The Color Line Revisited
Celebrate Black History Month With 66 New Books

By Ann Burns With Barbara Hoffert

Ann Burns is Associate Editor and Barbara Hoffert is Editor, Library Journal Book Review

Reprinted from Library Journal, November 1, 2002, ©2001 by Reed Publishing; USA, Div. of Reed Holdings Inc.

W.E.B. DuBois said it best when he offered his famous assessment in The Souls of Black Folk: "the problem of the twentieth century is the problem of the color line." As evidenced by our current crop of 66 titles, that problem still exists in the hearts of many, making it all the more appropriate that the theme for Black History month in February 2002 is "The Color Line Revisited: Is Racism Dead?" Politics aside, one hopes that librarians will find these works by Bill Cosby, Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, Quincy Jones, Patti LaBelle, and other, lesser-known authors valuable for their collections.

Arts

» Agins, Michelle V. (photogs.) & Julia Chance (text). Sisterfriends: Portraits of Sisterly Love. Pocket. Nov. 2001. c.192p. photogs. ISBN 0-671-03713-7. $28.50. PHOTOG

     In this celebration of sisterhood, photographer Agins and Chance (coauthor, Fine Beauty) present moving, sometimes funny stories and portraits of black women who are either related by blood or are close friends, including actress Jasmine Guy, writer bell hooks, and singer Mary J. Blige and their sisters.

» Koolish, Lynda. African American Writers: Portraits and Visions. Univ. Pr. of Mississippi. Nov. 2001. c. 136p. photogs. LC 2001045593. ISBN 1-57806-258-6. $40. PHOTOG

     Koolish (English, San Diego State Univ.), whose work has appeared in many exhibitions, presents 59 black-and-white photographs, along with short biographies, of famous and not-so-famous authors representing the diversity within African American literature. These portraits give viewers the chance to visit with the likes of Maya Angelou, Gwendolyn Brooks, Ernest J. Gaines, and Randall Kenan.

» Smith, Matthew Jordan (photogs.) & Dionne Bennett (text). Sepia Dreams: A Celebration of Black Achievement Through Words and Images. St. Martin's. Nov. 2001. c.224p. photogs. ISBN 0-312-27817-9. $29.95. PHOTOG

     Stunning photographs highlight this gallery of African American superstars from the worlds of film, television, music, and other performing arts. Interviewed by photographer Smith, these celebrities (who include Smokey Robinson, Lena Horne, Samuel Jackson, and Halle Berry) share their dreams, fears, and hopes for the future.

Biography

» Frady, Marshall. Martin Luther King, Jr.: A Penguin Life. Viking. Jan. 2002. c.216p. ISBN 0-670-88231-3. $19.95. BIOG

     As part of Penguin's compact new series, veteran journalist Frady paints a revealing portrait of the late civil rights leader, trac ing King's rise to fame, his relationship with the Kennedy brothers, his infidelity, the attempts on his life, and J. Edgar Hoover's relentless pursuit of him.

» Oliver, Kitty. Multicolored Memories of a Black Southern Girl. Univ. Pr. of Kentucky. (Women in Southern Culture). 2001. c. 196p. permanent paper. photogs. ISBN 0-8131-2208-2. $25. AUTOBIOG

     Oliver Choices of America), one of 35 African Americans to integrate the University of Florida in 1965, shares her college experiences in Gainesville, traces her Gullah roots in South Carolina, and offers lively stories of her family -- all enhanced by large doses of Southern folktales, food, and music.

Child Rearing

» Harris, Phyllis Y. From the Soul: Stories of Black Parents and the Lives They Gave Us. Putnam. 2001. c.256p. permanent paper. photogs. LC 2001019323. ISBN 0-399-14706-3. $24.95. CHILD REARING

     In this celebration of the black family, child advocate Harris has collected true stories from adult children paying homage to the mothers and fathers who in stilled in them self-respect, confidence, and strong values. (LJ 10/15/01)

» Hrabowski, Freeman A. & others. Overcoming the Odds: Raising Academically Successful African American Young Women. Oxford Univ. Feb. 2002. c.240p. index. LC 2001032152. ISBN 0-19-512642-4. $25. CHILD REARING

     Hrabowski, president of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and his three coauthors examine the families and lives of high-achieving young black women who have avoided certain pitfalls -- being placed in low-level classes, dropping out of school, or getting pregnant -- and have gone on to become scientists, engineers, and physicians.

