African-American?  Really?
356753
How strange that this is so wrong-footed.  The African-American women here are made to look extremely light-skinned and European.  Even Vanessa Williams herein resembles the stereotypical Swedish blonde.  This won't let white kids know that many black folks happen to be dark, and kids of color probably won't get much pride from the images either.
294611
Gut-wrenching to watch, mainly because it rang so true. I can only hope that my relatives from Georgia before and after the War between the States were among the people who never owned or dealt with slaves, any of the indentured servants or the renting out of African-American prisoners.  I'm pretty sure that the Veals in my direct line were not involved, but even having said that, my genealogy research has found dozens of African-Americans in U.S. Census records who bear my surname.  In Alabama, this year (2015), I intentionally visited a black woman in Alabama with whom I share the exact same surname, Veal.  We talked for about 2 hours or more on her front porch.  She told me that she'd never met a white person with the surname Veal.  I told her that likewise I'd never met an African-American with the surname Veal, though I did know that there were probably hundreds in census records in Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana and probably many other states.  While trying to find this woman (who was about my age) I went to several homes in that area of Alabama, where I'd learned that other black Veal families had lived at one time or another.  I found no other Veals in that area, but everyone I talked to was extremely friendly and as helpful as they could.  In most cases, they invited me in there homes and we talked for an hour or more.
1113575
I read and studied J.A. Rogers books the most during a period of time when I was obsessed with blackness.  As a black man in america, I don't think being obsessed with blackness is anything to be ashamed of however.  It's simply a reaction to racism.
In this second volume, Roger's focuses on the new world and shows that the inhabitants of the americas are far from being pure racially.  As discussed in the previous volume, race mixing with blacks took place all over Europe.  In the new world however, whites not only mixed with blacks but also with the indigenous peoples of the americas including the caribbean.  Also, there is good reason to believe that some of the indigenous peoples of the americas were already somewhat mixed before the europeans arrived.  The one thing which I really like about J.A. Rogers books is the fact that he is not afraid to confront certain issues which are embarrasing to most whites even today.
Did you ever wonder why some black people from the caribbean and south and central america don't like being called black?  Some will say because they aren't black, they are Spanish or Brazilian.  Based on historical evidence Roger's points out that the blacks of the caribbean and south and central america are just as "black" as the blacks in america.  It's just that some of them may look different because race mixing took place in different degrees in different areas.
Unfortuantely, the issue of race mixing is a very touchy issue, so a lot that is in books like this cannot be talked about without angering people unless you're in some sort of "radical" black group.  Therefore, much of what is contained in this book should be kept to oneself.  Regardless of what country someone is from, they don't like being told that they are of black african ancestry.  Most "non-whites" will say they simply don't care and are irritated by the topic.
4939779
TO ALL THE PREVIOUS READER RESPONSES.......before you degrade the validity of this book, please remmember what the authors are trying to make us as readers realize. Even though not EVERYTHING in this book is 100% true, and although it SEEMS that the authors are slamming the idea of "success" in america, they are right in saying that these so called Uncle Toms or "sellouts" are not using their positions as powerful and popular figures in the black community and abroad to explode the reality of WHITE SUPREMACY in this country. The book is not saying that just because they are successful that they are Uncle Toms, it is saying so because they do not address the fact that we as a Black community are still being controled and manipilated by the same forces and powers that give these figures their salaries and status. True, people like Oprah and Bill Cosby have done many great things with their careers for all people, but they are still operating within their bondaries as the figures they are. If one of these prominent black figures had the audacity to speak out against the real history of this country dealing with the holocaust against black people and it's 400 year history and HOW TO REVERSE IT, their credibility AND their status, finances, positions and all would be virtually stripped away from them by the SAME corporations, financers and institutions that not only have an influential hand in their present status, but were a part of the mental degradation of black people when this all started. THAT is why some of these names are in this book. Look past the fact that they all don't live in the ghetto or don't speak slang, and pay attention to their role (or lack thereof) in working so that black people will no longer be associated with these things, as well as re-define the meaning of black people being "successful" as a WHOLE and not only as individuals.
3984637
Robinson, like others of his generation, Hyma, Wells, and Toynbee, believed that Egyptians were sun tanned Caucasians.
Once you break that code, Robinson's book is seen as Afrocentric.
He identifies the Ionians as a mixed race of early migrants to Crete with close connection to Egypt.
Who were Ionians? Socrates, Aristotle, Pythagoras, Thales, and Homer.
His book is full of goodies. Mine is well marked with too many pages turned down for later reading.
1479229
A valuable autobiography from an African-American born into a materially poor family in 1936, and who faced much racism in his younger days, but has become a successful economics professor and syndicated columnist. However, his family was not poor in non-material ways, since he was blessed with a mother who instilled strong character and accepted no excuses.  Dr Williams is also grateful to teachers who set high standards, and says I am glad that I got my education before it became fashionable to like black peopleat least everyone knows my qualifications are real. Williams also learned the value of work early on, as well as the roadblocks that governments, in collusion with unions, put in the way of young people today, e.g. with minimum wage law.

Later, Williams served in the military, which still discriminated against "negroes".  Williams won some important battles, both by winning against a frivolous court martial, and by pointing out that racism contradicted America's ideals and what America should be fighting for in Korea at the time.

After his honorable discharge, Williams earned an economics doctorate, and was again grateful to professors who set high standards and made no allowances for race.  When he became a professor, he strongly denounced affirmative action, featuring in a 1975 headline, Racism? Temple professor opposes easy grades for blacks. Dr Williams pointed out that fraudulent grades denied blacks an honest assessment, fostered a patronizing attitude among white students and professors, and hurt blacks who earned their high grades honestly by casting suspicion on black grades.

Williams also flabbergasted audiences with comments on slavery. He of course denounced slavery as reprehensible, but it is a reprehensibility of which all races have been both guilty and victims. But then, both victims and perpetrators of slavery are dead, and nothing can be done about that; people alive today are neither villains to be punished nor victims to be compensated.  Then the crux of his argument:while it was horrible that his ancestors were enslaved, their slavery made it possible for him, Dr Walter E. Williams, to be born in America with all its great opportunities, far greater than in any African country.
2427348
This is an intriguing book, but not for the reasons the author intended.  It is a report of  his experiences in Mississippi during the late 80's and mid-90's.  As one would expect, he sees firsthand the racism present in Mississippi and is shocked.  If that is all it was, I would write it off as a superbly written but clichd account of black-white relationships in Mississippi.
But I do have other experiences with the South.  I grew up on the Mason-Dixon among migrants from the coal-country of West Virginia, have lived in the South, married into a family from East Texas, and have had several close friends who grew up black and poor in Mississippi.  The latter weren't the kind of friends have over for dinner, they were the kind of friend who make you the godparent of their children and the beneficiary of their life insurance.  I'm not bothered by the accuracy of Mr. Rubin's observations - most of the incidents that he termed racist probably were racist  although there was probably more gray than he sees - it's just that I would read a more serious treatment of the subject if I wanted to read about racism in the New South.
The aspect of the book I found interesting is that my experience was almost the inverse of his.  In the late 80's I had had too much experience with racism (including an attempt by coworkers to hang me from a construction crane by my feet for being too friendly with the blacks on the job), but was utterly nave about the east coast.  In 1986 this "nave" Midwesterner moved to Philadelphia and joined the research faculty of the University of Pennsylvania, where Richard Rubin was finishing up his undergraduate degree.  I worked in a group that was almost entirely Jewish.  Within a week I was informed that I was indelibly stained by racism because of where I was born.  Then things started to happen.  There was a party given by the staff members.  Everyone was invited but the black secretary.  I joined the town-watch and began patrolling the neighborhood with a black partner.  At least once an evening someone would shout a racial slur or make a threatening comment.  One morning one of the black secretaries ran over and hugged me.  It seems that I had been seated next to another black secretary's husband at a wedding and successfully held a normal conversation with him.  That was apparently unexpected. Overall my experience was that racism in Philadelphia was subtle, pervasive, and intense.

