Tulsa Books

this is a well put together book. the history of which was only 85 years ago is ugly but yet THE BURNINGS CONTINUE. the history of tulsa oklahoma at least on the black side demonstrates that blacks were never lazy and that we wanted a piece of the "american pie". in 2006 after the death of Mrs. King it will take you more than two hands to count the burnings of churches after her death. THE BURNINGS STILL CONTINUE. this book demonstrates that blacks are not lazy,or even 3/5ths of a human being or sub-human rather. ever since 1619 8 years after the king james bible, us blacks wanted all the good things in life as well. it took a long time to come, but we started to do for self rather than have it done for us by masters who did not know us or care! if we could not live along side the masters we lived next door meaning on the other side of town. naturally we would build a church and a school and yet still be slaves. now if our town that we built up became to nice, or just better than theres they would riot. before 1865 and well into the early 1900,s all riots were white inspired. riots were synonymous with whites only. only free people could riot. a slave held against his will does not riot but revolt and obviously thats what all living things do when held against there will.
a phrase by public ememy is " it took a nation of millions to hold us people back". (i can see why the kkk wears the mask, because you might of had presidents out ther lynching as well) this book demonstates how media,police,mayor and even govenor was all part of what was conspired against the black people of tulsa. reader if you research media you will find all types of racist media that inspired riots. in this book the media lied as usually, and said a black boy sexually assualted a white girl. next thing you know everything is burned down and hundreds of people die. this book covers one riot in one city. there were hundreds of riots maybe even thousands in different cities all for the same reason; to keep the black man down! but tulsa was a lot different obviously because it was compared to wall street which is synonymous with money. this is a great book but i encourage the readers to get a book first on riots in general and then get a book on a riot per riot. fire is synonymous with the white man. in europe where it was cold and always cloud covered they had no sunshine(no tans either)so they worshipped fire. today the racist christians burn there own cross? THE BURNING STILL CONTINUES AND ITS TIME FOR THEM "TO GET OVER IT" like us blacks are told so often.

I read Martha Southgate's novel of three generations of black Tulsa women, each hiding a horrible tragedy. The name of the book is THIRD GIRL FROM THE LEFT. The oldest woman, Mildred, has lived through the Tulsa race riots of 1921 and has kept her secrets well. After reading this accomplished novel I wanted to know more about the holocaust in Tulsa, and to find out why it was so underreported at the time and for the next 50 years. James Hirsch's book seems to be about the best of a new crop of revisionist history, and I read the whole thing in about two and a half hours.

At this late date there is no smoking gun, and a five month search for rumored mass graves in the surrounding areas of Tulsa proper turned up nothing out of the ordinary. That will never stop people from assuming that more than the 36 victims of vigilante action were killed, their bodies disposed of summarily. Hirsch thinks that the figure is probably somewhere between 75 and 300. Thousands of people lost their homes, and acres of Greenwood, the so called "black Wall Street" were burned to the ground. The famed historian John Hope Franklin came to Tulsa four years after the riots and bears witness today to the sense that, in 1920 black Oklahomans had made some definite progress, but after the catastrophe they lost their confidence and never could make up the backwards steps. Of course trauma studies indicate that such a devastating blow can never be recuperated, not entirely. That is why the issue of reparations has come to the forefront of the debate in recent times, for it seems, following Freud, that money is the only thing that people really sit up and take notice of, and as such it is the only proper way of dissolving guilt from human relations. (One of Hirsch's chapters is called, "Money, Negro," which is what Hope Franklin told a black politician who asked him what reparations represent.)

The latter half of the book is almost a personality parade as two men, the aforemention pol, Don Ross, squares off against the driven, white liberal who wrote extensively about the forgotten tragedy as early as 1971--Scott Ellsworth. Neither of the two men care a fig about the other, it's plain to see, while elegant, courteous and magisterial John Hope Franklin rises above it all with his super acuity and his refusal to bend principles.

I had only heard of the Tulsa race riot of 1921 a few years ago, even though I went to high school in the early 1980s in Bartlesville, OK, 45 miles north of Tulsa (and have driven on the highways that now run through the Greenwood section more times than I can count). I remember the fear that was passed on to me about that section of Tulsa and the dread of facing students from its high school whenever we played them in football, a darker fear than seemed warranted for a city of its size. Now, knowing the history of the race riots and the fears both sides had of sparking another one, I understand why.

Hirsch does an amazing job of piecing together from both "official" and oral history the story of the riot, as well as what led up to it, and the racial climate surrounding the event. While he clearly favors the "black" side of the story, he doesn't give in to the most extreme views, and he does give the "white" views time and space. He also points out the difficult questions of reparations, and why there are no easy answers. Most importantly, "Riot and Remembrance" shows the readers why history can never be neatly tied up and packaged. We will probably never know the details of what happened on the ugly night and day of May 31-June 1, 1921, in Tulsa. We'll never know for sure the death toll, or what exactly was in the hearts of the African-Americans, the "ruffian" white, or the city leaders who coveted the Greenwood land. But at least with Hirsch's book, we have a chance to ponder all sides and draw our own conclusions.

