African-American Books

I found this book to be very simple in its explanation that it's not what God can do for you, but what you can do for God. It's His will that one needs to seek in order to undstand what He requires of us in order to glorify Him.

An excellent, life changing book that helps you to align your perspectives and priorities in God's will.

Gotta give it up to Mommy, her new book is quite
thermal. It is entitled "It's Not About You," by
Mommy--I mean--- Rebecca Osaigbovo.
She's funny, and she cuts to the heart of one of the
biggest strongholds we can have- pride. Its also very
encouraging, because in it she shows how God can use
our trials, struggles, and infirmities for His
Purposes.
Its targeted at black women, but everybody should read
it; even if she's not your Mommy.

This is the first book outside of the Holy Bible that TRULLY spoke to my spirit. I've just begun reading the book [I'm currently on page 57] and I can't seem to get enough of this TELL IT LIKE IT IS reading.

If you are at a season in your life where you feel like
"There's Got To Be More to Life Than This" then this is the right book for you.

I'm very grateful that the author was obedient to the Holy Spirit and wrote this book for this season in my life.

The author does a great job of explaining and giving examples on how "we" CAN uncomplicate matters in our lives by simply giving it over to God.

I personally understand that it can be challengning to give it over to God because my mind has not been fully renewed in this area. This book is helping me to make a decision to throw off my old mind and put on His New.

Quite frankly, many of us "Strong Black Christian Women" and I use this phrase loosely are missing the mark. This book is an excellent tool in helping "us" sisas begin to understand life from God's perspective.

God desire's much more for us than a husband, 2.5 kids, and a phat house with money. He HAS So much more for us!

As a result of this book, I'm challenged to take a good hard look at my inward man. To be honest, there's some stuff that I'm seeing that I don't like and needs to be corrected.

If you trully want God to Do More for you in 2004, I highly recommend that you purchase this book. You're eyes will be enlighted and opened. You'll get the AHa!!! on the situation.

Meditate and constantly chew on this book. You'll get something fresh out of it everytime you pick it. Excellent choice for a Book Club.

When I started reading this book I knew that it would be a challenge to my belief system. The title "It's Not About You" troubled me, but it was what I needed to hear. This book reminds us that the world does not evolve around us! God has the big picture in mind.

Although we may go through many trials and tribulations, God is the same yesterday, today and forever. The author did a great job reminding us that God is not surprised about what is going on in our lives. He is in control and He cares!

I guarantee that once you start reading this book, you will be encouraged. You will gain more knowledge on how to have joy in times of adversity. This book is a must read!

It takes a very good book to bring a lump to my throat.
It takes an incredible book to keep me up past 1AM reading it. Jubal did both. Compelling, gripping and historically accurate. I felt like I had fallen into a time machine. Penley paints pictures with words that Hollywood can only hope for. Thanks Gary for yet another really good book. I didn't think you could do another one as good as "Rivers of Wind."

Tom D. / Leeds, AL

This book is more than I expected. The cover and title indicated the book would be about the experience of a Black man, Jubal, making his way in the prejudice of the South. It was that. But the book was much more.
The book also tells the story of two white children struggling through a dysfunctional family life to grow up in the money-short Depression era. It also relates the fascinating regional peculiarities of the "Delta" area of Mississippi. Each of those topics would make for a terrific read. And in this book the author has combined the power and fascination of those topics to create a story that crackles with tension. Gary Penley has crafted a tale that thrums with the energy of a boy growing up, and steams and seethes with the submerged loathings of an area of racial hatreds. The story fascinated me as I saw the mist of innocence evaporating from the eyes of the narrator, Lucas, and he began to recognize the prejudice of his relatives and the failings of his very human family.
Yes, the book is about the prejudice of a racist and violent region of the South. But it is more the story of the battle of an individual boy to grow up to be a complete human being and the story of a few crucial individual victories in that struggle. The story touched me and brought to my mind memories I thought were gone; some bad, some transcendently beautiful.
This book is much more than a simple story of a Black man in the deep South.

"Jubal," the first novel by Gary Penley, author of two non-fiction books, features a black man coping with racial prejudice in the Mississippi Delta town of Linville in the 1930s.

How Jubal Jefferson survives and interacts with the white Dunaway family touches the heart. The novel enfolds through the eyes of Lucas Dunaway, who is about five when he first encounters Jubal, gigantic and powerful. Lucas, his mother, Jessica, and younger sister, Sarah, were in a department store and, awed by the black man, Lucas asks his mother who he is. She replies, "That wasn't a man, Lucas. That was a nigger and you stay away from him. People call him Dummy and most folks think him crazy."

Reid Dunaway and Jessica, comfortable but not rich, make a pleasant home for their children. Lucas and Sarah, almost inseparable, are allowed freedom to explore the town and do so often. Thus they see Jubal almost daily as he pulls his old red wagon with its wooden box on top that enables him to pick up or deliver laundry that his mother, Amanda, has washed and ironed for her customers. Jubal speaks only to the black maids when he calls at a home, saying, "Sure is a pretty day, ain't it, Ma'am?"

Penley weaves his plot with deftness, exploring the strengths and weaknesses of his characters, His love of the Delta and understanding of Southerners allow him to create accurate and sometimes explosive situations and settings. Sarah's attraction to Jubal, for example, ignites her mother's fury. The plot also poses many secrets that are an incentive to a reader to turn pages quickly

One focus concerns Jessica's longing to be accepted by the top social circles of Linville but fails. Gradually, in her frustration she turns to alcohol for solace, leading to physical abuse of her children, particularly Sarah. Reclusive, Sarah, seemingly unaware of her own beauty, does not respond to her mother's efforts to put her on display. She often retreats to her room to play with her dolls, particularly the rag dolls made for her by their black maid.

Jessica, an accomplished pianist, wants Sarah to learn to play but her criticism of Sarah's efforts results in the child doing poorly. However, Sarah has a natural talent and plays well when her mother is not present. Thus, one of the most poignant scenes in the book occurs when the Dunaways are guests of Reid's employer and wife.

Lucas and Sarah have a favorite place, the swimming hole where the family has picnicked, and they go there secretly by themselves. Jubal, who has become a friend to both, often joins them. He takes them to the shack where he lives and they meet his mother.

There is a short time when the Dunaway family seems to heal and enjoy each other, but this is brought to a halt when Reid is killed in an accident at Hardeman's Mercantile, where he has been the top salesman. Jessica and the children are devastated. She soon returns to liquor.

When their home is destroyed by fire, the children are rescued by Jubal, but Jessica dies. Jubal, himself, is terribly burned. The children go to live with their Dunaway grandparents, but more problems lie ahead, especially for Jubal.

Penley's coupling of the young Lucas and the 75 year old, Lucas, returned to the town of his childhood, is an effective vehicle for the exciting story. The author has the ability to create suspense. His insight into the human heart is true as he makes "Jubal" a book never to be forgotten. The critical, final secret is revealed to the adult Lucas and the why of Jubal's withdrawal from society is explained.

Readers will enjoy "Jubal" both for the tale and its setting in a South that has vanished. The day one reads "Jubal" will indeed be '''a pretty day."

JUBAL IS AN EXCELLENT TRIP INTO THE NOT-TOO-OLD SOUTH, STILL WITHIN THE LIFETIME OF MANY. THE SETTING IS WELL DESCRIBED, AND THE CHARACTERS SEEM TO COME ALIVE, AS IF YOU YOURSELF KNEW THEM AT ONE TIME. THE STORY IS COMPELLING AND I WAS EAGER TO SEE HOW THE STORY DEVELOPED. WELL WORTH READING.

With the publication of Jubal, Gary Penley exhibits his versatility by creating a fascinating work of fiction that reads like truth. Penley is also the author of Rivers of Wind: A Western Boyhood Remembered, an autogiographical look at growing up on the plains of southeastern Colorado, and Della Raye: A Girl Who Grew Up in Hell and Emerged Whole, the biography of a bright woman who spent her entire youth in a mental institution in Alabama.
Set in the Mississippi Delta in the 1930s, Jubal is the story of growing up in a rigid social structure in which race and economic status unite some citizens and separate others. Paralleled in the story are Jubal, a young black man, and Jessica, a beautiful white woman who is the mother of the young narrator Lucas and his little sister Sarah. Jubal's race and his terrible inner fears isolate him from white society and force him to play the role of a mentally disadvantaged person. Jessica is isolated from the elite society into which she so badly desires acceptance because her husband doesn't make quite enough money and because she has a drinking problem of which everyone is aware but no one acknowledges.
The children, Lucas and Sarah, befriend Jubal, setting the stage for a dramatic ending in which an unlikely hero emerges.
Jubal deals with hard, elemental issues--racism, child abuse, alcohol abuse, social inequality--the combination of which could be overwhelming were it not for the facility with which Penley handles the subject matter. His descriptions of the setting and the characters, his balanced portrayal of both sides of some issues, and his pacing throughout the novel enable the reader to appreciate the situations described and to believe the characters to be real, though some are anything but likable. Also softening the rawer edges of the subject matter is Penley's choice of narrator; a young boy tells the story but with a maturity of an elderly man looking back on the events of his youth, giving the scenes a sense of distance in time to the events in the narration.
Penley does a masterful job of evoking the reader's emotions and controlling their intensity. Anger, sympathy, sorrow, hatred, love: all are present at one time or another and by the end of the book the reader feels the gamut of all of these emotions. Jubal is an important book, one that provides insight into a dark period in American history.

Every parent, educator, school board member, etc. should read this book. I have been in education for over 20 years, and I can say with no hesitation that Mr. Kunjufu is on the mark with this book.

This book provided as much insight as I needed to adress the topic I had been researching. Very useful

I brought this book because it is very revelent. The book is Afro- centric. In some was has a strong 60's type message and tone. The facts are true, candid and thought provoking. I highly recommend the sections on how to deal with the school system as an advocate for the child as well the sections on developing the child's self esteem. The recommendations in the book do work.It's a good book for educators and African American families regardless of your child's grades. I highly recommend it.

The teachers who do not reside within the same urban areas of the public schools should read this book. This book confirmed my suspicions about the Teaching styles of Teachers who do not understand how to teach the African-American male students.

When I first visited my son's classroom, I made a mental note to view the boards for educational material. However, after reading "Keeping Black Boys Out of Special Education", I witnessed how the educational boards only reflected Caucasian references. There were no references attributed to African-Americans or Latinos, which made up 90% of the classroom. I agree with the author that there should be more Afro-centric educational systems within the urban area, but it is these African-American school administrators who would feel more threatened about adopting such educational centers or programs.

I used this book as a resource for the meetings with my son's Teachers. After reading this book, I have decided to take my son out of the public school system and enroll him in a private educational institution. Although private school is not the answer to all, but least there is some sort of accountability and I can have a more active role in the school's decision process for educating the children. The public school system needs a major renovation in order to secure the future of the African American students. I am not suggesting for the removal of these ineffective Teachers, but at least have the Teachers (all ethnic groups, including the African-American or Latino Teachers) go through a de-sensitizing program so they become aware of the culture of the African-American students within an urban area.

I have been a student of Jawanza Kunjufu's writings since college, his books and presentations have been a critical part of my development as an educator, entrepreneur and mentor to students.

Keeping Black Boys Out of Special Education not only presents the facts about the low expections and unfair treatment of African-American boys in public schools, but it also provides solutions. The solution that is most important is that African American parents must become involved in the education of our youth. Schedule several conferences and visits to your child's school and hold the teachers, administrators, the child and yourself accountable to the education of your student.

I recommend this book and all the books written by Jawanza Kunjufu to anyone who is interested in the education of youth and more specifically, African American youth.

Linsey Mills
Author of Simply Outrageous
simpyoutrageous.org

As a person who has celebrated Kwanzaa for a couple of decades and as the creator of several kwanzaa products myself, I found the book 'Kwanzaa: From Holiday to Every Day' to be a very informative book on this growing celebration.

The book offers historical info on Kwanzaa and illustrates how the celebration connects people of African descent around the world with our cultural roots.

The book shows you how to organize a Kwanzaa celebration of your own and has a lot of great contacts for Kwanzaa music, books and supplies.

I recommend it for anyone interested in learning about Kwanzaa. I also recommend it for those who already know of and celebrate Kwanzaa as a way to reinforce its concepts and its meaning to you.

This book explores not only the holiday of Kwanzaa, but how to incorporate the values of Kwanzaa into your everyday life without going outside of who you intrinsically are. You are already a person who is creative, caring, conscientious and interested in African inspired cultural values, then this book can expand and enhance your practices.

Ms. Angaza's journalistic style takes the reader on a historical voyage as well as a personal one. Her sense of prose will dazzle the reader as well as make him ponder of why it is so important to celebrate such a holiday. This book has even inspired me to throw my first Kwanzaa event this year.

I picked up Ms. Angaza's text, Kwanzaa: From Holiday to Every Day,and have begun to read it like a novel. I thank Ms. Angaza for penning this positive vibration and upliftment. Her prose is smooth and rational. It puts into perspective the cultural repression and damage to the psyche of Africans worldwide while also providing numerous examples of our triumphs, successes and committment to our cultural heritage.

I laughed out loud at the passage where she exposes the cultural bias inherent in the debate over hyphenated identities and the kiss me i'm Irish example. She's crafted a blend of history, social commentary, practical applications, call to action and inspirational vignettes that can be beneficial to all. I reccommend purchasing this text just for the resource section - simply phenomenal. The resource seciton could be used as a life long self study core curricula. Don't overlook the recipes - yummy. She presents things so honestly (sans pretext) that I think people will be encouraged to try out many of the book's recommendations. A Complete guide is an apt subtitle for this work.

I thoroughly recommend this book to everyone! Were I able to give it 6 stars, I would have given it 7. This book is not simply a nice read... it is an Absolute Need. Seriously, this piece comes at a time when our communities & our families are in dire need of self-realization and a reconnection to the roots and core values that make African people unique. One of the things that was most impressive to me was the level of research that was done to compile this work. Who knew that so many people in so many countries across the world are celebrating Kwanzaa and adapting it's principles. Myself and my mate have even discussed beginning to travel each year during the holiday so that we may expose this tradition to our children as it is celebrated throughout the world. If you have never celebrated Kwanzaa, have celebrated all your life or think that this book is not for you... Buy this book! It is for you and you will absolutely not be dissapointed. The Resource pages toward the back are worth the purchase alone.