When I read this book, I constantly wondered how someone from this environment could be so utterly blind to the racism at his own roots while condemning Mississippi.  This book is an excellent example of a clueless, arrogant Ivy League product pointing his finger at the faults of others while ignoring those in his backyard.  This is a must read if you are interested in an example of the source of the ongoing pervasiveness of racial discord in this country.  I am glad that I borrowed it rather than bought it.
1298031
It's not too often that I come across an african american protagonist that I can relate to.  This is the type of book that any one (teen or adult) could get into and quickly lose themselves.  Now on one hand it reads as something I've read before (teen from the wrong side of the tracks trying to forge an identity in an upper class world) but the writer writes from a "black" perspective if that makes sense.  Too "black" for the white students (exposing common stereotypes that many blacks combat on a daily basis) but too "white" for the lower middle class neighborhood.  I am interested to see how more stories will evolve after the first since I did not see any openings for more novel.
516623
I'm conflicted. I loved Half of a Yellow Sun, and I desperately wanted to like this book as well. As a black woman, who has had the opportunity to travel abroad, and to also interact on a familial label with non-American blacks/Africans, I was interested in reading an honest exploration of an African experience as an immigrant in this country. And while I just about nearly agreed with all of the book's blog postings on race in America, I felt like the author should have either decided to write a book of blog posts, or to write a love story about two African immigrants and their experiences abroad. There was a non-harmonious existence of these two themes within this book. It was unbalanced, and to some degree unfair. Unfair because the main female character Ifemelu did not come off as likable in any way. Instead she was judgemental, selfish, staid, and uninterested in participating in the American experience. Instead I felt that she was more comfortable in cloaking herself in indifference for the sake of observation...and perhaps that was the point? She dismiss d the feelings of others, dispatching with them from her life with what appear d as little care for them at all. What did Curt and Blaine have to do for her to stay with them? How flippant she was. The boyfriend, Blaine, hints at this, so perhaps the author intended this. At any rate it did not endear me to her, or to want to champion her American experience as true and with merit. I did like Obinze with his earnestness to learn about others, but not enough time was given to him in the story. All in all I want as fairly disappointed with the book, but will hold onto the nuggets of honesty the blog posts provided.
1526384
One of the main breakdowns between black and white communities is that White folks look at behavior. Black folks look at behavior through history, circumstances, environment, resources, and culture... seemingly unacceptable filters defined as emotional excuses. No one knows US/World history nor cares about Jim Crow and Reconstruction ... just a generation ago. The audacity that a People who have never been left alone should just snap out of a Maafa war and accept inequality is ever palpable. It comes from a bitter, devious, and paranoid place - mouths that cry, "liberty for all" and talk of democracy but are imperialistic in belief and policy.

Someone said this was a companion piece to Alexander's, NEW JIM CROW. It would be... if it took proper accountability for Mandatory Minimums. There is no history about the inception of American police. The criticism of Black/Brown "behavior" conveniently leaves out the vile, inhumane nature of those so attached to a hue and economics, they have no use for humanity and need to consistently look at decimated neighborhoods, but never look in the mirror or at their family trees. The FACT of the matter is, police caught slaves. Slaves were property and sources of income. And as long as this land has been named America, she has never run without free and cheap labor... and she never will.
2472029
I'm a Union man, as in labor union and Abraham Lincoln's union. This book didn't change my mind.

Walter D. Kennedy is a member of the controversial League of the South, a "neo-Confederate" group that demands Southern independence. He is also co-author of the books "The South was right" and "Why not freedom". Kennedy constantly tries to prove that the Confederacy wasn't racist, and didn't wage war to defend slavery. So how come the League of the South wants to prohibit Blacks to wear arms in a future independent South? How come Kennedy wants to disenfranchise poor people? Read: mostly Blacks. Perhaps because the "new" South will be like...the Old South?

In this book, Kennedy defends the South by pointing out that slavery also existed in the North. But this is irrelevant. When the Civil War started, slavery had been abolished in the North but was still thriving in the South. The few slave states that supported the Union soon abolished slavery as well. Kennedy further claims that there were Black slave-owners in the South, not just White ones. First, most of these "Black" slave-owners were actually mulattoes, considered to be a kind of middle group, especially in Louisiana. Second, the total number of "Black" slave-owners was very small. Third, all slaves were Black! Kennedy attempts to prove that Blacks had White slaves, but fails completely. Of course he does. The claim is absurd. The truth is that all Whites in the South were free, most slave-owners were White, while most Blacks were slaves!!

Kennedy then points out that slavery has existed in every society through-out history, including in Africa. Quite true, but irrelevant. Once again: by 1859, the North had abolished slavery, not the South. Kennedy also writes that historically, color-blind slavery was the norm. For instance, Africans enslaved other Africans, White Europeans enslaved other White Europeans etc. Once again true but irrelevant. In the Old South, slavery was based on color: Whites very specifically enslaved Blacks. The exceptions were very few.

Note also that the South wanted to spread slavery to the Western territories, that the constitution of the Confederacy enshrined slavery, and that Jefferson Davies responded to Lincoln's Emancipation Declaration by threatening to enslave all Blacks even in the North, in the case of a Confederate victory. Note also that slavery was abolished in the South only when the North smashed the rebels.