And, by the way, this is one Oklahoman who thinks the state and city SHOULD pay reparations in the form of scholarships and economic development in North Tulsa. I suspect I am in the minority, though!

In addition to an important new chapter about race relations in America, James Hirsch's book is must reading for anyone interested in how histories are suppressed and can be rescued. There is no more important story that no one knows than the one covered here. The fact that the Tulsa riot never made it into our history books makes one wonder what other aspects of our collective past have slipped our notice.

RIOT AND REMEMBRANCE is a detailed look at the tragic Tulsa race war of 1921. The 1921 Tulsa race war story is simular to the well-known Rosewood, Florida event but on a much larger scale.

Mr. Hirsch includes both sides of the "truth", the black truth and the white truth. The entire event had been essentially remove from hisory until recently.

Mr. Hirsh's attention to detail makes one feel like they were in Tulsa MAY 1921. The racist Jim Crow laws along with the irresponsible Tulsa Tribune's reporting created an atmosphere that turned a simple misunderstanding into a race war.

African-Americans dared to stand up for themselves and the result was the entire Greenwood section of Tulsa was obiterated. Afterwards the city attempted to then take the Greenwood area away from the land owners.

Mr Hirsch includes testamony and documentation from black and white folks that were involved directly and via historical research.

He shows us how the story went from a whisper to the front page of major newspaper as the story was exposed.

See from a modern point of view, the fact that an event even approaching this scale actually took place is surreal. The nefarious pathological additude towards African-Americans during this time in history is beyond comprehension.

I loved the story and the positive influences the author gave to Rob and all of us who are tempted to take a short cut. I loved how real it was and how well the story was able to help me `get into the minds' of the characters to the point that I became consumed in the plot. Esp. being able to get into the mind of the main character, Rob, him being a guy - I was impressed that the author was so realistic with his `typical guy-like' thoughts and did not try to overcomplicate him even though he was in a complicated situation.

I think the main thing I was left with was the value of the positive influences of good people in our lives. The converse of that being important to note as well: how devastating the reprocussions of negative influences...

Well done and worth the time!

For a taste of everything from suspense, romance, and actually getting into people's lives, this book contains it all. Once you start you cannot put it down because you want to read about what happens next. The characters are all believable and seem like people you know. The writer keeps you in suspense to the very end and ties all of the loose ends up in a neat package.

IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A NOVEL THAT CONATAINS ACTION PACKED SEQUENCES WHERE THE HERO OVERCOMES INSURMOUNTABLE ODDS OVER A PLETHORA OF ENEMIES, OR A BRANIAC ANTHROPOLOGIST WHO CAN SUMMON UP ANY MINISCULE FACT OF ANCIENT HISTORY FASTER THAN ENCYCLOPEDIA BRITANNICA, THEN THIS IS NOT THE NOVEL FOR YOU. BUT, IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A NOVEL THAT CHALLENGES YOUR THINKING ON HOW WE EFFECT OTHERS LIVES BY THE DECISIONS WE MAKE, NO MATTER HOW INCONSEQUENTIAL THEY MAY SEEM, THIS IS THE ONE BOOK YOU NEED TO READ. THIS STORY DOES A SUPERB JOB OF WEAVING THE CHARACTERS LIVES TOGETHER, EVEN THOUGH THEY DO EVERYTHNG POSSIBLE TO SEPERATE THEMSELVES BY TIME AND GEOGRAPHY. THE AUTHOR IS GREAT AT HOLDING YOUR ATTENTION BY USING CHARACTERS THAT ARE REAL AND BELIEVABLE. THEY COULD EASLILY BE YOUR NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR. AS THE READER, YOU FIND YOURSELF CONSTANTLY QUESTIONING THE OUTCOME OF DECISIONS MADE BY THE CHARACTERS, FORCING YOU TO READ THE NEXT PAGE JUST TO SEE IF YOU SURMISED CORRECTLY. IT IS A REFRESHING READ FROM THE USUAL TALES THAT ARE ABOUT A HOMOCIDIAL MANIC DRIVEN BY AN OVERDOSE OF TESTOSTERONE IN ORDER OT SAVE HIS PRINCESS THAT SEEM TO COVER EVERY INCH OF THE SHELVES AT OUR LOCAL BOOKSTORE. ONCE YOU PICK IT UP, YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO PUT IT DOWN!

I strongly recommend reading this book. I couldn't put it down, I wanted to see what would happen next. The characters and plot touched my heart.

