My People: Five Decades of Writing About Black Lives – A Definitive History from an Emmy Award-Winning Journalist

by Charlayne Hunter-Gault

“Charlayne Hunter-Gault is an eminent Dean of American journalism, a vital voice whose work chronicled the civil rights movement and so much of what has transpired since then. My People is the definitive collection of her reportage and commentary. Spanning datelines in the American South, South Africa and points scattered in between, her work constitutes a history of our time as rendered by the pen of a singular and indispensable black woman journalist.”-Jelani Cobb From the legendary Emmy Award-winning journalist, a collection of ground-breaking reportage from across five decades which vividly chronicles the experience of Black life in America today. At just eighteen years old,Charlayne Hunter-Gault made national news when she mounted a successful legal challenge that culminated in her admission to the University of Georgia in January 1961—making her one of the first two Black students to integrate the institution. As an adult, Charlayne switched from being the subject of news to covering it, becoming one of its most recognized and acclaimed interpreters. Over more than five decades, this dedicated reporter charted a course through some of the world’s most respected journalistic institutions, including The New Yorker and the New York Times, where she was often the only Black woman in the newsroom. Throughout her storied career, Charlayne has chronicled the lives of Black people in America—shining a light on their experiences and giving a glimpse into their community as never before. Though she has covered numerous topics and events, observed as a whole, her work reveals the evolving issues at the forefront of Black Americans lives and how many of the same issues continue to persist today. My People showcases Charlayne’s lifelong commitment to reporting on Black people in their totality, “in ways that are recognizable to themselves.” Spanning from the Civil Rights Movement through the election and inauguration of America’s first Black president and beyond, this invaluable collection shows the breadth and nuance of the Black experience through trials, tragedies, and triumphs of everyday lives.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Race, Biography, Memoir, Journalism, Politics

368 pages, Paperback

First published October 11, 2022

About the author

For more information, please see http://www.answers.com/topic/charlayn...

Reviews

[Dasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a wonderful collection of news articles that Hunter-Gault published throughout her career, most of them appear to be from the 70s and 80s, but they reach as far back as the 60s and as recently as news interviews in 2020. She also provides a little preface for each of her themed sections, and I do wish these were more substantial or more reflection was provided for certain articles because that's what is so interesting about this book. Regardless, I really liked the selection of articles - particularly when articles from the 1970s are followed up by more recent ones from the 2010s. It provides a really interesting historical reflection. However, the transcripts from on-air news shows fell a bit flat and were a bit boring to read - the transcripts just didn't translate well to written form. Regardless, a really interesting collection!

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Happy Release Day to My People: Five Decades of Writing about Black Lives by Charlayne Hunter-Gault!

Review: This was an engrossing read to start at the beginning of the journalistic career of Charlayne Hunter-Gault & experience the world & her life through the lens of articles through the decades.
This book covers a variety of topics including the desegregation of the University of Georgia, the Panthers, Resurrection City & so much more. There’s also interviews & excerpts of things with Ruby Bridges, Tracee Ellis Ross, Nelson Mandela & many other impressive people.
In an article titled, “After-School Sxhool for Blaxk Youngeters in Searxh of Heritage” in The New York Times on April 16, 1976, “It’s about why we have not been able to get along in this pluralistic society. Only the dominant group’s culture has been emphasized. The more you know about your culture & heritage, the more productive you are & the more confidence you have in dealing with others” (page 10 of My People). That quote struck a cord with me for the fact it is extremely applicable in today’s society for the importance & necessity of schools to teach about actual history, even the painful parts, to better understand & empathize with others in hopes of progressing. That quote is from 46 years ago & clearly displays that while times have changed, we certainly are still in need of improvement. Charlayne Hunter-Gault says, “Our union may never be perfect, but we owe it to our children to educate them perfectly” (page 22 in My People from The New York Times article on November 27, 2019).
I also found it really easy to read since it was just a compilation of primarily articles, it was wonderful to pick up & read a section when I had time throughout the day to read.
I literally lost count of the amount of quotes that just took my breath away. The entire book is just a how-to example of purely stunning writing & journalism. I feel like this should be required reading thanks to the amount of history I learned & the awe-inspiring articles that showcased important life lessons.
If you’re looking for a non-fiction read, I highly recommend checking out this book!

The biggest of thanks goes to Harper Collins for sending me a physical arc of this. All thoughts & opinions are my own.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved reading the journalism of what was happening at the moment it was being reported. Sad that progress is so immeasurable.

[Rose Rosetree · Rating 5 out of 5]

NOW FOR MY OFFICIAL BOOK REVIEW

Appearances to the contrary, the life of a journalist is mainly a life of service, not of glamour.

That's true even of the relatively few journalists who make it to prime time TV.
And, of course, that's also true of the very few journalists "of color" who make it to prime time TV.