» Winbush, Raymond A. The Warrior Method: A Program for Rearing Healthy Black Boys. Amistad: HarperCollins. 2001. c.256p. permanent paper. index. LC 2001022335. ISBN 0-380-97507-6. $25. CHILD REARING

     Hillary Clinton isn't the only one to have made use of the old African proverb, "It takes a village to raise a child." Winbush (social justice, Fisk Univ.) draws on this wisdom to create a plan, based on the secret Poro Societies of West Africa, for raising young black men to become warriors against discrimination, racism, drugs, and crime.

Communications

» The Black Press: New Literary and Historical Essays. Rutgers Univ. Dec. 2001. c.256p. ed. by Todd Vogel. index. LC 2001019292. ISBN 0-8135-3004-0. $59: pap. ISBN 0-8135-3005-9. $22. COMM

     From the antebellum years, when abolitionist Frederick Douglass gained prominence, through the Harlem Renaissance, which boasted the likes of poet/novelist Langston Hughes, to the birth of magazines like Negro Digest and Ebony in post-World War II America, black publications have always flourished. This scholarly collection tracks their history.

Economics

» Bell, Gregory S. In the Black: A History of African Americans on Wall Street. Wiley. Jan. 2002. c.273p. ISBN 0-471-40392-X. $24.95. BUS

     Bell is a former silent partner of Daniels & Bell whose grandfather was a brokerage clerk in the 1950s and 1960s. Inspired by his grandfather's story, he focuses on early pioneers in the securities industry -- in cluding a lumber merchant who was the largest shareholder in a thrift bank -- to show how they helped open up a community that was sealed to African Americans until the early 20th century.

» Brown, Jesse B. Pay Yourself First: The African American Guide to Financial Success and Security. Amber: Wiley. Nov. 2001. c.216p. index. ISBN0-471-15897-6. pap. $14.95. FINANCE

     For the first-time investor -- or, for that matter, anyone who makes $30,000 dollars and under -- investment manager Brown delivers the fundamentals of buying stocks and bonds, buying a house, planning for college tuition, and opening a savings account.

» Miller, Melvin B. How To Get Rich When You Ain't Got Nothing: The African-American Guide to Gaining and Building Wealth. Amber. Nov. 2001. c.125p. ISBN 0-9702224-8-3. pap. $14.95. ECON

     According to Miller, a director of the Boston Bank of Commerce, getting rich takes discipline, determination, and a plan. He outlines the steps necessary to obtain the wealth one wants, which include determining the level of income desired, preparing a detailed budget, and counting your pennies.

Education

» Hale, Janice E. Learning While Black: Creating Educational Excellence for African American Children. Johns Hopkins. Dec. 2001. c.210p. permanent paper. illus. index. LC 2001000582. ISBN 0-8018-6775-4. $45; pap. ISBN 0-8018-6776-2. $15.95. ED

     In this challenging book, Hale (early childhood education, Wayne State Univ.) cites persistent teacher shortages, inadequate materials and facilities, and the lack of accountability among administrators as factors contributing to continual academic failure among low-income children in predominantly black public schools. To counter this situation, she proposes the concepts of "being in the family, creating the village, and striving for the beloved community."

Fiction

» Butler, Tajuana "TJ" Hand-Me-Down Heartache. Villard: Random. 2001. c.224p. ISBN 0-375-50605-5. $22.95. F

     In this follow-up to Sorority Sisters, recent college grad Nina is torn between two men: the NBA hunk who treats her as badly as her father treated her mother and the upcoming rapper who has worshipped her since high school.

» Channer, Colin. Satisfy My Soul. One World: Ballantine. Feb. 2002. c.352p. ISBN 0-345-43789-6. $19.95. F

     At the heart of Charmer's second novel (after Waiting in Vain) is a journey of self-discovery, undertaken by playwright Carey McCullough when he meets Frances, a former singer.