This book got me "hooked" from the start. The story never lagged. Bobby Mac has a lot of things on his plate- most of them unpleasant. I really liked his character, and those he interacted with. It can take a lot of courage to return to your past then start anew. I have never read anything quite like this and would recommend this book to anyone- literally.

My son is incarcerated and I sent this book to his cell mate who is an aspiring artist. He loved it. He has talent and someday, maybe, we will all be buying JP Kennedy's!
Thank for sharing the story-you never know who'll you will be inspiring to stay straight and focused.

JUBILEE CITY is one of the most moving and unusual memoirs I've ever read. It's snapshots from an artist's life that are often funny and heartbreaking all at once. They are always moving, and often universal experiences. Andoe has a fresh and unique way of expressing himself. I loved this book and found myself reading stories from it over and over again.

Joe Andoe must be fifteen years younger than the artists and poets I'm most familiar with who hailed from Tulsa--the WHITE DOVE REVIEW crew of Joe Brainard, Dick Gallup, Ron Padgett. His book JUBILEE CITY rivals the memoirs of Brainard (I REMEMBER) and Padgett (OKLAHOMA TOUGH, MY FATHER KING OF THE TULSA BOOTLEGGERS) as far as getting the lowdown on one of America's most exciting, durable, and dreamlike city-states. When I picked up this book, out of curiosity towards all things Tulsa, I had never heard of the painter Joe Andoe, and now that I've read it I realize he's one of the most famous artists of the world and he's shown all over the known universe. Somehow he flew under my radar but perhaps I have my head in the clouds or buried in the sand like a West Coast ostrich, what do I know? In any case Joe's childhood was like a real-life version of JT Leroy books, except for one stabliizing factor, his father was a real man's man who didn't say very much but Joe always knew that, no matter how many juvenile shenanigans young Joe got his sorry butt into, there was always going to be one man who had his back, his dad.

The saddest part of the book was when Andoe Sr., a relatively young man, had a heart attack and Joe had to bundle him into the car and drive him to the hospital, simultaneously talking him alive, keeping him going. But I think Mr. Andoe didn't want to stay alive not smoking, having to watch his diet, living as "half a man," and so, it wasn't long before they were carrying him back to his Maker.

Joe's interest in art went into high gear when he found out that his chichi society drawing teacher could sell a drawing or a watercolor for 900 dollars--900, as much as the car Joe was driving cost. "He looked like veal to me, all soft and white." And Joe was skeptical of the teacher's talents, thinking to himself, if his s**t flies, then mine will too. At college he learned about men like Robert Smithson, Dennis Oppenheim, other hipsters like himself, but as he says, it wasn't until he saw one of Warhol's pink Marilyns that art got its hook into him once and for all. The teacher told him he should have more humility but Joe just looks at him sideways and says, "I don't know what that word means--is it like humid?"

He had to deal with rapacious and uncaring dealers who tried dicking him every which way from Sunday, and he wound up with a Smith College alumna girlfriend in NYC who, addicted to heroin, had him breaking into his own kids' piggy banks for nickels and dimes. His brushes with the law were frequent and outrageous, and if you read THE BASKETBALL DIARIES or seen the movie with Leo Di Caprio you will agree with me by admitting that Joe Andoe was the baddest boy in many moon,s but he never lost his soul and he never lost heart. His story further proves the continuing vitality of Tulsa and Tulsans, who include also Garth Brooks, Leon Russell, Gene Autry, and David BREAD Gates in music and, in other fields, Jennifer Jones, John Hope Franklin, Sammy Sosa, Larry Clark, Alfre Woodard, S. E. Hinton who wrote THE OUTSIDERS, and Wes Studi. What do these folks all have in common? They're tough and they're cool, ubercool.

Reading Joe Andoe's memoir is like walking through a collection of his paintings. Sublime, sensual and haunting. His words reach right into your soul as do his paintings.Unlocking ghosts of distant memories.For anyone who has lived outside the box ,or for that matter looked inside and not quite know how to fit in there is comfort in knowing you are not alone. Loved it.

So, world-renowned (and successful--which isn't so easy to pull off) artist Joe Andoe has written his memoir. Why do you care? Because Joe grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma - an unlikely breeding ground for an artist. Because Joe grew up misbehaving in all sorts of ways, had more close calls with the law and death than he can count, until he finally moved to New York City to make his name and to find his fame. Joe's voice, as a writer, is like an undertow -- before you know it, you're miles off shore, completely sucked into his world of all-encompassing love (for his children, his painting) and lust (for women, alcohol), as he paints and parents his way to recovery and redemption. The life presented here is one lived on Joe's terms, with sparkling moments of bigheartedness, crazy humor, and poignant regret. I was entranced by his bad boy youth in Oklahoma, full of muscle cars and dewy teenage girls, the insider details of the world of art galleries and agents, and most of all by how he sorted out all his inner demons and rebuilt connections with his family, friends, children.