Then, draw your own conclusions.
808537
One of the most culturally significant books: a compendium of African-American history unspoken and untold. This book exposes the ethnocentric falsehoods and stark contradictions of the great American myth. Columbus was, in fact, greeted with tangible evidence of an African presence. If you have ever had suspicions about the why there are EGYPTIAN PYRAMIDS IN CENTRAL AMERICA, this is you book! Ancient Aliens were not extraterrestrialthey were African. Now everything makes sense!
2230188
I would agree that this cute boy's complexion is darker than pictured (less orange-y, more brown), but I think it's a jump to say he looks straight up African American (and there were some awfully rude comments in other reviews about how "black" he looks, as if a black doll was such a problem). I think he's a nice representation of a biracial child. I like how plain the features are - he could represent many ethnicities, and I think he should be marketed that way instead of so specifically that folks get so inappropriately disappointed when he doesn't look JUST LIKE the child they're buying for.
322333
I Sir, would like to point out that you have made an erroneous error of My Families Name.  You Listed William Blackstone Johnston (My 3rd Gr-grand) as a large slaver owner, and The Owner of The Johnston-Hay House in Macon.  The actual real person you should of wrote was: William Butler Johnston.  He built the well known Johnston-Hay Home.  This has lead to many other incorrect pages on the Web, listing My William Blackstone Johnston, again as this owner.

I am very well versed in Georgia History, and you do not have enough space here, for me to write the TRUE Account of Georgia, before and after The Complete Destruction of this Beautiful State in 1864., AND of how ALL the People, White, Black, Indian..all Southern Folks, Starved, lost their Families, Lands due to The Ruthless Union Army, and after the War to The Federals during "Reconstruction".  Also, for your FYI, Many, if not Most of the Black Folks, all other Skin Color Slaves, did in fact return to their former Lands, to live out the rest of their Lives., working with their former Masters and their Families together, to rebuild what was stolen, from them.
Also, look up The Most Distinguished Professor Walter E. Williams, (who is a Black Man), and his excellent writings of the Un-Civil War.

Do yourselves a Favor and read about the Hundreds of Black Folks who drowned, by plunging into Ebenezer Creek, after following the Union Army to Savannah..The Union Army took out a Pontoon Bridge, knowing Black Folks following them, would drown., on their way to Savannah.  There is now an Official Georgia Highway Marker, dedicated to these Folks.

BETRAYAL AT EBENEZER CREEK:

Thousands of fugitive slaves watched in horror as the Union army abandoned them. Then came catastrophe-and excuses.

Union Army Brigadier General Jefferson C. Davis had few complaints about the able-bodied black men who were supplying the muscle and sweat to keep his Union XIV Corps on the move with Major General William T. Sherman's 62,000-man army. The black "pioneers" were making the sandy roads passable for heavy wagons and removing obstacles that Rebel troops had placed in his path. You can find the Marker dedication recently online.

I hope during my Lifetime, more People will be Educated on Lincoln, and his "Unnecessary War".

Signed, A Proud Five Time Georgia Confederate Grand Daughter.
4830373
Those who subscribe to Mr. Robinson's views on this country and its supposed debt to blacks should ask themselves some hard questions.  A. While Europeans transported slaves across the Atlantic, who went into the interior and captured them?  In Roots, Kunta Kente is captured by 3 individuals, of whom at least 2 appear to be of African origin.  Slave-dealing was a 2-way operation.  B. What countries still practice slavery today?  Sudan.  C. Who designed the system of government that eventually freed black America from its enslavement?  White guys, a large number of whom were slave-owners.  D. Why, for every Rodney King, is there an O.J. Simpson?  If America is so psychologically damaging to blacks, why was Marcus Garvey's Back to Africa movement such a flop, especially considering it occured in the 20's, a far harsher time for black Americans than today?  I can't answer that one.  Bottom line-superb writing, idiotic premise.
1290139
Loewen is purely guilty of taking everything about the continent of Africa and wrongly presuming it all 100% relates to black people. Maybe he didn't actually know the dna studies of people like Egyptians or Libyans shows them to be more akin to white middle-eastern folks than sub-saharan african ones but he more for sure knew of a fanatical Libyan leader named Khadafi! Was Khadafi anywhere near as black-skinned as, say, Sydney Poitier, Loewen? No the native born-Libyan wasn't in the slightest! In fact Libyan-born Khadafi was quite southern-European looking. So yes the book is certainly and deliberately somewhat garbagy just for the overplay by the author on the subject of africans-are-always-black-people. Thank you to the reviewer who pointed this out previously. You have by far the best take on the worst thing about this book and it's author.
1079246
Not the greatest depiction of Black people in DC. The author did his research but missed the mark on a few things. No one in DC calls them corn braids.....cornrows or rolls yes....but not braids. Naomi would not call her uncle by his fist name alone.....he would be Uncle Alex. And why does Sampson call Alex sugar....nope....not even. There were other things but.....yo get the gist.