» Clair, Maxine. October Suite. Random. 2001. c.336p. ISBN 0-375-50630-6. $23.95. F

     Clair's assured debut -- after the shining success of her story collection, Rattlebone -- bristles with the tension between October Brown and the sister to whom she reluctantly relinquished her baby. (LJ 7/01)

» Grooms, Anthony. Bombingham. Free Pr. 2001. c.320p. ISBN 0-7432-0558-8. $23. F

     Like his soon-to-be-hardened young protagonist, Groom's powerful debut is caught between violence in segregated Birmingham in the Sixties and a family's dissolution as the mother slowly succumbs to cancer. (LJ 8/01)

» Howard, Tracie & Danita Carter. Revenge Is Best Served Cold. NAL: Penguin. 2001. c.277p. pap. ISBN 0-451-20475-1. $12.95. F

     Morgan and Dakota have it all: the right men, the right attitude, and the right jobs on Wall Street. But their good fortune is threatened by a new partner straight from old money -- and from hell. Howard, former director of sales for American Express, and securities trader Carter know the territory.

» Johnson, Freddie Lee. Bittersweet. One World: Ballantine. Jan. 2002. c.384p. ISBN 0-345-44596-1. $23.95. F

     In yet another promising debut, three African American men grapple with very different problems -- all concerning affairs of the heart.

» Johnson, RM. The Harris Family. S. & S. Nov. 2001. c.352p. ISBN 0-7432-1600-8. $23. F

     In Johnson's second novel, a sequel to The Harris Men, a father who walked out on his three sons 25 years earlier strives for reconciliation.

» LeBlanc, Whitney. Blues in the Wind. River City, PO Box 551, Montgomery, AL 36101. Feb. 2002. c.300p. ISBN 0-913515-47-7. $23.95. F

     LeBlanc, a stained-glass artist, ventures into 1930s Louisiana, where we meet a remarkable cast of characters that includes not only the Creole family of Philip and Martha Ferguson but blues legends like Leadbelly, B.B. King, and more.

» McFadden, Bernice. This Bitter Earth. Dutton. Feb. 2002. c.288p. ISBN 0-525-94636-5. $23.95. F

     McFadden continues the story of Sugar Lacey (Sugar), who has a shocking revelation about unrequited love, one man's hatred, and the black magic that has cursed generations.

» McLarin, Kim. Meeting of the Waters. Morrow. Nov. 2001. c.352p. ISBN 0-688-16905-8. $24. F

     During the violence that followed the Rodney King trial, white journalist Porter Stockman is saved by a black woman who turns up later as a new reporter at his paper. Sparks fly, but the path of biracial love is never easy. (LJ 10/15/01)

» Murray, Victoria Christopher. Joy. Walk Worthy: Warner. Nov. 2001. c.373p. ISBN 0-446-52875-7. $23.95. F

     The rapist who's been stalking Anya finally attacks her in her office, forcing her into a momentous decision that could, in fact, lead to joy. Murray's second novel after her successful Temptation, this work is being published as part of a joint venture between Walk Worthy and Warner aimed at the African American Christian market.

» Nailah, Anika. Free. Doubleday. Jan. 2002. c.224p. ISBN 0-385-50293-1. $21.95. F

     The director of Books of Hope, a program that encourages young writers, Nailah has taken her own advice and published this fresh collection of socially informed stories. Readers will recognize her work from African American newspapers like Flare.

» Parsons, Alexander. Leaving Disneyland. Thomas Dunne Bks: St. Martin's. 2001. c.256p. ISBN 0-312-27855-1. $23.95. F

     In this harrowing debut novel, Doc Kane struggles to get out of prison on parole after having served 16 years of a 20-year murder sentence. But when he's released, his struggle continues -- his family has left him, and he begins dealing heroin again.

» Phillips, Gary. Shooter's Point. Dafina: Kensington. 2001. c.256p. ISBN 1-57566-682-0. $22. F

     Phillips is a good enough mystery writer to receive praise from the likes of Walter Mosley and Sara Paretsky, so mystery fans should pay attention to this tale of murder that happens smack in the middle of a heavyweight bout in Las Vegas.

» Robinson, C. Kelly. Between Brothers. Strivers Row: Villard: Random. 2001. c.480p. ISBN 0-375-75772-4. pap. $13.95. F

     In this debut, four very different young men come together, but they have a common goal: to save a struggling community center that's just lost federal funding.

Health

» Smith, George Edmond, M.D. Weight Loss for African-American Women: An Eight Week Guide to Better Health. Hilton. Nov. 2001. c.357p. illus. index. ISBN 0-9675258-5-3. pap. $18.95. HEALTH

     In this book of personal discovery, family practice physician Smith follows four women who worked together to shed unwanted pounds and achieve balance in every area of their lives.

