Walking through the halls of my second office (the courthouse), I happened upon a Louisville Metro employee with a book. I was ecstatic to see this young black woman enjoying the thrill of a good read, but then I saw the title. It was something like “Divalicious Drama” or “Rumpshaker Video Queen” or something equally as absurd. I told her why are you reading that ridiculous book, first of all, why does this “black man” (I use that term loosely) choose only to write books from a woman’s point of view; He doesn’t have his own stories to tell? Second, of all, he’s writing tabloid novels, might as well be a harlequin romance. I told her I would make her a list of books she should be reading, print it out, and carry around with me until I saw her again. I want her to read LITERATURE. Important books by important authors. Unfortunately, there’s a new genre of trade paperbacks that are nothing more than garbage in print: trashy music videos to words. Writing so bad it should be a crime. I can’t believe that this is the trend in Black fiction. There was a rebirth of good fiction with Terry McMillan in the early 90s. And don’t get me wrong, there’s a place in fiction for a bit of tawdriness and crass, but it can’t dominate. The same insidious virus that has infected hip hop has contaminated the world of publishing. It is a woeful time when “Babydaddy for Hire” is read more than “The Bluest Eye.” I challenge all my sisters (and everyone else for that matter) to elevate their reading choices. But, it’s extremely important that Black females/mothers try to open their minds to all the possibilities in the library and bookstore, because it will turn their minds to a positive direction. New ideas, new thought patterns, new ways to think about old ideas. It will only help, never hurt. A well-crafted novel will transform you. It will invigorate you. It will validate you. It will lift you up. It will make you a better woman.
Read anything by these authors and you will be a better human: Zora Neale Hurston, Toni Morrison, J. California Cooper, and Gloria Naylor.
The man who doesn't read good books has no advantage over the man who can't read them.
Mark Twain
Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body.
Sir Richard Steele
5 comments:
someone comes up to me and tells me what i should or should not be reading better be able to run fast. ain't nobodies business what i look at and she should have told you to MYOB!
I agree that people should try and broaden their spectrum of life by choosing to read GOOD books. Books that uplift and tell an actual story (fiction or non). However, your approach is awful. If you want to help someone see your point of view, you cannot do so by attacking theirs. Simply telling this person that their choice of literature is poor will only make them tune you out. Also, some trashy books are fun to read... mixes it up a bit. Sort of like life...
There is a reason why people in the 21st century are still reading Morrison, DuBois, Wright, Irving, Hughes, Dunbar, Giovanni, Walker, Homer, Dante, Shakespeare, Cervantes, Twain, Faulkner.
Life is short. Why waste your time on second, third, or fourth rate things like comic books or pulp fiction. A reader of this kind of trash should really have higher self esteem.
You are what you read.
Wow… I thought I was arrogant! I’ve been called an A$$ hole before but…..I might need to study under you tutelage. (LoL)
It’s okay. I’m a LEO and LEO’s with there regal auras of grandeur have an view of the world and knowing what’s best for all those in their sphere of influence…:) As I like to tell people, “It’s not my way. It’s the RIGHT way.”
I don’t know how young this person was. But as an Afrocentric older than my age (27) male, I have a reverence for the elders. You imagine how many of my elders have commented on my dreadz, and need to find a woman. My reply, “Yes ma’am, yes sir.” What mama says goes. What daddy says goes. So if that person was that much younger than you in my PERSONAL standards and view you not only have a right to tell her what to read but an obligation. Just be careful, some of these kids are crazy! However, I’m a 6ft+ 250+ black man that goes to the gym regularly with dreadz… I tend to get away with stuff that others don’t…:) I may get cussed out…but that’s about it if a gun or martial arts aren’t in the picture.
However this is where I disagree and my approach is different. It’s great period that someone so young is taking the time to read! By whose standard to we claim something to be great or terrible? “Citizen Kane”, is considered by some to be the greatest movie of all time. I personally couldn’t get past the first 20mins. And this isn’t because I don’t like old movies. One of my favorites, (You are reallllly going to laugh and think I’m crazy) is “Gone with the Wind.” I guess that’s because I’ve lived here in Georgia for nearly 20yrs. Some call it racist, classist, and what have you. But it really is a good movie with great acting and a classic, timeless story (By the way it’s a well kept secret that the author, Margret Mitchell was a benefactor of Morehouse College!) Fiddler on the Roof (1960’s) “Oklahoma!”, are some of my other favorites. Mark Twain is considered an American Classic, but there was a story less than a year back of a Black parent asking that one of his books be banned because of the way that blacks are depicted. Some of us can be almost too sensitive. Ignoring history doesn’t make it less hurtful or go away.
Young people have so many other options today. You have over a hundred channels on T.V., you have your video games, you have the internet, you have your stereo system, and magazine. That she had the attention span to even read an actual book is a good thing.
In the future, suggest that in addition to that book some other books. She’s probably interested in reading and never heard of the other books you mentioned.
You seem to be better as the “Phallicia Rashad” no non-sense mother and power attorney from the Cosby Show. Leave the arrogant-ness for me.:)
P.S. Terry started something but her writing aren’t all that!:) I’m sorry. Zora Hurston has a little more skill. I’ve read Michael Baysden’s books too. I like him but I was disappointed with the literature. Today in the 21st century there are that many people who can write exceptionally. We don’t have to anymore. Read the writings of people in the 19th or 18th century and there is DEFINITELY difference in the quality and caliber of words and feelings expressed in their writings. There are many surprises to literature. One of my favorite movies is “The Color Purple” I’ve seen it too many time and can recite too much of the dialogue by heart! When I read the book I was disappointed. Alice Walker put so much of the dialect in the poor black southern dialect that it was difficult to read and almost not engaging. She used words, “I”VE NEVER HEARD OF” and my grandmother was from MISSISSIPPI! I still don’t know what clabber is!
I'm sorry but could you elaborate your thesis about "hip hop is a virus" please? I agree that today's hip hop does not really represent the intelectual side of music but some rappers have shown great wisdom and racionality.
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