Friday Fire: What’s Your Favorite Book?
I
don’t know when exactly in my preteen years I read the Autobiography of Malcolm X initially, but it flipped my wig the second time I read it in my late teens. The world began to make sense. To be honest, I hated White people early on because of omnipresent imagery documenting the sadistic treatment of so many Fathers of Fathers before this nation was truly civilized. Remember, Roots affected Blacks like all get out in a way only Rosewood would hit me later. Malcolm gave my conscience a gun with a full clip. A defiant gun shouting down anyone patronizing the thoughts of my people with dismissive words just to appease their own solemn inferiority complex. When I read the epilogue a third time, his conversion to Orthodox Islam soothed my rage just enough to make sense of what the hell was going on around me as I entered my twenties. The relationships I built in high school with Whites gave me a new perspective more rounded in the genuine minds of others. This quote from Malcolm is how I would best describe where I am today: “We have to keep in mind at all times that we are not fighting for integration, nor are we fighting for separation. We are fighting for recognition as free humans in this society”.
Paul Robeson was the other.
What is your Favorite Book?
‘Cane Mutiny by Bruce Feldman. The story of the Miami Hurricanes football team from its start to Willie Williams.
I don’t think I can pick just one
Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neal Hurston
The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Alex Haley
The Philadelphia Negro by W.E.B. Du Bois
Smoke Signals by Sherman Alexie
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
Seat of the Soul by Gary Zukav
Wheel of Time by Carlos Castenada
Philadelphia Fire by John Wideman
Giant Steps by Kareem
The Tempest – Shakespeare
depending on what day you me…
“Becoming Dad” by Leonard Pitts, Jr.
Running From Safety by Richard Bach
another one:
Hooker by Lou Thesz.
jesus, miz… is next “Friday Fire” gonna be “who is your favorite child?”
Listen, I can’t do this exercise, so I will have to limit it to sports books, and even still can’t just name one. …in no particular order…
– “King of the World” (Ali) David Remnick
– “40 Million Dollar Slaves”, Rhoden
– Friday Night Lights, Buzz
– Anything by AJ Leibling
Best by former athletes
– “Ball Four”, Jim Bouton
– “Sting Like A Bee”, Jose Torres (R.I.P.)
– Floyd Patterson’s autobiography
– Anything by Kareem
Great thread and great lists.
Off the top of my head
“Invisible Man.”
“Song of Soloman.”
“Simple Justice.”
“Paradise Lost.”
“Othello.”
“The Fire Next Time.”
Nowhere Street (aka The Grand Parade..don’t know why it had two names) by Julian Mayfield
Your Blues Aint Like Mine by Bebe Moore Campbell
Jubilee by Margaret Walker
And all the Harry Potter books – yes I love Harry Potter….. do not start with me!
Oh! I almost forgot!
Black Like Me by John Howard Griffin…that was an awesome book!
1. Things Fall Apart
Things Fall Apart is a 1958 English-language novel by Nigerian author Chinua Achebe. (Nigeria’s language was turned to English after British settlers arrived) It is a staple book in schools throughout Africa and widely read and studied in English-speaking countries around the world. It is seen as the archetypal modern African novel in English, and one of the first African novels written in English to receive global critical acclaim.
2. Invisible Man
Invisible Man, a novel written by Ralph Waldo Ellison. It was the only novel that Ellison published during his lifetime, and it won him the National Book Award in 1953. The novel addresses many of the social and intellectual issues facing African-American identity, including the relationship between this identity and Marxism, black nationalism, and the reformist racial policies of Booker T. Washington.
3. To Kill a Mockingbird –Harper Lee
4. Sweat — Zora Neale Hurston
5. Make Me Want to Holler — Nathan McCall
6. Native Son– Richard Wright
Soul on Ice
Eldrige Cleaver
That book changed my world forever.
Black Betty by Walter Mosely
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
The Penis Manifesto by Jason O. Logan
Top 5
1. There Eyes Where Watching God- Zora Neale Hurston
2. Song of Solomon- Toni Morrison
3. To Kill A Mockingbrid- Harper Lee
4. Soul On Ice- Eldrige Cleaver
5. Autobiography of A Modern Prophet- Harold Klemp
i love football and lovestory that is why i like Friday Night Lights. .;:
I can’t pick just one, so here are a few of mine:
- Metu Neter, vol 1 – Ra Un Nefer Amen
- Metu Neter, vol 2 – Ra Un Nefer Amen
- Ancient Future – Wayne Chandler
- The Isis Papers – Dr. Frances Cress Welsing
- Stolen Legacy – George G.M. James
- Behold, a Pale Horse – William Cooper