History

» Ball, Edward. The Sweet Hell Inside: A Family History. Morrow. 2001. c.400p. photogs. index. ISBN 0-688-16840-X. $27. HIST

     Having won the National Book Award for Slaves in the Family, in 1998, Ball returns to his Southern roots. Here he follows the Harlestons of Charleston, SC -- to whom he is related -- as they journey from London to Paris, New York, Chicago, and beyond. (LJ 10/1/01)

» Dray, Philip. At the Hands of Persons Unknown: The Lynching of Black America. Random. Jan. 2002. c.512p. photogs. index. ISBN 0-375-50324-2. $29.95. HIST

     Dray (coauthor, We Are Not Afraid) looks at one of the most horrendous and shameful practices in U.S. history, pointing out that thousands of men, women, and children were tortured, mutilated, and hanged -- purportedly "at the hands of persons unknown" -- while throngs of enthusiastic whites looked on.

» Madigan, Tim. The Burning: The Massacre and Destruction of a Place Called Greenwood. Thomas Dunne Bks: St. Martin's. Nov. 2001. c.304p. photo.-s. ISBN 0-312-27283-9. $24.95. HIST

     Journalist Madigan brings into view the tragic Greenwood, OK, massacre of 1921, one of America's worst race riots, when thousands of whites burned 35 city blocks and inflicted hundreds of casualties on an African American community near Tulsa. (LJ 9/1/01)

» Packard, Jerrold M. American Nightmare: The History of Jim Crow. St. Martin's. Feb. 2002. c.304p. bibliog. index. ISBN 0-312-26122-5. $24.95. HIST

     Historian Packard details the institution of segregation, from Reconstruction to the civil rights movement, exposing a system that governed nearly every element of life for African Americans and forced them to submit to the white majority.

» Remembering Jim Crow: African Americans Tell About Life in the segregated South. New Pr., dirt. by Norton. Nov. 2001. 368p. ed. by William Chafe & others. photogs. index. ISBN 1-56584-967-4. $55. HIST

     Drawing on 1200 interviews and in-depth research conducted by the Behind the Veil project at Duke University's Center for Documentary Studies, this book tells us what it was really like to live under Jim Crow law. (LJ 10/1/01)

Home Economics

» Dixon, James P. (Shamboosie). Beautiful Black Hair: Real Solutions to Real Problems. Amber. Nov. 2001. c.280p. ISBN 0-9702224-6-7. pap. $16.95. PERSONAL GROOMING

     In this instructional guide, Shamboosie, a color master consultant, gives helpful tips and simple techniques for achieving beautiful, healthy hair, explaining the do's and don'ts, the whys and why nots of proper care.

» Miller, Brenda Rhodes. The Church Ladies' Divine Desserts: Heavenly Recipes and Sweet Recollections. Putnam. 2001. 196p. permanent paper. photogs. index. LC 2001018593. ISBN 0-399-14780-2. $25.95. COOKERY

     In this collection of recipes and reminiscences, Miller, the wife of a Baptist preacher, pays tribute to "the movers and shakers in the congregation," those African American women responsible for making sure things run smoothly in their church -- and that no one goes hungry during coffee hour. (LJ 9/15/01)

» Tillery, Carolyn Quick. A Taste of Freedom: A Cookbook with Recipes and Remembrances from the Hampton Institute. Citadel: Kensington. Jan. 2002. c.224p. illus. ISBN 0-8065-2321-2. $24.95. COOKERY

     This companion to Tillery's African-American Heritage Cookbook features recipes, photographs, and the heroic personal stories of slaves and former slaves who participated in the Civil War and helped build Hampton Institute, established in 1868 in Virginia.

Literature

» Condo, Maryse. Tales from the Heart: True Stories from My Childhood. Soho, dist. by Farrar. 2001. c.160p. tr. from French by Richard Philcox. ISBN 1-56947-264-5. $21. LIT

     In these memoirs, West Indies novelist Condo (Segu) shows her sensitivity to the world around her, bringing her stories to life with sensual detail. The result is "an appealing and understated portrayal of her life lessons, while also maintaining dramatic tension and suspense." (LJ 10/1/01)

» Cosby, Bill. Cosbyology: Essays and Observations from the Doctor of Comedy. Hyperion. Nov. 2001. c.192p. illus. ISBN 0-7868-6810-4. $17.95. HUMOR

     In this collection, Cosby (Childhood), actor, philanthropist, and one of America's funniest comics, talks about leis marriage, his first skiing experiences, lying to his mother, and silly topics like ingrown hair.