Love this cookbook! It looks beautiful on display in my kitchen and I especially love the Tomato Basil Soup on p. 102.

Too many cookbooks these days include recipes that fail to turn out as promised -- even when they've been followed to a "T". Not this one! Everything I've tried has been easy AND wonderful! My favorites so far: Atomic Salad and the Cookie Jar Gingersnaps.

Nicely illustrated with full-page color photography, Oil & Vinegar is comprised of the best of more than two thousand recipes that were submitted by members of the Junior League of Tulsa, Oklahoma. From Coconut Shrimp; Strawberry Butter; and Beef Salad with Asparagus and Broccoli; to Seared Sesame-Coated Salmon Sandwich; Veal Scaloppine in Lemon Sauce; and Cold Ginger Souffle, Oil & Vinegar is a truly superb cookbook compendium that would grace any personal or community library cookbook collection.

Since I have bought this cookbook, I turn to it more often than any of my other cookbooks. I've tried about 25 of the recipes and have been very happy with each one. My two favorites are the tortilla soup and Turkey Mountain salad. The tortilla soup is the best I have ever eaten, and is so easy!

A wonderful array of recipes for cooks of all abilities!
The food styling and photography are beautiful as well as the cover. It could be a coffee-table book if you get it off your kitchen counter. I also enjoyed reading all the oil history and helpful hunts sprinkled among the pages.
Try the "Frangelico Fantasy Dessert", "T-Town Brisket" and "Curried Spinach and Apple Dip". Mmmmmm!

I've been told a mark of a great book is when the characters remain in your head after you have finished reading the book. This book qualifies as a great book, I'm still thinking of Viv and the towns mentioned in the book.

Letha caught my attention from the opening paragraphs throughout. I enjoyed Viv's rather logical, organized point of view. She's written a sort of no-nonsense work by a reporter..a media member. Now, just how unusual is that? Very. It made me want to keep reading and I enjoyed the read. In addition, interesting and unique names for characters shifted through the book, often used next to more ordinary names. I liked Tapply and Viv, Mica, Allan Jakes, and, of course,the more usual, Charley. I hope Letha keeps writing and keeps expanding her knowledge and craft. If she does, I will keep reading them.

I have written and had publsihed two mysteries and I appreciate her economical style and use of words. As a fellow author, I appreciated her more or less absence of gimick and what I considered the directness of the story. Since I used to live in Wichita and would drive into Oklahoma, I can appreciate her setting and relate to it. She's a fair author, ought to be on a screen credit for a tv movie sometime for this one.

Thanks, Letha, and you and the other Diva's keep on penning 'em! I'll keep on buying 'em when you write 'em.

Lance Pearson

I read this book in one sitting. It's full of great details about life in the heart of the Cherokee Nation, as well as what it's like being married to a would-be rock star and to work for a small local paper. The mystery aspect is a lot of fun. Viv Powers is one memorable narrator!

I'm not historically a lover of mysteries as I have found them to be too plot-driven for my taste. A few exceptions are Elizabeth George's books and Janet Evanovich's "One for the Money" series, both of which have me hooked because of the complex, likeable characters and the excellent writing. I admit that I was skeptical about "Tulsa Time" when my grandmother recommended it; I figured she was biased because the author is related somehow (fifth cousin to me, I think). But I dutifully read the book and was quickly pulled into the life of Viv and her relationship with Charley and completely related to her hard-headed determination to uncover the truth of his charges in spite of his warnings for her to keep out of it. I also must admit that I smugly thought I had it all figured out about 1/3 through the book, but didn't care because I was no longer in it for the mystery but for the great read. I as wrong anyway. I loved how it ended with the mystery solved although with some acknowledged loose ends and a realistic aversion to a pat all's-well ending. I would definitely like to read more by Letha Albright -- another mystery with the same lead character would be terrific, but I'd love to follow wherever the author is inspired to go, too!

It's hard to tell if Letha Albright should be labeled an "up-and-comer" - it's just too early. Her first published novel, Tulsa Time, is a wonderful book, but it almost seems as something that can't (or shouldn't) stand alone.

That's not an insult by a long shot. It's just that Viv Powers, the book's main character, has not developed herself enough in Albright's debut effort to satisfy most readers.

Such is the frustration with such well-crafted first-time novels. Viv is so utterly interesting, the depth of her character could easily be explored over a half-dozen more books. At the end of the novel, the only things noticeably lacking are sequels.

Viv, a small-town journalist, is thrown into a world of trouble when her significant other (Charlie) is charged with murdering Gil, his band's manager. With Charlie maintaining silence even to his lover, Viv decides to investigate (the mark of a true journalist!) and begins to uncover Charlie and his band's rocky past.

A good mystery should have two things. First, it needs a likeable (or at least interesting) hero(ine). Second, it needs the hooks and barbs that keep readers interested and guessing "whodunit." Tulsa Time succeeds on both accounts.

Viv reminds me much of another mystery heroine - Kay Scarpetta from Patricia Cornwell's books (From Potter's Field, Cause of Death, etc.): strong-willed, stubborn, passionate.

The book holds interest well with short chapters and many twists. It describes with great beauty and care the setting of Talequah and Tulsa, Okla., with out drenching the reader in detail. Several other people who have read this book agree that it is nearly impossible to guess the culprit until the last 10 pages or so.

Get a copy of this book - it's worthy of two reads (at least) - and keep your fingers crossed for a sequel. (4.5 stars)

The book is magnificent. The plot weaves in and out highlighting issues of supreme importance. Hosea and Oscar Thompson are shadow men. Maybe they killed in the past, Hosea a guard, Oscar a man who bothered his wife. Hosea has an auto yard and towing service and Oscar a barbecue joint in Treetown on the edge of Rio Seco, a seemingly fictitious city east of Los Angeles. The novel includes a sort of coming of age tale of Hosea's youngest son, Marcus, even though Marcus is thirty already. Marcus teaches history at the local high school. Unlike his brothers who work in the car yard and attended the neighborhood school before it was closed when district lines were abolished to achieve integration, he attended college, at least in spurts. Hosea's wife cares for three grandchildren. There is a fire in the yard and two dead white women are discovered in an immovable car on the premises, notwithstanding the fact that the gate was locked. Hosea is shot because he fails to drop his own rifle quickly enough to suit the police, and he is held in the hospital in the jail ward. As the strands of the story develop it becomes apparent that the family is the focus of actions to remove them from their land in the name of progress and aesthetics, aesthetics that is from a white perspective. The circumstances are particularly poignant since Hosea and Oscar moved from Greenwood driven out by the riot and fire in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1921. Thank you Susan Straight. What a joy it is to read your book.

The getting place is the story of marcus and his brother's trying to find out whose being killing people on their father's property. The book show's the importance of family, sibling rivarly, and how the family get through everday problems. The brother's are also reunited with their sister and nephrew, who had left home, and no one knew were she was. I think the author did good in writing about the lifes of black characthers.

This is Susan Straight's best work so far. It is a crime/mystery story, a richly populated family drama, and a revelation of contemporary social ills and their deep roots in history. It educates the reader without being pedantic, through the diverse voices who tell tales that are not available anywhere else in print. No clear solutions are given for the racial and economic tensions explored in the book, since the "One World" philosophy promoted by a few characters appears to be little more than a slogan and consumer lifestyle favoring exoticism. The depth of the characters' self-exploration, the richness of their histories, and their intimate connection to the land are what prevent the reader from falling into utter despair and vacant horror over the many atrocities in the novel. This book has left me wondering about many issues, including: why do I never hear or see anything about this author? (I discovered her first novel by chance in the library and have been a fan ever since). Miscellaneous observation: this book contains the word "whorl" more times than any book I've read.

Straight give us an utterly new set of insights into the racial dynamics of Southern California. Her characters are brave, complicated, and we care deeply for them. Moreover, she gives readers an unprecedented understanding of the deadly and yet not uncreative and sometimes brilliant workings of gang-banging in African American communities. This complex story of multiple subjectivities is rendered with a style whose beauty is so fierce, it will make you weep.

AN UNFORGETTABLE READING EXPERIENCE.

Required lots of research. Glad this information will be available for future generations.









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This gripped me from beginning to end: a very finely drawn portrait of a man of unusual quality. Anyone who's ever been drawn to the "outlaw" mystique will appreciate the opportunity to see how it begins, lives, and ends in Wayne Padgett, the author's father. A terrific read.

A very well written story that depicts an unique individual living in an intriguing time and place. Wayne Padgett is a compelling and contradictory man, some one I would like to get to know. Reading this book is like having a conversation with this powerful figure.

Absurd Realist poet, translator, and memoirist Ron Padgett, long ensconced in New York's East Village boho Beat & Existentialist milieu, turns to his roots in this tale of Tulsa folklore circling around his father, Wayne Padgett; King of the oil town's bootleggers. The Tulsa time of this wiley tale is somewhere 'tween boom & bust. The earliest reaches extend back two generations to Padgett's granddad Grover, though only briefly touching upon Teddy Roosevelt's trust busters and the populist ferment brewing against BIG OIL. Padgett barely mentions the Tulsa race riots in passing.

