Black Genius: Inspirational Portraits of African-American Leaders: Inspirational Portraits of America's Black Leaders - Softcover

Russell, Dick

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1602393699 ISBN 13: 9781602393691

Publisher: Skyhorse Publishing, 2009

Synopsis

Intimate, in-depth portraits, interviews, and essays of America's black leaders—from the founding of the nation and Frederick Douglass to the 2008 presidential race and Barack Obama. Each figure is interconnected with the next, exploring themes of family and intergenerational community, spirituality, and diligence, activism, and struggle. These remarkable portraits reveal the true spirit of the American pioneers who forged much of the heart of this nation, but whose achievements have been largely overlooked.

New York Times bestselling author Dick Russell examines the lives of musicians, civil rights leaders, philosophers, writers, and actors including Duke Ellington, Will Marion Cook, Louis Armstrong, Wynton Marsalis, Albert Murray, Ralph Ellison, Toni Morrison, and Romare Bearden. Concluding with a list of sources and suggested reading, this fascinating and vibrant look at American history is a must for any collection.

About this title

Review:

Black Genius, Dick Russell's panoramic tribute to the spirit and achievement of the black community, is at once a chronicle of and an oral recital by many of the African-American creators who stoked and influenced American culture. Mr. Russell does not beleaguer that oft-maligned term "genius," instead, crisscrossing disciplines and time, he offers an eloquent tapestry that weaves historical account, critical assessments, anecdotes, and a chorus of personal observations and testaments from living artists that dispels any doubt about his subjects' virtuosity or their sense of community. Working and reworking his central theme, Russell has created a vibrant narrative composition in which the stirring voices of black intellectuals and artists echo like soloists in an eloquent Ellington suite. --Mel Watkins, author of On the Real Side: The History of African-American Humor

Russell's work is a significant contribution to African-American studies. The connection he makes between James Baldwin and Fredrick Douglass, for example, is both relevant and highly perceptive. -- David Leeming, author of James Baldwin

Dick Russell melds exhaustive historical research with fresh and revealing contemporary interviews. The combination creates a window on African-American genius and geniuses that has never been opened. This is an astonishing book. --Richard Newman, Fellows Officer of the W.E.B. Du Bois Institute, Harvard University and author of Everybody Say Freedom: Everything You Need to Know About African-American History

tribute to the spirit and achievement of the black community, is at once a chronicle of and an oral recital by many of the African-American creators who stoked and influenced American culture. Mr. Russell does not beleaguer that oft-maligned term "genius," instead, crisscrossing disciplines and time, he offers an eloquent tapestry that weaves historical account, critical assessments, anecdotes, and a chorus of personal observations and testaments from living artists that dispels any doubt about his community. Working and reworking his central theme, Russell has created a vibrant narrative composition in which the stirring voices of black intellectuals and artists echo like soloists in an eloquent Ellington suite. --Mel Watkins, author of On the Real Side: The History of African-American Humor

African-American studies. The connection he makes between James Baldwin and Fredrick Douglass, for example, is both relevant and highly perceptive. -- David Leeming, author of James Baldwin

From the Author:

"Black Genius" - a lineage of the American spirit
"Black Genius" is not a book about race, but about spirit - American pioneers who forged much of the heart of this nation, but whose achievements have been largely overlooked. The book does not follow a linear form, because it's really a tale of lineage - the vitality of relationships, how things are passed on from one generation to the next. I found the necessity of having a sense of community particularly true among these African-Americans. Perhaps this is their great lesson for today's highly individualistic, materialistic culture. I followed a thread in writing this book that led me from one remarkable person to another. It was not only a great privilege, but a life-changing experience, to have the opportunity to meet some of the living giants: people like Gordon Parks, Albert Murray, Jacob Lawrence, Elma Lewis, and many more. In "Black Genius," I bear witness to their voices and wisdom. It is my hope that the book will eventually find its way into school curriculums, as today's young people need to realize that through discipline, struggle, and above all working together, one's individual talents can realize their fullest potential. I have been disappointed that the major media have largely ignored "Black Genius." I wonder if perhaps it is because celebratory books are not "in vogue" these days. Or perhaps it is not "politically correct" for a white American to write about this subject. I would welcome any thoughts from readers.

About this edition

• Publisher: Skyhorse Publishing
• Publication date: 2009
• ISBN 10: 1602393699
• ISBN 13: 9781602393691
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 512