I agree that this is the best book on Malcolm X and the evolution of his thought and action in the last year of his life. Breitman does well to faithfully draw out, including the contradictions Malcolm was working through, the pathways Malcolm was pursuing... his aims, his objectives, his goals... Breitman gives good context, clearly debunks myths and obfuscations and tackles common attacks that were levied against Malcolm in the year before and after his murder. Should be read hand in hand with Malcolm X Speaks... pretty much essential if you care at all about anything really.

I, like the author, believe that the Autobiography of Malcolm X left out crucial elements to understanding Malcolm's life and sentiments because it did not cover his life to the last day. This book actually looks at Malcolm's life in three separate stages: his life up until and including being a Nation of Islam spokesperson, his transition period while he was breaking with the Nation of Islam and shortly thereafter, and the path he was setting for himself as he was killed.

This book aims to prove that Malcolm was setting an anti-imperialist path, and internationalist path, an anti-capitalist path, a truly revolutionary and truly dangerous (for the ruling classes) path.

I think the book proves it, and I respect Malcolm all the more for it.

This book also contains criticisms of Malcolm by various people, notably some liberals, and so it's good to get an idea of where people stood, who was really afraid of Malcolm and what he was really starting to represent.

This is a great book for the period of time in Malcolm's life that might be the least covered. Not to long of a read, but full of information not readily available when looking for Malcolm.

It dispels the idea of Malcolm just being a racist anti Semite, how he was portrayed by the media during and after his life, but installs the belief that he was a revolutionary fighting for the human rights of all, and nothing could more truthful.

I was surprised when I read this book. It gives Malcolm X's speech announcing his political program for fighting for Black control of the black community and Justice. I didnt know what that was before I read it. I read the talk Malcolm gave introducing the program and he talks about how he was supposed to bring Che Guevara up to the meeting, but Che couldn't make it. Heavy Stuff. Breitman is pretty good at defending Malcolm X against critics and showing what the man stood for without imposing his own views on him. We need to see how Malcolm X was in action to get a better idea how we can advance the struggle.

This excellent little book traces the evolution of the thought and action of Malcolm X in the last eleven months of his life.Malcolm rejected the anti-Semitism and anti-woman policies of the Nation of Islam, and its refusal to involve itself in the civil rights movement. He continued to more and more place the Black struggle in this country in the world context : in the context of the struggle of the workers and farmers in Asia , Africa, and Latin America against imperialism, Yanki imperialism in the first place. He continued to expose the role of the Democratic Party to fool the masses of working people into thinking that we have a friend among our oppressors and exploiters. More and more, he spoke out against capitialism as the cause of racism and described himself unabashedly as pro-socialist.He spoke of the Chinese, Vietnamese, and Cuban revolutions as examples of what we working people must do HERE for the future of all humanity. The author is no academic ' observer'; he covered Malcolm's evolution for The Militant newspaper, the only place Malcolm's speeches were published in full and undistorted after he left the Nation of Islam. This book is an excellent companion volume to read alongside Malcolm's actual speeches, also published by Pathfinder Press.

Very sweet book. The whole series is a great way to learn about different foods.

All of of these little board books by Amy singer are great. Perfect for the toddler who loves to turn the pages and learn about something a little different than, ball, duck, and dog!

My one year old son loves this board book! We actually have the entire series. It's fun and creative, and I don't have to worry about him ripping the pages. We are hooked!

This is a fun book to read and the pictures are interesting as well! It has become a family favorite. The back cover describes the dishes in detail so if you don't know what a chitlin is, don't worry!

I purchased this book for my nephew's first New Year's Day gift last year. The subject matter was perfect. In our family (ex-southerners) we always serve up a BIG, traditional Southern meal on New Year's Day. All of the foods depicted in this book are familiar to us. From okra and hush puppies to cornbread and 'nana pudding. What a great idea for a toddler book, and the paper collage/fiber art is pretty good too. A great way to introduce your little one to Southern cuisine and culture.

Marvelous. Should be required reading for all college and university students.

Much of our common knowledge of U.S. civil rights movement's history comes from books and films portraying the nationally known struggles of the 1950s and 1960s. This book tells a different story - the struggles of the largely African American activists who, working without the benefit of the national spotlight, sought to open up the closed society of Mississippi to equal treatment for its African American citizens. It was a tremendous and extremely dangerous task. Mississippi was the toughest nut to crack among the Southern states. It was the most impoverished state in the union, where subjugation of African Americans was strictly enforced through intimidation, violence, disenfranchisement, job firings and economic ruin. Any sympathetic whites who dared to even question Mississippi justice were financially ruined and all but run out of the state. In this seemingly impossible to change social, political, and economic climate, a movement of local Mississippi African Americans emerged, with the help of activists from other states, who challenged the situation head-on by attempting to empower African Americans through voter registration drives, by attempting to set up cooperatives in order to gain economic power, and through education. The emphasis was not so much on organizing for desegregation of public facilities as it was on changing the power structure of Mississippi, to enfranchise its African American citizens and gain for them political and economic justice. Working from the bottom up, these activists had few allies, were largely ignored by the national media, and faced life threatening dangers on a daily and nightly basis. Many were savagely beaten, shot at, and repeatedly jailed. Several were murdered. They persisted, working diligently and out of the spotlight. Local People details the successes and failures of these every day struggles, and by doing so, lifts this aspect of the movement from obscurity to its rightful place in history. Prof. Dittmer is a first-rate writer - this book is very hard to put down once you start reading it. What emerges is a portrait of some of the most courageous people in our nation's history, such as Fannie Lou Hamer, Amzie Moore, and Bob Moses, and the local people who responded to the activists efforts. Local People is essential reading for any true understanding of the civil rights movement.

This was required reading for a graduate course in American history.

John Dittmer's Local People: The Struggle for Civil Rights in Mississippi paints a portrait of one of the most horrendous acts committed in our nation's history. The torture and abuse the black population endured just to be able to vote was unimaginable. Black men from Mississippi fought for our country in World War II but they could not have a voice in who helped run our country. They remained disenfranchised in this state. White supremacy ran rampant in Mississippi for decades.

Trying to keep blacks from voting in the 1940's made headlines in the Jackson Daily News which read: "DON'T TRY IT!": "Don't attempt to participate in the Democratic primaries anywhere in Mississippi on July 2nd* Staying away from the polls on that date will be the best way to prevent unhealthy and unhappy results." (2) Senator Theodore "The Man" Bilbo played a major role in what became known as the "reign of terror" in trying to keep blacks from voting. Although a complaint was filed with the US Senate committee to Investigate Campaign Expenditures claiming Bilbo had something to do with ostracizing blacks he denied all charges of wrongdoing and was exonerated.

The state constitution had been set up in such a manner that made it almost impossible . for any black man or woman to be able to register to vote. The four main criteria were:

1. Prevent them from registering in the first place
2. Two year residency requirement
3. Two dollar poll tax
4. "Understanding clause" which stated that any prospective voter must be able to read any section of the constitution or as an alternative, be able to understand it when read to him, or to give" a reasonable interpretation of it". (6)

The vast majority of white Mississippians believed blacks should not vote. For four decades blacks struggled against forces of white supremacy with limited success. Most of the' power coming from the "Delta Aristocracy" dominated the state politically and economically for almost half the century (10).

Racial violence was a daily reality for blacks in Mississippi. The caste system that existed before World War II still lingered and remained well into the future, After the war black activism began. Efforts began to be made for voter registration. Organizations began to form in order to advance the black population into what should already be theirs, human rights. Many still held jobs associated with slavery. Jim Crow commanded the pace of life in Mississippi. "Keeping the Negro in his place" was the duty of every white citizen (20). The black vote was not progressing the way organizations like the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) wished it would. Three of the factors that accounted for the failure to register large numbers of black votes are as follows:

1. Tactics of intimidation
2. No on to vote for
3. Registration campaigns centered on the small black middle class

Organizations such as the NAACP and the RCNl (Regional Council of Negro leadership) were both working toward the same goal; however, their differences were more territorial than ideological. They had to remember that their common enemy was the same. Mississippi came to be in a class by itself. The philosophy of the white population came to be that it was "open season" on blacks. If any black man ever achieved anything or got
ahead in any way white supremacy out ranked him every time. Voting remained the main objective for blacks for many years. They continued to have many obstacles in which to overcome in order to just get registered. The state kept the difficult tests in place and violence was EVERYWHERE.

By the early 1960's outsiders began to infiltrate the state. Freedom rides began, college students began protesting in different ways, sit-ins and demonstrations started; and during this time President Kennedy's only goal was to avoid violence. Voter registration came to a standstill after the murder of Herbert Lee, a member of the Mississippi state legislature. His murder was sending a message to the black population which was standing up for your rights in southwest Mississippi could get you killed (109). Organizers came to the realization that no progress could be made unless someone was willing to die.

The activist decide to go to the Delta which was the most oppressed and poor area of Mississippi. There they find that the poorest people are the most willing to act because they have nothing to lose. Violence follows them everywhere but patience begins to subside with the black population and they start to fight back.

James Meredith applied to Ole Miss after serving in the military and enrolling in Jackson State in 1960. His main goal was to desegregate Ole Miss. After many appeals, Meredith was admitted and the governor, Ross Barnett, had been in secret negotiations with the Kennedy' son how to keep Ole Miss from becoming integrated. The Kennedy's had trusted Barnett to keep the peace with this matter; however, on September 30, 1962 the Ole Miss riot took place when Meredith entered Oxford with federal Marshalls. When it was over two men were dead and 160 marshals were injured (140).

Hunger, illiteracy and voting were concerns that needed to be addressed immediately. The SNCC(Student Non-violent Coordinating Committee) forced the Kennedys to do what they did not want to do, to "be on somebody's side" (153). The black community became excited. They got involved. The Greenwood movement, as it was known, survived the repression it experienced and the SNCC workers returned to their projects once again. However, the federal indifference and the white narrow-mindedness did not put an end to the fight for civil rights. At the same time in Jackson they were getting ready for a campaign against segregated facilities and discriminatory employment practices. They were insisting on the use of courtesy titles, equality in hiring and promotion, and an end to Jim Crow practices (157). After gaining some momentum in their quest the NAACP decided to reverse their direction which is still unclear. In Jackson, the Kennedys' primary objective was to bring an end to violence, which meant getting black people off the streets. They preferred order to justice (169).

Violence, hunger, and hatred continued to ensue throughout the state. Pastors of black churches finally opened their doors to organizations so they would have somewhere to meet. Voting rights were still a primary goal. With more organizations in the middle of things conflicting strategies became a problem. They all wanted the same end result but the ideologies were not the same. Therefore, they each had a different opinion on how things should be done.

Willie Dillon a COFO (Council of Federated Organizations) participant and parent of children, who went to Freedom Schools, had his house bombed in McComb. The police blamed him and arrested him for operating a garage without a license. He pleaded guilty after intimidation and without the guidance of an attorney and was fired from his job. McComb's blacks were consistently bombed by the KKK, if the blacks were active. McComb's white leadership was silent. Black principals and ministers who had not been active in the COFO movement were bombed. Black residents went to the justice department, but to no avail. Eventually the government heard rumors of marshal law and white bombers were eventually arrested and the KKK terror stopped. The bombers were let off with a stern warning. With nationwide media watching, McComb desegregated for the cameras; but returned to the old way of life once the media was gone. Black activists decimated the Klan's authority and won some small battles; and some white moderate voices were beginning to be heard.

In 1964 COFO emerged as a powerful force in the election by trying to get blacks registered and voting. COFO was expanding. Some people returned to school. CORE(Congress of Racial Equality) and SNCC had low morale and few activists signed up in 1964. Women were discriminated against in SNCC as secretaries when they were qualified for much more. The Freedom Democratic Party would be an independent force, the successor to both COFO and SNCC.

Freedom Democrats contested the Mississippi elections of five House representatives. More than a third of the House membership voted to bar the Mississippi members. National publicity and lawyers came to Mississippi because of the contention. COFO and the NAACP could not agree on anything and were increasingly hostile towards each other. COFO was abolished and SNCC went under the FOP. SNCC activists were alienated from mainstream politics. White terror made it so blacks did not want to vote. Natchez was a town of the "Old South". Charles Evers emerged as that section of Mississippi's main leader and played the organizations against each other. The Natchez blacks demanded equality in the police force, government and business or the blacks would boycott white stores. FOP did not agree with Evers, but Evers won with popularity. He was cautious and did not march when the other organizations thought they should. Evers went against FOP thought and ended the boycott to white stores that had compromised. FOP was on the major decline, defeated in Natchez. FOP
money was running tight. New strategies would have to be employed.

In early April 1965 the Mississippi Freedom Labor Union (MFLU) and the Child Development Group of Mississippi (CDGM) were created to organize black farm and domestic workers in the Delta region. The MFLU efforts failed not only because the traditional hostility of white Mississippians toward all labor unions, but also because farm workers had no leverage to use against the planters. Efforts to form farmers cooperatives in the region barely made a dent in the problems of black unemployment and poverty. CDGM was one of the nation's pioneer Head Start programs, providing poor children with preschool training, medical care, and two hot meals a day. It also provided employment at decent wages for hundreds of local teachers and paraprofessionals at Head Start centers.

On June 4, 1966, James Meredith began his 220 mile walk from Memphis to Mississippi's state capital of Jackson to challenge the fear that was still dominant among black Mississippians and to convince them it was now safe to register and vote in the Magnolia State. On the second day, Meredith was shot, but while he was recuperating leaders of the national civil rights organizations continued the march. During the first week of the Meredith march there were few white hecklers. Local officials were eager to avoid incidents of violence and the march itself had an informal and relaxed quality. That all changed during the final ten days with familiar tactics of repression and mob violence; but it also became more militant as the ideological and philosophical divisions among its leaders became more apparent (395 & 396). When the march ended anticlimactically on June 26th, and the national civil rights leadership left the state - fighting over who would pay the march's bills - Mississippi was still segregated, black poverty was still getting worse, and local black Mississippians were still left to pick up the pieces.

SNCC as an organization had little impact on the Mississippi movement after 1966; it had become preoccupied with internal problems centering on the definition and implications of black power and it had voted to expel all whites from the organization in December 1966. The local people, who had been the backbone of the old COFO coalition and the Freedom Democratic Party (FOP), faced challenges from black and white political moderates. FOP leaders agreed that the 1967 state and local elections would make or break their party (410). In the face of urban race riots in the North, and calls for revolution among black nationalists, FOP continued to work within the political system and welcomed support from all people who identified with its theme of black empowerment. State legislative strategies conspired to dilute black voting strength(gerrymandering congressional districts, creating multimember legislative districts requiring at-large voting, and increased filing requirements for independent candidates); this, combined with black political infighting and white intimidation limited FOP's achievements (411-415).

Recommended reading for anyone interested in American history, civil rights history.

In my opinion this work looks at the civil rights movement in a way that all historians shoud take note of. Dittmer's in-depth bottom up look at the way movements happen allows a deeper understanding of the incredible struggles that local Mississippians went through for a few small steps toward racial equality. It also knocks the national leaders (JFK, LBJ, MLK) off the pedestals that mainstream history has placed under them and shows the truly peripheral role that they played in the struggle.

If you have any interest in the civil rights movement in Mississippi, this is the work you should turn to. It has great depth and is written with an enthusiastic flair that is not often found in similar works. I echo the comment....you won't be able to put it down until the last page is read.

This new book is a page turner. It is by far the best book in bookstores. Get it and allow JL to take you on a journey!!!!! You will love it!!1

Wow, I just want to know who these Guys are????? Sounds scandalous. Great book, very interesting full of drama. This Man is blowing the lid off of this lifestyle. Order it today!

"All black women should be aware of guys being on the down low. This is a great introduction to the subject and tells you everything you need to know in a great story. All I want to know is... who is Juice really?

This book kept me up for 2 nights in a row. I couldn't put it down. From the first chapter to the last chapter, this book will surely take you on an exciting and sometimes danger-filled ride! The main character will have you spellbound at his intense desire for money, power and most of all sex....with both male and female. I must say that I didn't expect to get turned on by the sex scenes.....but they were smoking hot!! You will most definitely get your money's worth by buying this book. By far, a must read!!

I haven't read too many books about down-low behavior so I got to say this was an eye opener, James Lamar Juice Kennedy had something done to him so horrendus no child should endure and was forced along with a friend to equally do something that'll hunt any sane person throughout life, because of such acts Juice craved money, power and respect. He became a manipulative evil control freak, it was his friend Bones who tried to keep him on the straight and narrow but Juice's insatible cravings got the best of him, through the course of the book Juice posed questions one had to pondered,(if you see someone doing a particular act do that act define who that person is). This book was enlightening it teaches you to never judge a book by its cover and no matter how successful you become you can't CHANGE your PAST, don't be surprise a part two will be made to find out you must read this book. ENJOY!

I actually read this book twice and each time it gets even better. I think Monica Jackson has out done herself time and time again. The story of Jasmine and Raziq will leave you hanging on your seat wondering what will happen next, and will also keep you laughing at times. If you want to get away from all the serious issues and books that make you think to much, I strongly suggest to pick this one up, it is a keeper. Monica Jackson is a wonderful writer who tends to move away from the norm and indulge in the other side. I absolutely loved this book!

Jasmine Flynn is a student of the school of hard knocks, it seems that in love and life, she just can't catch a break. Her family was tragically snatched away from her, leaving her alone in a big world to fend for herself. Unlucky in love, she connects with a man who is emotionally unavailable and who thrusts her into a world of sorrow and skepticism.

Then Jasmine stumbles across Raziq Djinni who sets her world on its ear. Believe me when I say, he is no ordinary man. He is a genie! Jasmine buys what she believes to be a beautiful perfume bottle but this bottle is really Raziq's eternal house. This is truly a case of "be careful of what you wish for! " When Jasmine is granted her wish, she gets more than she bargains for and Raziq's help literally saves Jasmine's life.

The chemistry between Jasmine and Raziq jumps off the pages. The way Ms. Jackson describes Raziq, he is melt-in-your-mouth fine and most importantly, he is everything Jasmine has never had in a man. He is good, honest, and has her best interest interests at heart. But, there are demonic forces that want to drive Raziq away from Jasmine. As the plot in this book thickens, you won't be able to put it down. The pages are filled with soul searching, crime and hot passionate scenes with a twist of paranormal flavoring to boot. This is a definite must read if you're looking for a different type of book. I particularly enjoyed it because although it was a romance, it wasn't your typical case of boy meets girl. The paranormal elements Ms. Jackson wove into her story were very creative. Who would have thought a human being could fall in love with a genie?

Reviewed by Nedine
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

I'm not usually a reader of paranormal romance but this story was wonderfuI'm not usually a reader of paranormal romance but this story was wonderful from cover to cover.

Excellent book.

Monica Jackson is a talented author. She has a skill for creating likeable characters. The djinni, Raziq, nearly leaps off the page in all his sexiness. (Makes you wanna go hunt up your own antique perfume bottle).

The scenes where Raziq has to hide Jasmine from the forces of evil inside of a coke can are the best. You truly can viualize the haven he creates for her.

This book has it all good versus evil, action adventure, romance, intrigue, mystery, and all the passion you will ever need--you name it and this is the potpourri of romance books.

My only complaint: it was too short (210 pages) and that's only because I was not ready to leave Raziq and Jasmine alone.

Excellent book. Excellent.

Okay, let me start by saying that under normal circumstances I DO NOT like paranormal romances. As a matter of fact, this is my first book in this genre, and my first by this author. I've typically found paranormals to be long on weirdo stuff, and very short on character development. Well, Love's Potion proved me wrong in my prejudices. These characters are deftly crafted, and so interesting that from the very beginning I cared what happened to them.

Ms. Jackson did what many authors fail to do; she created a hero that the reader can't help but fall passionately in love (and lust) with. I mean, what normal woman wouldn't love to have a totally hot genie (pardon me, djinni) grant her one wish? Sounds like the stuff of my fantasies anyway. But of course, it doesn't quite pan out that way (does it ever?) The course to true love never runs smooth, but poor Jasmine and Raziq have a bit more to contend with than usual; demons and sorceresses and even an honest-to-goodness succubi. But no incubi, oh well, maybe in the next book Ms. Jackson?

And did I mention that not only is this book hot and steamy with an engaging story that I couldn't put down, but its also mad funny? Ms. Jackson has a rapier wit that comes through in this story that had me laughing out loud at times (when she wasn't scaring the bejesus out of me!) All in all this was a great book, and I can't wait to get my hands on her backlist.

I loved this book, just as much as the rest of the Ramsey series. I can't wait for the next 2 books. Altonya has done a excellent job as always.

Whoo! Hoo! This latest Ramsey saga kept me hyped up from the first page to the last! I can hardly wait for the next installment of this series. I could not put this book down until I finished reading the last page because of all the drama. Some questions were answered from the previous books but the drama is not over. Altonya has done it again!

For all the Ramsey family lovers out there this is the story of Moses Ramsey and Johari Frazier, a couple who found love years ago only to have it taken from them. Moses and Johari's story is twisted and tied into the secrets and scandals that are part of the Ramsey family and they hold a few secrets of their own. From page one to the very last page, A Lover's Worth is worth every penny you paid for it, every page it's printed on and every single day that we had to wait for it to be published. Once you pick it up, you won't put it back down until you have turned the last page.

For new AlTonya Washington readers, get this one and please go back and read her entire collection of work. Ms. Washington, has amazing talent for pulling you into a story and not releasing you until it's done. When it's over you want it to go on, and on, and on.

Ms. Washington has done it AGAIN! I found myself thoroughly CAUGHT UP in the Ramsey family, their circle of friends and their enemies. Every time I read about this family, I want more, more and more! The whole cast of characters, heroes and villains, are well developed and UNFORGETTABLE. With each new book she reveals SURPRISING twists and leaves you with new questions, that can ONLY be answered by completing this AMAZING series. IMO, "A Lover's Worth" has more action/adventure, and some seriously heart wrenching moments that will keep you turning the pages. As usual the Ramsey men are "SEXY AS ALL GET OUT" and extremely protective of the women in their lives. And Moses Ramsey is definitely no exception to that rule. EVERYTHING he does towards Johari Frazier, in his mind, is to keep her safe from not only the EVIL surrounding Marcus Ramsey and his circle of friends, but also to protect her from himself; and the man he thinks he is turning into, HIS FATHER. Moses' greatest fear is that he will hurt Jo in the same manner daddy dearest has hurt his mother. He's determined to put distance between them and that can only be achieved by breaking her heart. But once shocking circumstances are revealed, Moses is thrown back into Jo's life, and he is determined to reveal the truth to her and hope that she can forgive him and give their love a second chance. But Jo, has a dark secret of her own that she thinks will make Moses change his tune about wanting to recapture what they once shared. In the midst of all the turmoil surrounding Moses and Jo, Ms. Washington still thrills us with the intense fire and desire, that's still quite evident between this couple, creating some very HOT & STEAMY love scenes. 2009...WOW...I don't know if I can wait that long for this HIGHLY entertaining mystery/romance series to continue.

If the ratings went up to 10 stars, I would want to give this book 20. After waiting for a year for the continuation of the "Ramsey" saga, It did not disappoint. answered a lot of my questions and in true Altonya Washington fashion, opened up several other cans of worms. Moses, the dark, brooding hero is sexy as sin and his chemistry with Johari was off the charts. This installment was excellent. It has the making of a great movie, and the hot steamy love scenes were as only Altonya can do. Marcus is still up to his same old tricks but no one is falling for them now. Catch up with the rest of the Ramsey's Quest & Michaela, Quay and Tykira, Countess and Fernando, Melina and Yohan. And she throws in some unexpected twists that I as a loyal Ramsey fan would have never expected. This book is excellent!!! GET IT NOW!!!