Oklahoma was a "dry" state when it came to hootch, but oil lease rigs were still dripping when Wayne Padgett came of age. Though there isn't much of Osage tribal flamboyance on display, as Ron Padgett hews closely to his dad's immediate territory. Terry Wilson's book on the Osages and their visibility in and around Tulsa during the boom years can fill in some of the local composition. Ironically Wilson deploys an absurdist deadpan in chronicling the Osages, close as an academic can come to the style Ron Padgett pioneered earlier in his career writing Beat memoirs & punchline poetry. Wilson cinematically captures the new oil heirs on their joyrides into town having assimilated silk top hats, tux and tails into their tribal regalia. Padgett is challenged with a central subject dry as the Protestant work ethic he embodied, illicit work notwithstanding. Despite the Dixie Mafia contacts and some compulsive gambling that plays out in tragic ways a bit up the family tree, the Padgetts seemed to be straight shooters, with only narrator Ron betraying much of an appetite or curiosity for life lived on the wild side.

The contrasts found within the House of Padgett are the stuff of cross-pollinated literary dreams. Imagine Elmore Leonard or his fictional hardboiled characters holed up in a tornado alley Plains safehouse with Burroughs adding-machine heir and stiff-lipped Wild-side explorer William Burroughs, as this Tulsa teen scene deftly sketches in. Ron Padgett recalls his fledgling effort at publishing an underground lit journal while still in high school and working out of bootleggin' dad's house:

"But the oddity of the larger situation dawned on me only years later: at one end of our house was the office of one of the biggest whiskey businesses in town, while at the other was the 'office' of an avant-garde literary magazine. Really, though, I was simply imitating my dad: I had my office desk, I operated a cottage industry, and I pursued a project that most people would have considered bizarre. But what was truly bizarre was that Daddy was reading Beat and Black Mountain poetry." Wild-eyed ecstasy chasing visionaries such as Ted Berrigan, er rather, a private eye hired by Berrigan's squeeze's proper parents, might stop by the house looking for the literary mentor, only to be gruffly chased off by Big Daddy. How did a high school junior out in the oil & red dirt provinces manage to net a cast of literary luminaries like LeRoi Jones (Amiri Baraka), Paul Blackburn, Robert Creeley, Allen Ginsberg, Jack Kerouac, Ron Loewinsohn, Clarence Major, Gilbert Sorrentino and Berrigan for his WHITE DOVE REVIEW 5x8 1/2 staple job? Just neighborhood luck to have buddy Joe Brainard hangin' out as Art Director. The same Joe Brainard whose too short career retrospective was being exhibited at top tier museums of modern art from Boston to Berkeley a year or so ago. But this is Wayne's story, a different sort of exemplar of Junior Achievment in action.

Don't be put off by the title OKLAHOMA TOUGH. Turns out the subtitled: "My Father, King of the Tulsa Bootleggers" is a tender and flavorful slice of regional folklore. Virtually every minor character does a star turn, burning some bit of colorful essence onto a reader's retina. From the penitentiary cameo by old school toughs like Jew Snyder, to the more fully fleshed out complex shades of modern men-in-the-making like Bobby Bluejacket, the bedrock matriarch Verna Padgett, and the younger generation roadhouse loves from whom off-the-cuff wisdom literature flows in Ron Padgett's interview tapes, one only wishes this memorable Tulsa tale included an index. If this ever makes it to the big screen I have no suggestions for the casting of King Wayne or Boho Scribe Ron. But the soundtrack wouldn't be complete without some ol' J.J. Cale-Leon Russell seductive shuffles, Jimmy LaFave dustbowl retreads and the Red Dirt Rangers' roadhouse stomps.

Nobe Chase's life went down the drain when he had to bury his alcoholic father. He and his mom had to sell the house and live with Sheriff Leonard in town. Nobe wasn't allowed to bring his best friend Rex, beacuse he was a dog. The Sheriff shot Rex which started the hatred toward the Sheriff.
Nobe gets a job at the local cafe washing dishes. Nobe then started to see his friend Isaac Mitchell and Isaac's mom Mrs. Mitchell to get advise. Isaac and his mom were black and not liked very well. Isaac was out of college and lived in Tulsa, and his father, Lester Cotton, is the cook for the cafe where nobe worked.
A riot broke out in Tulsa and Isaac got hurt. Nobe and Lester went to save Isaac. When they got back, the sheriff arrested Isaac for "his own protection" the sheriff handed Isaac over to the KKK, who planned to hang him. Nobe overheard what was giong to happen so he saved Isaac.

It hooked me right away and kept me going, so i give it 4 stars.
It was based on true events in Tulsa, Oklahoma. It talks about how racism effected people, and how hard it was to make a living, and it was back when the automobile was invented.

It is 1921 in Wekiwa, Oklahoma and life has been hard for 15 year-old Nobe Chase. He lost his father, his home and his dog Rex, who was his best friend. Worst of all, he had to move with his mother to live with Sheriff Leonard --- dog killer, wife stealer and secret lawbreaker --- and he doesn't think it's fair at all. Ever since that day, he's been determined to get revenge.

While living with the Leonards, he gets a job as a dishwasher at a local cafe working with the new cook, Lester Cotton. Hate begins to take over his life, burning inside him uncontrollably. Sheriff Leonard is very mean to Nobe, who is determined to teach him a lesson. However, he can't understand why his best friend Issac is hated just because of the color of his skin. One day Nobe learns how awful hate can be when he discovers that Issac was involved in a race riot and is seriously injured. Nobe is determined to bring him back home and asks Lester Cotton, also Issac's father, to go with him. He does so reluctantly and they both save Issac's life. The next day, however, Issac is arrested because of his involvement with the death of a young girl. Nobe knows it was an accident, but some people in the town, including Sheriff Leonard, are still affected by the riots in Tulsa and they plan to kill Issac. Will Nobe be able to save his life once again, or will Issac be killed for an accidental crime?

This powerful book of a boy who must struggle with his past and find the courage and strength to break free from the cycle of hatred and abuse will captivate, move and inspire readers. If I were Nobe, I would have tried to run away from home. If you like reading moving books, read this one to find out if Nobe's life will be changed forever.

--- Reviewed by Ashley Hartlaub

Tulsa Burning is the story of a young boy, Nobe,who grows up on a farm and does not have a very good home life. His father is a drunk and is always off spending the little money his family has and then comes home to abuse him and his mother. This is the start of the over all theme of this book which is dealing with hate taking over peoples lives. Nobe's father eventually dies and his mother is forced to leave the farm and move in with the town sheriff and his dying wife. Nobe does not want to live with the sherrif and when he refuses to go the sherrif shoots his dog, escallating the hate with in Nobe. This story is also about the true event of Tulsu Oklahoma breaking out in a race riot and the eventual burning of the African-American portion of Tulsa. This just re-inforces the hate theme that is going on throughout the book. This story takes place after the slaves were free but before equal rights and Nobe has a friend that is African-American and living in Tulsa when the riots break out. Nobe hears that his friend has been hurt and rushes to Tulsa to try and save his friend. This is the climax of the story and from here Nobe begings to come to the realization of what hate can do to a persons life when it consumes it. Over all an excellent read and I would highly reccommend it.

"Nobe" (Noble) Chase doesn't think much. He certainly doesn't feel noble. When his Pa's around, he's just someone to hit. When Pa's out drinking the proceeds from their farm away, Nobe's stealing coins from the payphones with a key he's copied from the telephone employee's original.

Then Pa dies. Nobe's glad. He's not going to be hit on anymore. But he's sad for Ma, too.

They can't keep their farm. Nobe and his Ma have to move into town, away from Nobe's home and the colored friends he's made down the road, Mrs. Mitchell and her son, Isaac.

Nobe quickly learns that Sheriff Leonard who takes them in is not a good man, either. When the Sheriff shoots Nobe's dog, Rex, instead of allowing the animal to come live with them in town, Nobe swears everlasting hatred and revenge on the man.

Nobe's also worried that the Sheriff is looking too closely at his Ma. Ma admits, she'd marry the Sheriff when his invalid wife dies, but Nobe thinks Sheriff Leonard might just be meaner than his Pa.

Nobe's friend, Isaac, comes back into town from his job in Tulsa and teaches Nobe how to drive his new car. Isaac works on a section of town called Black Wall Street and he's doing right well--enough to buy both him and his Mama new motorcars and his Mama (Mrs. Mitchell) a victrola.

When Preacher Johnson returns with tales of the Tulsa race riots, Noble borrows the preacher's car to go get Isaac, who the preacher saw being injured.

There's more, but telling more would spoil the ending.

The author has taken a little-known event and turned it into a memorable tale of nobility and kindness. Within 150 short pages, Noble Chase's character grows by leaps and bounds as we see a bit of painful history that some folks meant to never see the light of day.

The true and tragic story of a mother's untimely death while shopping for cleaning supplies in a Wal-Mart (SAMS Club). The story is prefaced with wonderful background of life and family in rural Oklahoma. Imagine being a little girl so poor that you accompany your Father to buy chicken feed...so you can pick out the sacks...for your next dress. The family ties, loyalty to family, and love of family are refreshing in an age where families fall apart at an alarming rate. The heartless and callous behavior of Wal-Mart executives after the death is shocking (NOTE: Hitlary Clinton was on the Board of Directors). The court battle that develops is a true "David vs. Goliath" story as Wal-Mart's corporate attorney takes on the families life-long friend, a simple "country" attorney. The intensity and suspense of the court battle will keep you reading. Shame on Wal-Mart and SAM's club for focusing on corporate greed instead of customer safety. This book would make a good movie.

Judith Cain Dotson's first book is a smooth read. It is a journey from the tragedy of her mother's untimely death to a family's realization that while they cannot "bring back" their mother, their efforts to prevent this kind of tragedy from happening to others is one way to keep her memory alive. Ms. Dotson's courage to write about her mother's death and the events that followed makes for a "David and Goliath" tale that's a must read!

