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Six Out Seven
Fleeing from Mississippi to California following the arrest of his father, Met, a young black boy, is plunged into a nightmare world of drugs, violence, and poverty. By the author of Way Past Cool.
- GenresCrime
Hardcover
First published January 1, 1993
9 people are currently reading
66 people want to read
About the author
Jess Mowry
32 books21 followersWhy do I write?
"After almost forty years of working with kids and raising four of my own, along with a few strays -- none of whom are in prison or collecting Welfare -- not to mention over twenty years of writing books and stories for and about kids, I've found that it's a lot easier for people to be "pro-child" about some kids than it is for them to care about and champion "other" kids. Perhaps, like the animals in George Orwell's Animal Farm, some kids are more equal than others?
"Almost all my stories and books are for and about black kids, who are not always cute and cuddly. My characters often spit, sweat and swear, as well as occasionally smoke or drink. Just like their real-world counterparts, some are "overweight," may look "too black," or are otherwise unacceptable by superficial American values. Like on the real kids, they often live in dirty and violent environments, and are forced into sometimes unpleasant lifestyles.
"And virtually no one writes books or stories about them -- at least seldom in ways that don't exploit them, and/or don't glorify gangs, guns, drugs and violence. I've learned from experience that few publishers, including black ones, will publish positive books about these kids... books that don't portray them in stereotypical roles, and thus only reinforce the negative aspects of their lives.
"The result is that there very few positive books about these kids. This leaves them with no role models except stereotypes of gangsters, rappers or sports figures. Worse, virtually the only books that "white" (or more fortunate) children have to read about most black kids are also filled with these negative stereotypes. About the only exception are books in which black kids play a supporting role to a white hero.
"I have devoted my career, such as it is, to writing positive but realistic books and stories, not only for and about black kids, but also for "white" kids so they will understand that the negative stereotypes aren't true... that most black kids have other interests besides guns, gangs, drugs, violence, becoming rap stars, or playing basketball.
"When I first began writing I wanted to write many different kinds of books; adventure novels, magic, ghost stories. These were the kinds of books I grew up reading, though I often wondered why there were no black heroes, such as ship captains or airplane pilots... no black Indiana Joneses, Hardy Boys or Hobbits. But mainstream publishers only want the stereotypes: if not blatantly negative stereotypes, then only stereotypical positive images. Only what "good black kids" are "supposed" to do. What the mainstream white world expects them to dream about and aspire to be.
"I often write about violence because the U.S.A. is a violent country in a violent world and pretending it isn't doesn't help anyone. Most of my kids aren't angels, but they are being as good as they can be... which is a lot better than most people seem to think they are.
"To me, being pro-child includes all children, even kids whom it may be hard to like... especially kids who are hard to like."
"After almost forty years of working with kids and raising four of my own, along with a few strays -- none of whom are in prison or collecting Welfare -- not to mention over twenty years of writing books and stories for and about kids, I've found that it's a lot easier for people to be "pro-child" about some kids than it is for them to care about and champion "other" kids. Perhaps, like the animals in George Orwell's Animal Farm, some kids are more equal than others?
"Almost all my stories and books are for and about black kids, who are not always cute and cuddly. My characters often spit, sweat and swear, as well as occasionally smoke or drink. Just like their real-world counterparts, some are "overweight," may look "too black," or are otherwise unacceptable by superficial American values. Like on the real kids, they often live in dirty and violent environments, and are forced into sometimes unpleasant lifestyles.
"And virtually no one writes books or stories about them -- at least seldom in ways that don't exploit them, and/or don't glorify gangs, guns, drugs and violence. I've learned from experience that few publishers, including black ones, will publish positive books about these kids... books that don't portray them in stereotypical roles, and thus only reinforce the negative aspects of their lives.
"The result is that there very few positive books about these kids. This leaves them with no role models except stereotypes of gangsters, rappers or sports figures. Worse, virtually the only books that "white" (or more fortunate) children have to read about most black kids are also filled with these negative stereotypes. About the only exception are books in which black kids play a supporting role to a white hero.
"I have devoted my career, such as it is, to writing positive but realistic books and stories, not only for and about black kids, but also for "white" kids so they will understand that the negative stereotypes aren't true... that most black kids have other interests besides guns, gangs, drugs, violence, becoming rap stars, or playing basketball.
"When I first began writing I wanted to write many different kinds of books; adventure novels, magic, ghost stories. These were the kinds of books I grew up reading, though I often wondered why there were no black heroes, such as ship captains or airplane pilots... no black Indiana Joneses, Hardy Boys or Hobbits. But mainstream publishers only want the stereotypes: if not blatantly negative stereotypes, then only stereotypical positive images. Only what "good black kids" are "supposed" to do. What the mainstream white world expects them to dream about and aspire to be.
"I often write about violence because the U.S.A. is a violent country in a violent world and pretending it isn't doesn't help anyone. Most of my kids aren't angels, but they are being as good as they can be... which is a lot better than most people seem to think they are.
"To me, being pro-child includes all children, even kids whom it may be hard to like... especially kids who are hard to like."
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
March 21, 2013
Wow, this is a totally engrossing look at life right here in America for poor Black
kids. It portrays life brought down to the basics of survival yet the characters are
richly developed, loyal, thoughtful and couragous.
kids. It portrays life brought down to the basics of survival yet the characters are
richly developed, loyal, thoughtful and couragous.
May 13, 2018
I loved this book. It had all the aspects of a novel that I like, vulnerable characters, detailed settings, complicated relationships. plus, being from Oakland and not being connected to the culture depicted, I loved being immersed in it. It is an intense story spanning two connected regions that illustrate some common struggles of African American youth and families in the US, particularly relevant in the 80's and 90's.
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September 29, 2015Jess Mowry creates a novel in 1993 that related to the world around him. Thirteen Year old Corbitt Wainwright's life took a huge turn for the worse when his father was put in prison for attacking a white man. Living through the stereotype that a young black boy raised in Mississippi would never make it became especially discouraging when he was forced to live without a father. Even though all the white people surrounding Corbitt negatively reminded him everyday of what the world sadly expected him to be he refused to settle for that expectation. A confrontation with the man who accused his father lead him to West Oakland, California. There he finds a world that tempts him to live up to the expectation of the white people, until he meets a group of friends who set him back on track. Corbitts eyes were opened up to find the real power in being a young black boy in the world, while at the same time find himself and what he was truly set out to be.
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October 3, 2015The book “Six Out Seven” by Jess Mowry is a multi-themed book that discusses the very realities of modern African-American children; especially those dealing with the absence of a parent figure. Corbitt, the main character is a tall, broad but slender young man, who “works” at a local bus station. He is both keen and observant, and is the descendant of great African Kings; although he is unaware of this. After Corbitt loses his father to imprisonment he faces both physical and mental challenges that he is not sure how to handle properly. What is next in life for him? Has he already missed the next step? His experiences many different situations throughout the novel in order to find the answer to his questions, but do they suffice?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Want to read
October 20, 2007Recommended by Andrew Garrod in his Coming of Age course.
January 14, 2008
I like it so far
June 8, 2012
Very good writing through most of book though it seemed to falter near the end. Coming of age story of a southern black boy. The images of his life are so vivid especially in the early chapters.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews