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Brotherman: The Odyssey of Black Men in America--An Anthology
"[AN] OUTSTANDING COLLECTION...
The powerful opening excerpt by Frederick Douglass evokes his boyhood as a slave, and the collection closes with an eloquent discussion of the race problem today by Cornel West. A distinguished addition to black studies."
--Publishers Weekly (starred review)
The purpose of this extraordinary anthology is made abundantly clear by the editors' stated "to create a living mosaic of essays and stories in which Black men can view themselves, and be viewed without distortion." In this, they have succeeded brilliantly. Brotherman contains more than one hundred and fifty selections, some never before published--from slave narratives, memoirs, social histories, novels, poems, short stories, biographies, autobiographies, position papers, and essays.
Brotherman books us passage to the world that Black men experience as adolescents, lovers, husbands, fathers, workers, warriors, and elders. On this journey they encounter pain, confusion, anger, and love while confronting the life-threatening issues of race, sex, and politics--often as strangers in a strange land. The first collection of its kind, Brotherman gathers together a multitude of voices that add a new, unforgettable chapter to American cultural identity.
The powerful opening excerpt by Frederick Douglass evokes his boyhood as a slave, and the collection closes with an eloquent discussion of the race problem today by Cornel West. A distinguished addition to black studies."
--Publishers Weekly (starred review)
The purpose of this extraordinary anthology is made abundantly clear by the editors' stated "to create a living mosaic of essays and stories in which Black men can view themselves, and be viewed without distortion." In this, they have succeeded brilliantly. Brotherman contains more than one hundred and fifty selections, some never before published--from slave narratives, memoirs, social histories, novels, poems, short stories, biographies, autobiographies, position papers, and essays.
Brotherman books us passage to the world that Black men experience as adolescents, lovers, husbands, fathers, workers, warriors, and elders. On this journey they encounter pain, confusion, anger, and love while confronting the life-threatening issues of race, sex, and politics--often as strangers in a strange land. The first collection of its kind, Brotherman gathers together a multitude of voices that add a new, unforgettable chapter to American cultural identity.
960 pages, Paperback
First published January 31, 1995
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About the author
Herb Boyd
44 books39 followersHerb Boyd is an awarding-winning American author and journalist who has published 17 books and countless articles for national magazines and newspapers. Brotherman:The Odyssey of Black Men in America: An Anthology (One World/Ballantine, 1995), co-edited with Robert Allen of the Black Scholar journal, won the American Book Award for nonfiction. In 1999, Boyd won three first place awards from the New York Association of Black Journalists for his articles published in the Amsterdam News.
In 2006, Boyd worked with world music composer Yusef Lateef on his autobiography The Gentle Giant, which was published by Morton Books of New Jersey. In 2008, he published Baldwin's Harlem: A Biography of James Baldwin, and is working with filmmaker Keith Beauchamp on several projects. Boyd has been inducted into both the Literary Hall of Fame for Writers of African Descent and the Madison Square Garden Hall of Fame as a journalist.
Along with his writing, Boyd is also the Managing Editor of The Black World Today, one of the leading online publications on the Internet. Boyd, a graduate of Wayne State University in Detroit, teaches African and African-American History at the College of New Rochelle in the Bronx, and is an adjunct instructor at City College in the Black Studies Department.
In 2006, Boyd worked with world music composer Yusef Lateef on his autobiography The Gentle Giant, which was published by Morton Books of New Jersey. In 2008, he published Baldwin's Harlem: A Biography of James Baldwin, and is working with filmmaker Keith Beauchamp on several projects. Boyd has been inducted into both the Literary Hall of Fame for Writers of African Descent and the Madison Square Garden Hall of Fame as a journalist.
Along with his writing, Boyd is also the Managing Editor of The Black World Today, one of the leading online publications on the Internet. Boyd, a graduate of Wayne State University in Detroit, teaches African and African-American History at the College of New Rochelle in the Bronx, and is an adjunct instructor at City College in the Black Studies Department.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
May 12, 2017
I think no clearer explanation can be given about this anthology of poems, essays, interviews, short stories, social histories, memoirs, anthologies etc than that said by the editors:
"to create a living mosaic of essays and stories in which Black men can view themselves, and be viewed without distortion."
Some of the pieces in this collection are abridged or shortened versions of noteworthy or classic pieces like: Brother Cornel West/Race Matters; Frederick Douglas/Narrative of the life of FD; Charles Johnson/Middle Passage; John Edgar Wideman/Brothers and Keepers; Miles Davis w/Quincy Trope/Miles: The Autobiography of... and many, many more.
The book is quite expansive and comprised of many parts and sections within those parts with such headings as: Forefathers (The Griot's Voice) / Trouble Man (The Permanence of Racism) and Sankofa: Past as Prologue (No Justice, No Piece).
It's a book I've referred back to now for over 20 years and I continue to find new and fascinating things within these 900+ pages. It's a wonderful collection and one you should certainly include in your library.
"to create a living mosaic of essays and stories in which Black men can view themselves, and be viewed without distortion."
Some of the pieces in this collection are abridged or shortened versions of noteworthy or classic pieces like: Brother Cornel West/Race Matters; Frederick Douglas/Narrative of the life of FD; Charles Johnson/Middle Passage; John Edgar Wideman/Brothers and Keepers; Miles Davis w/Quincy Trope/Miles: The Autobiography of... and many, many more.
The book is quite expansive and comprised of many parts and sections within those parts with such headings as: Forefathers (The Griot's Voice) / Trouble Man (The Permanence of Racism) and Sankofa: Past as Prologue (No Justice, No Piece).
It's a book I've referred back to now for over 20 years and I continue to find new and fascinating things within these 900+ pages. It's a wonderful collection and one you should certainly include in your library.
October 31, 2013
This book introduced me to a wide range of great African-American writers about 25 years ago.
May 26, 2023
This book is truly one to keep in your library for your children, grandchildren, friends and relatives to read. The black man internal truth about what he felt for slavery, and now what he represents as a black man in America.
August 31, 2019
I got this book based upon a recommendation of a friend. "Read this," he said. "Learn about what you do not understand."
Some of the essays are essays. Enlightening, useful, full of knowledge. Some are more personal or more raw or just more kapow.
I found that I wanted to know more about every single one of these authors. Wanted to listen to them tell the rest of their stories. Listen to them talk about their families and friend and failures and their incredible responses to all that life throws at them.
This book is a gem, and more people should know about the wealth of insight and hope that is available to all.
Some of the essays are essays. Enlightening, useful, full of knowledge. Some are more personal or more raw or just more kapow.
I found that I wanted to know more about every single one of these authors. Wanted to listen to them tell the rest of their stories. Listen to them talk about their families and friend and failures and their incredible responses to all that life throws at them.
This book is a gem, and more people should know about the wealth of insight and hope that is available to all.
March 13, 2010
Brought for me by my ex-wife many years ago. A collection of writings and stories by and about Black men, never has a book been so heart-breaking, inspiring and enraging as this work. Worth having!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews