar Burton and James Amos as two different versions of Kunta Kinte, Louis Gossett Jr., Georg Stanford Brown. Cicely Tyson, Leslie Uggams and Ben Vereen. The stellar cast also included dozens of caucasian actors in significant roles, including Ed Asner, Lloyd Bridges, Lorne Greene, George Hamilton, Burl Ives, Sandy Duncan, Brade Davis, Ian McShane, Vic Morrow and Ralph Waite, to name but a few. The production values were tremendous, with incredible set pieces, costumes, emotionally resonant music and tight editing. I clearly remember watching every installment of this with my family when it originally aired. Even 30+ years later, this important television milestone still stands up to the test of time. What's most impressive, when watching and appreciating the work of art that Roots should be considered, is that the entire thing is based on the real-life family history of the author Alex Haley. -- recommended by Scott C. - Bennett Martin Public Library [ see Scott's Reviewer Profile and more of his reviews ]

[If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try Haley's original book, upon which this is based.]

[Also available in traditional print and book-on-cd formats.]

[ Internet Movie Database entry for this film ]

Have you watched this? What did you think? Did you find this review helpful?

New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide website. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month. Click the tag for the reviewer's name to see more of this reviewers recommendations!

The Sweet Breath of Life

The Sweet Breath of Life: A Poetic Narrative of the African-American Family
by Ntozake Shange [811 Sha]

The Sweet Breath of Life: A Poetic Narrative of the African-American Family combines stunning black and white photography with beautiful poetry documenting the African-American life. Poet Ntozake Shange combines her striking work with the acclaimed photographers of Kamoinge Inc. In the introduction of the book, Frank Stewart discusses the inspiration of his photography, as well as a brief history of the Kamoinge Workshop. If you only read one book this month, I would recommend that you read this one. -- recommended by Patty L. - Walt Branch Library

[ Publisher's Sweet Breath of Life web site ] [ Wikipedia entry on Ntozake Shange ]

Have you read this one? What did you think? Did you find this review helpful?

New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide web site. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month.