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James Brown : Black and Proud
L’Histoire que nous allons vous raconter est celle d’une bande de gamins noirs, nés dans le Sud des Etats-Unis pendant la ségrégation, et qui, pour échapper à leur condition vont devoir lutter pour s’en sortir et toucher du doigt le rêve américain.
À travers eux c’est l’histoire d’une époque, celle du combat pour les droits civiques , et celle d’un homme qui brisera ses chaines et révolutionnera le monde de la musique contemporaine : JAMES BROWN, The Godfather Of Soul.
Charismatique, travailleur acharné et tyrannique, il emmènera avec lui sur les routes de l'Amérique, une troupe de musiciens fantastiques répandre le son du funk à travers tout le pays. C'est l'aventure de cet homme, de ces musiciens, de ces femmes, des amitiés qui se font et se défont au gré des tournés et des trahisons.
Avec en toile de fond une Amérique qui se transforme et qui reste hostile à l'émergence du peuple noir dans la société civile.
À travers eux c’est l’histoire d’une époque, celle du combat pour les droits civiques , et celle d’un homme qui brisera ses chaines et révolutionnera le monde de la musique contemporaine : JAMES BROWN, The Godfather Of Soul.
Charismatique, travailleur acharné et tyrannique, il emmènera avec lui sur les routes de l'Amérique, une troupe de musiciens fantastiques répandre le son du funk à travers tout le pays. C'est l'aventure de cet homme, de ces musiciens, de ces femmes, des amitiés qui se font et se défont au gré des tournés et des trahisons.
Avec en toile de fond une Amérique qui se transforme et qui reste hostile à l'émergence du peuple noir dans la société civile.
128 pages, Paperback
Published November 30, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 13 reviews
February 3, 2019
This is an amazing graphic biography. It’s told with 2 threads of narration: blue boxes for Brown to speak in the first person, and surrounding black text giving historical and cultural context. This made his story feel both intimate and deeply informative. Told in chronological order, growing up with nothing in the 1930s, to the 1950s when he started touring the “Chitlin Circuit,” to the 60s when he was at his peak, to the 70s when the wheels really fell off, and to his death in 2006– we learn an enormous amount about his drive, his personality, his vices, his success. The art is stark but rich, sections and panels changing with the context. The hardest working man in showbiz recorded over 800 songs and performed 350 shows each year for close to 20 years. What music. What a life. A must read.
February 14, 2020
An adequate biography of James Brown, though Xavier Fauthoux doesn't seem to know what kind of story he's telling. At first, Brown narrates his life story from the edge of the grave. This format slowly gives way to more overt, authorial narration, including a handful of unnecessary potted histories of black civil rights leaders. Do I need a Martin Luther King Jr mini-bio in my James Brown biography? Probably not.
The art is mostly sound, but as the storytelling styles overlap, words steadily eclipse the pictures. By the end, the page is covered in text. Brown's early life is successfully outlined, his later life given short shrift. 30 years are missing! And Brown's many darker moments seem oddly glossed over, particularly the domestic abuse and drugs. Black and Proud isn't exactly a hagiography, but it's far too surface-level.
The art is mostly sound, but as the storytelling styles overlap, words steadily eclipse the pictures. By the end, the page is covered in text. Brown's early life is successfully outlined, his later life given short shrift. 30 years are missing! And Brown's many darker moments seem oddly glossed over, particularly the domestic abuse and drugs. Black and Proud isn't exactly a hagiography, but it's far too surface-level.
May 25, 2021
Interesting art and a lot of good detail about Brown’s life, but the tone and message is a bit all over the place. Sometimes it feels like it’s trying to lionize Brown, others recognize his faults, and in the end it feels like a ends-justify-the-means message, that the bad was worth it if we got the good.
IMO James McBride’s Kill ‘Em and Leave is a much better and more nuanced treatise on Brown and his legacy.
IMO James McBride’s Kill ‘Em and Leave is a much better and more nuanced treatise on Brown and his legacy.
February 4, 2020
James Brown: Black and Proud is a biographical graphic novel written and illustrated by Xavier Fauthoux. This graphic novel is an IDW translation of a French graphic novel biography of the Godfather of Soul.
James Joseph Brown was an American singer, songwriter, dancer, musician, record producer and bandleader. A progenitor of funk music and a major figure of twentieth century music and dance, he is often referred to as the "Godfather of Soul" and "Soul Brother No. 1". In a career that lasted over fifty years, he influenced the development of several music genres.
Fauthoux faithfully chronicles Brown's rise in the South against a backdrop of segregation, the Civil Rights movement, and the gradual acceptance of black artists into the mainstream. It's easy to point out, however, that this could have been a far more powerful book if it didn't gloss over the darker aspects of Brown's conflicted personality, like his struggles with substance abuse or the misogyny that littered most of his relationships.
James Brown: Black and Proud is written and constructed rather well. Xavier Fauthoux does a nearly perfect job on both the narrative and illustrations. One trick is that throughout large portions of the book, the characters are all colored grey. This changes only toward the end, the peak of Brown's career, when he recorded, "Say it Loud, I'm Black and I'm Proud".
All in all, James Brown: Black and Proud is a candid and interesting biography of the "Godfather of Soul" – James Brown.
James Joseph Brown was an American singer, songwriter, dancer, musician, record producer and bandleader. A progenitor of funk music and a major figure of twentieth century music and dance, he is often referred to as the "Godfather of Soul" and "Soul Brother No. 1". In a career that lasted over fifty years, he influenced the development of several music genres.
Fauthoux faithfully chronicles Brown's rise in the South against a backdrop of segregation, the Civil Rights movement, and the gradual acceptance of black artists into the mainstream. It's easy to point out, however, that this could have been a far more powerful book if it didn't gloss over the darker aspects of Brown's conflicted personality, like his struggles with substance abuse or the misogyny that littered most of his relationships.
James Brown: Black and Proud is written and constructed rather well. Xavier Fauthoux does a nearly perfect job on both the narrative and illustrations. One trick is that throughout large portions of the book, the characters are all colored grey. This changes only toward the end, the peak of Brown's career, when he recorded, "Say it Loud, I'm Black and I'm Proud".
All in all, James Brown: Black and Proud is a candid and interesting biography of the "Godfather of Soul" – James Brown.
March 25, 2021
Overall enjoyed this from a musical biography and it ties with civil rights. Maybe I'm wrong (and I don't know enough about James Brown) but isn't this missing quite a bit of factual information about James Brown. Like more of the dark side of James Brown. I don't know, I could be wrong cause I don't know enough about James Brown, hence the reason for wanting to read something about James Brown. Then again if I want a true biography maybe I should read an in-depth book and not a fairly short graphic novel. Or maybe the "Disgraceland" podcast has an episode on him.
June 28, 2024
Good read for a insight on the life and legacy of The Hardest Working Man in Show Business.
In my opinion it seems that it’s being depicted that James brown is more of a selfish human being than a legendary musician.
By the 2 star reviews I see, it seems that people I don’t really understand how much Mr. Brown was actually involved and contribute to the black culture and the civil rights era. Yes the hardest working man and show business but also can argue that he was one of the most important black individuals to walk this earth .
In my opinion it seems that it’s being depicted that James brown is more of a selfish human being than a legendary musician.
By the 2 star reviews I see, it seems that people I don’t really understand how much Mr. Brown was actually involved and contribute to the black culture and the civil rights era. Yes the hardest working man and show business but also can argue that he was one of the most important black individuals to walk this earth .
April 9, 2019
A graphic biography of James Brown which is good for 6th grade and older. The illustrations are lovely, hyper realistic. Lots of other characters make appearances in the storyline giving people context for other people and musicians James brown worked with. It is a realistic biography, describing the good and the bad of James Brown and is not just a one sided love fest.
September 28, 2022
There wasn’t anything in this graphic novel that wasn’t in Get On Up. That movie had more creative and inventive storytelling.
The art was pretty good, though.
The quotes throughout the book from people that worked with James Brown were a nice touch.
I didn’t know how all over the map politically James Brown was. That was interesting.
The art was pretty good, though.
The quotes throughout the book from people that worked with James Brown were a nice touch.
I didn’t know how all over the map politically James Brown was. That was interesting.
November 2, 2019
I feel like this would be a great YA book for how it gives context for civil rights throughout the book. Really interesting stuff, even if I’m not a huge fan of the art style
November 30, 2019
A powerful story, but awkwardly told.
March 22, 2020
It brought tears to my eyes!
August 11, 2020
Tries to simultaneously be a social history textbook*, first-person confession, and musical hagiography.
*Perhaps because it is a translated work, the original audience needed Civil Rights context that most Americans would not.
*Perhaps because it is a translated work, the original audience needed Civil Rights context that most Americans would not.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 13 reviews