» Doyle, Mary Ellen. Voices from the Quarters: The Fiction of Ernest J. Games. Louisiana State Univ. (Southern Literary Studies). Nov. 2001. c.243p. permanent paper. bibliog. index. ISBN 0-8071-2729-9. $49.95. LIT

     Gathering the characters from Gaines's many works, most notably Miss Jane from The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman, Doyle (literature, Spalding Univ.) shows how Gaines manages to vivify the inhabitants of Louisiana's bayous, cane fields, and plantation homes.

» Harris, Trudier. Saints, Sinners, Saviors: Strong Black Women in African American Literature. Palgrave: St. Martin's. Dec. 2001. c.224p. index. LC 2001036009. ISBN 0-312-29300-2. $55; pap. ISBN 0-312-29303-8. $18.95. LIT

     According to popular culture, all black women are overweight, love cooking up huge meals, and take good care of white folks (remember Irritation of Life and Gone with the Wind?). Harris (English, Univ. of North Carolina) considers how these negative images are reflected in works by Lorraine Hansberry, Ishmael Reed, Toni Morrison, and others.

» Hughes, Langston. The Collected Works of Langston Hughes. Vol. 10: Fight for Freedom and Other Writings on Civil Rights. Univ. of Missouri. 2001. c.272p. permanent paper. ed. by Christopher C. De Sands. index. ISBN 0-8262-1371-5. $29.95. LIT

     In this volume of an ongoing series, Hughes, poet, novelist, and influential member of the Harlem Renaissance, focuses on the NAACP, black America's premier civil rights organization, reflecting on its history, its goals, and its impact on racial justice in the United States.

» Hurston, Zora Neale. Every Tongue Got To Confess: Negro Folk-Tales from the Gulf States. HarperCollins. Dec. 2001. c.320p. ed. by Carla Kaplan. LC 2001024521. ISBN 0-06-018893-6. $25. LIT

     Though noted for her fiction, Harlem Renaissance icon Hurston loved the folktale above all. Presented here are nearly 500 African American folktales, by far her largest gathering. Collected in the 1920s but only recently unearthed, these tales draw on interviews Hurston conducted with mostly poor and rural storytellers, bringing forth narratives focused on faith, love, family, slavery, and more. A real celebration of the black oral tradition.

» Murray, Albert. From the Briarpatch File: On Context, Procedure, and American Identity. Pantheon. Nov. 2001. c.208p. ISBN 0-375-42142-4. $22. LIT

     In these essays, book reviews, and speeches, Murray, a novelist, critic, and poet recently given the Ivan Sandrof award for lifetime achievement by the National Book Critics Circle, celebrates the "unique contributions of jazz and the blues to American culture." He also writes about New York in the 1920s and about the beginnings of his career. (LJ 10/15/01)

» Walcott, Derek. The Haitian Trilogy. Farrar. Nov. 2001. c.256p. ISBN 0-374-52813-6. $15. DRAMA

     In these historical plays, Nobel prize winner Walcott, who was born in St. Lucia, relates the story of his native West Indies, the legacy of Haiti's violent revolutionaries (led by Toussaint Louverture and others), and the celebration of the first parliament in Trinidad.

Music

» Freeman, Scott. Otis!: The Otis Redoing Story. St. Martin's. Dec. 2001. c.256p. photogs. ISBN 0-312-26217-5. $23.95. MUSIC

     In this intimate and revealing book, Freeman (Midnight Riders) celebrates the king of soul, ranging from Redding's 1967 appearance at the Monterey Pop Festival before a predominantly white audience to his untimely death in a plane crash after recording his hit "(Sittin' on) the Dock of the Bay." (LJ 10/1/01)

» Jones, Quincy. Q: The Autobiography of Quincy Jones. Doubleday. 2001. c.416p. filmog. discog. index. ISBN 0-385-48896-3. $24.95. MUSIC

