Mixing it Up: Taking on the Media Bullies and Other Reflections

by Ishmael Reed

A new collection of essays first published in The New York Times and Playboy . Reed tackles subjects including Oakland, eugenics, and domestic violence.

306 pages, Paperback

First published July 7, 2008

About the author

Ishmael Scott Reed is an American poet, essayist, and novelist. A prominent African-American literary figure, Reed is known for his satirical works challenging American political culture, and highlighting political and cultural oppression.

Reed has been described as one of the most controversial writers. While his work has often sought to represent neglected African and African-American perspectives, his energy and advocacy have centered more broadly on neglected peoples and perspectives irrespective of their cultural origins.

Reviews

[Shahir Saleheen]

Very interesting perspective of the Black American experience living in the early 2000s, with an abundance of historical information synthesized with biting commentary and analysis critiquing racism and anti-Blackness in America. My favorite essays of his involved writing about the racial discrimination Black Americans faced in a media driven society from pundits looking to sensationalize race divisions, as well as recounting the connection towards the Black experience in America with the Palestinian experience living in occupation. I found his discussion regarding to Bill Clinton being the “first black president” humorous and insightful.

[Yousseif Abdellatif · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ishmael Reed writes Mixing it Up: Taking on the Media Bullies and Other Reflections with a sharp, street-smart instinct, pointing out how gatekeepers keep the entrance narrow to protect their own standing.

[Yousseif Abdellatif · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mixing it Up isn't a book you just read and forget; Ishmael Reed hands you a critical framework for analyzing power that stays with you long after the last page.