How many Black Americas are there?

What a wonderful group Tuesday night for The Warmth of Other Suns! I was delighted and honored to welcome so many people for such a fruitful and wide ranging discussion. If you know anyone who missed it and would like to attend the North Branch discussion on January 26th, they can call North at 847-866-0331 or register here.

Next month's book is Eugene Robinson's Disintegration: The Splintering of Black America, a fascinating look at what he sees as a fragmented African American population comprised of 4 distinct cultural communities: The Transcendents (celebrities so rich and famous that race no longer touches them); the Mainstream (think Cosby show); the Abandoned (ghetto, underclass, urban poor); and the Emergents, recent African and Caribbean immigrants and biracials. Robinson, a Washington Post columnist, observes that not only do these groups differ culturally, but that their political and social interests are no longer the same, and may in fact be in conflict. Covering everything from affirmative action to black fraternity stylings, this is an intriguing read, with much to discuss.

Registration is now open! Call 847-448-8620 or go to our online calendar to reserve a copy. See you on Tuesday January 17th!

More on The Great Migration

Tomorrow night is the big event! I am so looking forward to discussing Isabel Wilkerson's The Warmth of Other Suns with everyone. Although Wilkerson's book has been acclaimed as the most comprehensive look yet at the Great Migration, hers is far from the only book on the subject. I've put together a list of other works on the Great Migration, including some for children. All of these are available at the Evanston Public Library. Interestingly, few of the major works (by adults) on the topic were written by African American authors.

Enjoy! And I look forward to seeing everyone tomorrow night!

Lesley

Celebrating African American Women in the Comics

Head over to the Madame Noire blog for some fun facts about the Ormes Society, named for Jackie Ormes, the first black woman cartoonist. There are quite a few talented sistahs drawing comics these days, and the Ormes Society promotes their work, and the inclusion of women of color as characters and creators in the comics industry.

I'd never heard of Ormes until recently. She drew and illustrated comics and editorial cartoons for African American newspapers in the 1930s-60s, using her pen to fight for black civil rights. Her beloved character Torchy Brown, who debuted as a Harlem teenager in 1937 in the series "From Dixie to Harlem" embodied the struggles and accomplishments of the Great Migration, while the wise cracking Patty Jo and Ginger commented slyly on the racial struggles of the Cold War era.You can learn more about Ormes and her creations on the Jackie Ormes website, or in this richly illustrated biography.

In Motion: African American Migration

I hope everyone is enjoying The Warmth of Other Suns as much as I am. Learning so much about the world and experiences of people like my parents has been fascinating.

I've already recommended Isabel Wilkerson's website, with its photos of the Gladneys, Fosters, and Starlings, and video interviews with Wilkerson on her research for the book.. If you'd like to learn even more about the Great Migration, take a look at the Schomburg Library's online exhibit: In Motion: The African American Migration Experience. You'll find newspaper articles, photos, maps, and excerpts from reference books that help put Wilkerson's book in perspective. The site also covers other migratory periods for African Americans, from the slave trade through recent African and Caribbean immigration to the United States.

See you on December 13th!

African American fantasy writers

Lord of the Rings. Game of Thrones. Narnia. All are wildly popular fantasy series set in alternate worlds that re-create ancient or medieval Europe. Yet who says fantasy is the unique domain of Teutonic or Norse inspired myths?

Not N.K. Jemisin or David Anthony Durham. Both are African American authors writing in the high fantasy tradition. Jemisin, creator of the Inheritance Trilogy, creates complex mythologies involving characters living at the margins of their societies. Durham, author of the Acacia Trilogy, takes a similarly inventive look at the brutality and moral ambiguity in great empires. Both authors feature multi-racial casts of characters, and deal with the ethics of slavery and cultural subjugation. For an excellent article on these two writers, and other African Americans in fantasy, see Laura Miller's piece, "If Tolkien Were Black", in the current Salon magazine. And take a look at EPL's list of Africa and African Americans in Science Fiction for more reading ideas!

New From Lorene Cary

Another great discussion Tuesday night! We were happy to welcome 2 new participants, who brought their own memories and impressions of the young Muhammad Ali to the conversation. Thanks brothers!

Next month, we'll be doing Isabelle Wilkerson's award winning The Warmth of Other Sons, so start registering to get your copy! We'll meet on December 13th at 7:00.

I've been digging around for new African American authors, and rediscovered an old favorite, Lorene Cary. Her 1992 memoir Black Ice brought home the painful challenges of her experience as a black teen  integrating a white, primarily male eastern prep school. She followed it up with Pride a novel expolring the friendships between four high achieving African American women.

Her latest, If Sons, Then Heirs , tells "a complex story of family, race, and the challenges of reconciling the present with a persistent past". Issues of property, attachment to land, and racist inheritance laws all play a role in this gripping family drama. Cary give us plenty to think about!

Updates: King of the World, Silver Sparrow, The Warmth of Other Suns

Greetings, AAL fans! I look forward to seeing all of you next Tuesday night, November 8th for our discussion of King of the World. As usual we will be meeting in the Small Meeting room on the 1^st floor, near the east door.

  If you’re not very familiar with boxing (I sure wasn’t!)   you might want to watch some of the videos of the Ali/Liston fight, available for free on YouTube. Here’s a good one, which also has interviews with Jimmy Cannon, Angelo Dundee, and others who appear in the book: 

 Last weekend I had the enormous pleasure of discussing our April book, Silver Sparrow, with the author, Tayari Jones on Blacklit chat. The discussion has been archived and is well worth reading.  Lots of great insights into the motivations of Jones’ well-drawn, complicated characters. Ms Jones has a discussion guide on her website as well.

Up next in December: Isabelle Wilkerson's award winning account of the Great Migration north, The Warmth of Other Suns. There's an online discussion guide , and Ms Wilkerson has a wonderful web site with reviews, more discussion questions, video clips, and historical details. 

Happy reading!