     Jones, a multitalented jazz musician, unfolds much of his personal life in this memoir, revealing his mother's mental illness, his rough childhood in Chicago, and his own mental breakdown. Along the way, he gives an account of his stellar career as a successful writer of motion picture and television music and producer of two of the biggest-selling records of all time, Michael Jackson's Thriller and the "We Are the World" single. (LJ 9/15/01)

» van de Leur, Walter. Something To Live For: The Music of Billy Strayhorn. Oxford Univ. 2001. c.368p. illus. ISBN 0-19-512448-0. $30. MUSIC

     As Duke Ellington's chief musical collaborator, Strayhorn created hundreds of compositions and arrangements. In this study, van de Lent, an independent jazz researcher, reveals that Strayhorn had his own distinctive style, bringing a radically new and visionary way of writing to Ellington's orchestra.

» Young, Alan. The Pilgrim Jubilees. Univ. Pr. of Mississippi. (American Made Music). Jan. 2002. c.283p. index. ISBN 1-57806-415-5. $46; pap. ISBN 1-57806-416-3. $18. MUSIC

     Young, a New Zealand journalist, presents the story of an African American gospel music quartet from Mississippi who made their first recording in 1952 and are now considered senior statesmen of the genre.

Poetry

» Alexander, Elizabeth. Antebellum Dream Book. Graywolf. 2001. 72p. ISBN 1-55597-354-X. pap. $14. POETRY

     In her third book of poetry, the author of The Venus Hottentot claims that "her thinking is drenched with light" -- and she's right. Ranging from Creole culture to Muhammad Ali, this energetic collection may be weighty in subject, but it's got a quicksilver style.

» Murray, Albert. Conjugations and Reiterations. Pantheon. Nov. 2001. c.80p. LC 2001031398. ISBN 0-375-42141-6. $20. POETRY

     Murray is renowned as a novelist, critic, and essayist (see From the Briarpatch File, previewed on p. 117), but he's also a fine poet, as this collection reminds us. Featured here are sassy, smart-talking works revealing that Murray is still swinging after 85 years.

Reference

» Mason, Clifford. The African-American Bookshelf: 100 Must Reads from Before the Civil War Through Today. Citadel: Kensington. Dec. 2001. c.256p. ISBN 0-8065-2202-6. $22.50. REF

     Cutting this list down to 100 books must have been a real challenge, but playwright and scholar Mason has acted with aplomb, ranging widely to cover everything from politics and ports to culture, military history, and the arts. Highlights include Phillis Wheatley, historian Donald Bogle, and educator hooker T. Washington.

Religion

» Amos, Wally & Eden-Lee Murray. The Cookie Never Crumbles: Inspirational Recipes for Everyday Living. St. Martin's. 2001. c.224p. ISBN 0-312-28032-7. $19.95. REL

     Once popular as "Famous" with his delectable cookies, Amos is now a public speaker and national spokesperson for Literacy Volunteers of America. Here, he offers inspirational stories, showing how negative situations can be blessings in disguise, and explains how he learned many business and life lessons along the way.

» Anderson, Alita. On the Other Side: African Americans Tell of Healing. Westminster/John Knox. Dec. 2001. c.200p. permanent paper. illus. LC 2001026901. pap. ISBN 0-664-22357-5. $19.95. REL

     This is a collection of oral testimonies on faith, from a diverse group of people who all have one thing in common -- they have had a profound experience with the power of healing. Anderson, an artist and graduate of Yale University School of Medicine, also speaks of her own spiritual transformation.

» LaBelle, Patti & Laura Randolph Lancaster. Path's Pearls: Lessons in Living Genuinely, Joyfully, Generously. Warner. 2001. c.111p. ISBN 0-446-52794-7. $19.95. REL

     Rhythm and blues vocalist LaBelle (Don't Block the Blessings) has certainly had her share of painful experiences, having lost her three sisters and a dear friend to cancer. In this inspirational work, she shares both personal reminiscences and valuable advice she received from those close to her who have helped her cope.

» Vanzant, Iyanla. Every Day I Pray: Prayers for Awakening to the Grace of Inner Communion. S. & S. 2001. c. 144p. photogs. ISBN 0-684-86000-7. $20. REL

     Famed for her lectures on empowerment and spirituality, Vanzant (Until Today), an ordained minister who became a syndicated talk show star, offers the personal prayers that sustain her daily, sharing the moving words she uses to communicate with God.

» Warren, Mervyn A. King Came Preaching: The Pulpit Power of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. InterVarsity. Nov. 2001. c.192p. index. ISBN 0-8308-2658-0. $19.99. REL

     In this work, Warren, a professor of preaching, examines the sermons of the famed civil rights leader (1929-1968), discussing his use of language, his delivery, his audience, and more.

» Williams, Juan & Quinton Dixie. This Far by Faith: Stories From the African-American Religious Experience. Morrow. Feb. 2002. c.352p. ISBN 0-06-018863-4. $29.95. REL

     Williams (Thurgood Marshall), a former reporter for the Washington Post, relates the dramatic role faith and religion have played in the lives and struggles of African Americans over the last 200 years. This companion to a six-part PBS series should get lots of attention.

Social Science

» Greenwood, Monique. Having What Matters: The Black Woman's Guide to Creating the Life You Really Want. Morrow. Dec. 2001. c.256p. ISBN 0-688-17509-0. $25. SOC SCI

     How can black women achieve their own dreams? By changing their thinking and shifting their perspective, urges Essence editor-in-chief Greenwood, who also shares the secrets of her own success.

» hooks, bell. Communion: The Female Search for Love. Morrow. Feb. 2002. c.256p. ISBN 0-06-621442-4. $24.95. SOC SCI

     In her final installment of a series on love, cultural critic hooks explains how women of all ages can discover and maintain that emotion in all areas of their lives, accept their changing bodies, and find a healthy balance among work, love, and family.

» Jackson, John L. Jr., Harlemworld: Doing Race and Class in Contemporary Black America. Univ. of Chicago. Dec. 2001. c.272p. permanent paper. illus. index. ISBN 0-226-38998-7. $30. SOC SCI

     In this fresh look at Harlem, Jackson, a postdoctoral fellow in anthropology, focuses on class differences. Interviewing a wide range of residents -- from architects and lawyers to businessmen and drug addicts -- he discovers how they live and work next to one another and otherwise share the same public space.

» Not Guilty: Twelve Black Men Speak Out on the Law, Justice, and Life. Amistad: HarperCollins. 2001. c.192p. permanent paper. ed. by Jabari Asim. LC 2001022779. ISBN 0-06-018538-4. $25. SOC SCI

     In this anthology, 12 black writers, including E. Lynn Harris (Not a Day Goes By), RM Johnson (The Harris Men), and Mark Anthony Neal (What the Music Said), speak eloquently on the legal system in America, talk about their encounters with police, and offer their views on the shooting deaths of West African immigrant Amadou Diallo and Haitian Patrick Dorismond.

» Odom, John Yancy. Saving Black America: An Economic Plan for Civil Rights. African American Images. Dec. 2001. c.200p. bibliog. ISBN 0-913543-73-X. $22.95. SOC SCI

     Odom, an educator and civil rights leader, here outlines his plan to transform the civil rights movement, arguing that organizations like the NAACP, Urban League, and SCLC must move beyond protest and take the offensive if the plight of 12 million poor African Americans is to be effectively addressed.

» Robinson, Randall. The Reckoning: What Blacks Owe to Each Other. Dutton. Dec. 2001. c.288p. ISBN 0-525-94625-X. $24.95. SOC SCI

     Best known as founder and president of Transafrica, Robinson (The Debt) played a significant role in ending apartheid in South Africa. In this book, he focuses on the future of underprivileged black youth, encouraging prominent African Americans to speak out and reach back to those youngsters who need their chance at the American dream.

» Shafton, Anthony. Dream-Singers: The African American Way with Dreams. Wiley. Nov. 2001. c.320p. permanent paper. index. ISBN 0-471-39535-8. $24.95. PSYCH

     In this book, independent scholar Shafton examines dreams from an African American perspective, having interviewed over 100 people, ranging from highly educated professionals to ghetto children to prisoners. Ancestor visitation, playing the numbers, and predictive dreaming all enter into this intriguing discussion. (LJ 11/1/01)

» Wickham, DeWayne. Bill Clinton and Black America. One World: Ballantine. Feb. 2002. c.304p. ISBN 0-345-45032-9. $23.95. SOC SCI

     How do African Americans feel about Clinton's presidency and his controversial move to Harlem? Wickham, a columnist for USA Today, interviewed leading African Americans (e.g., Mary Frances Berry, Bill Gray, and Kweisi Mfume) to find out.