Heads up! It seems that preventable accidental death is cost effective where America shops. The sounds of forklifts and the sight of merchandise stacked hight are all ploys to give the shopper the illusion that they are getting a great deal. What the shopper doesn't realize and what Dolly Cain discovered is that the ambiance of a bargain warehouse is the prime objective--not the safety of the customer. An occasional incident is acceptable to the bottom line. Judith Cain Dotson, the Cain family cantadora, has put a face on one such 1985 incident. In Final Touch we have the pleasure of meeting Dolly Bryant Cain. Mrs. Cain was one of the outstanding memebers of what Tom Brokaw has labeled the Greatest Generation. Dolly was a loving wife, mother, artist, and poet. At the time of her death she had successfully battled cancer. In one of Mrs. Cain's poems she asks, "What would you think if in the morning/When you looked upon the clock--/If the time was moving backwards,/If yesterday were tomorrow, t'would be awkward." Turning yesterday into today is what Judith Dotson does as she takes us through her mother's life. In Final Touch we meet a joyous woman that supported her family while reciting poetry, a farm woman that was known to gift-wrap chicken feet, a woman that kenw how to find joy in the moment.

If Dolly Cain could turn back the hands of time, she would join her daughter and the readers of this book in demanding that the super discount stores take the forklifts out of their stores during business hours. According to Dotson, there have been, "Over 30,000 falling merchandise accidents from 1989-1997 in the Wal-Mart system." Final Touch is a must read for any American that shops in warehouse type stores.

Professor Brophy has performed a great public service by writing a powerful, yet concise book about one of the most deadly race riots in United States history. On May 31, 1921, whites attacked black residents of the Greenwood addition of Tulsa, Oklahoma, burning, looting, and murdering. This book is absorbing, upsetting and fair.

Professor Brophy's work is meticulously researched and heavily footnoted. In addition to investigation of the riot by in-depth research of the available legal materials that were generated by the riot, Professor Brophy has relied heavily upon the news accounts and editorials of the two largest black newspapers in Oklahoma at that time, the Black Dispatch in Oklahoma City, and the Tulsa Star in Tulsa. These two newspapers displayed stunning activism and fearlessness in criticizing the actions of whites who committed criminal acts against blacks during the riot, and at other times during that time period. It is interesting that blacks, who had been aroused by recent lynchings of blacks in Oklahoma City and Tulsa, had vowed to forcibly resist further lynching. The Tulsa Riot itself was set in motion by black concern over the arrest of a black who had been arrested for allegedly attempting to rape a white female elevator operator, and was accelerated by white violence in response.

If this murderous event had occurred today, the City of Tulsa would have been liable under civil rights laws. The city issued special deputy badges to virtually anyone who asked for it, regardless of background or qualifications. Some of these "special deputies" were undoubtedly the main criminal actors in the riot, and city law enforcement officials did little, if anything, to stop their crimes. The city's use of these unqualified whites as law enforcement officers, who burned, looted and shot black residents of Greenwood, make an excellent case for reparations for those victims of the criminal activity in Tulsa who are still living and who were affected by the riot.

This book sheds great light on a terrible event, and is highly recommended.

David W. Lee
Edmond, OK

"At once meticulously factual and riveting, Alfred Brophy's moving account of a 1921 race riot that destroyed an economically self-reliant, vibrant African-American community clarifies why political action and enforcement of legal and human rights are indispensable prerequisites for black economic opportunity and material progress. Brophy also clarifies why Americans need to find the courage to acknowledge injustices of the recent past and contrive amends to help heal still-unresolved consequences scarring both victims and perpetrators." --Jane Jacobs

"A timely contribution to a variety of important and contentious discussions involving American history, African-American culture, and the problems encountered in attempting to right past wrongs...Brophy reminds us that deadly, cruel, racial violence is not something that only happens 'out there' in the rest of the world but is something that has also happened here in the United States on a massive scale and that just as others out there have fallen short in reckoning with their pasts, so too have Americans." --Randall Kennedy, from the Foreword

"In his timely, well documented and powerfully written book, Reconstructing the Dreamland, Professor Al Brophy vividly illustrates a chapter of America's sordid racist past by focusing on the Tulsa Race Riots of 1921. If we are to transcend the barriers to racial progress, we all must read Brophy's compelling work and use it as a seminal case in our path to avoid conflicts at all costs. Simply put, Professor Brophy's book is the best-written account of the Tulsa riots, and captures the people of Tulsa's resolve to never allow a similar travesty to occur again. Every person interested in racial justice should have this book at his or her disposal." --Charles J. Ogletree, Jr., Jesse Climenko Professor of Law, Harvard Law School