The spirit of service rang out to me in this collection-and-selection of articles by Charlayne Hunter-Gault. Hearing her narrate "My People" on the audiobook I listened to... heightened my sense of her:

* Committed
* Courageous
* Indefatigable
* Tough
* And yet somehow, amazingly, and after all that she had witnessed in "Five Decades of Writing About Black Lives," this journalist struck me as deep down sweet. Somehow, she didn't become a hater.

Charlayne Hunter-Gault Has Done So Much

So far, she has done so much as a civil rights activist and a journalist. She has served as a foreign correspondent for National Public Radio, CNN, and the Public Broadcasting Service. Who knows what more she will do? I'm eager to follow her ongoing career.

This collection of article documents some of the high points of Hunter-Gault's reportorial journey.

Even after all she had to go through, demonstrating leadership when young, instrumental in the (reluctant) integration of her college.

Even after winessing all the ugly and tragic things she wrote about, including those she shared in this book, Charlayne managed to never became a hater.

My favorite article was her story of when she met Rev. Martin Luther King. You can see details of my reading in some updates here on Goodreads.

WHAT I WROTE INITIALLY

The Goodreads blurber for this book put it beautifully:

"Charlayne Hunter-Gault made national news when she mounted a successful legal challenge that culminated in her admission to the University of Georgia in January 1961--making her one of the first two Black students to integrate the institution. As an adult, Charlayne switched from being the subject of news to covering it, becoming one of its most recognized and acclaimed interpreters."

What was it like after she won that court case? What was it like to be the only student on the first floor of her dorm, while all the other girls lived on the second floor? How did she find the strength to help desegregate the racist University of Georgia? And finally, what did she learn in fifty years of world-class journalism.

I'll be posting my discoveries as I go. Then I plan to circle back and finish this review by adding to the top of this box.

[Camille]

My People is an author-curated collection of articles Hunter-Gault wrote throughout her career as a journalist. There are themed sections that are each prefaced with a new essay explaining the theme. I got the sense from the discussion that most of attendees enjoyed the book, or at least enjoyed some articles from the book. Some appreciated the review of history from Hunter-Gault’s perspective.
Some meeting attendees read the book from cover to cover. Some jumped around the book, picking stories they wanted to read, when they wanted to read them, checking each article off their Read/To Read list. I also skipped around the book, I read the introductions to each section and the articles that were about her experiences.
We all agreed that her writing wasn’t great (One book clubber noted she’s a journalist, not a novelist), but the quality was somewhat compensated by the sharing of her experiences of historic events, interactions with historic figures, and the little-known facts and figures such as Roger Wilkins, the Patterson School for Heritage and Learning, and many of the women mentioned in part II, My Sisters.

[Pam Patton · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was disappointed with how uneven this collection was. Some of the pieces were lackluster (perhaps written early in her career?) but it's easy enough to skip those and treasure the articles that truly shine - her memories of Harlem, her first days as the first African American enrolled at the University of Georgia, the piece on Shirley Chisholm.

[Cat Fithian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting collection of articles and essays, audio narrated by the author. Since this isn’t a novel, I honestly found it to be a little dry, but it’s really important history and “own voice” and well worth reading.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely one of those books where if you don't like the authors "voice" you aren't going to enjoy it. Luckily I don't like the author's voice, I LOVE IT. I honestly can't believe I've never stumbled upon her work before. I'll definitely be keeping an eye out going forward!

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wonderful compendium of Hunter-Gault's writing from each decade of her long, storied career. From the Atlanta Independent to PBS News to The New Yorker, from Atlanta to South Africa to Martha's Vineyard, her articles show a world few have been able to see but for her work.

[Ashish Vyas · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the georgias first black college student after desegragation in integrated collage have narrated her experiences of black lives pre and post civil rights era, and lives in africa pre and post apartheid. Intersting.

[Robyn Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A- Audible

[Ellen Rathbun · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read for someone who wants a black historical perspective.

[Polly Callahan]

recommended by Well Read Black Girl

[Cymone King · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most interesting and riveting books I’ve ever read

[Krista · Rating 3 out of 5]

Brown Baggers

[Schvenn · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was very good up until part five; but hearing the same story about her desegregating Georgia university four times, yes four times in the same book, got really annoying. That wasn't the only story she repeated, either. Clearly she ran out of new material, since she wrote, or rather collected the articles she had previously written into a book and when a large portion of that consists of her rehashing her experiences from 1961, you get the impression that she's stuck in that past, even 60 years later. It's too bad too, because there were some real gems in this book, but they're overshadowed by her dwelling on the university, as well as her flowery terms for death; "transitioned" and "finished this journey". Ridiculous. This book started as a 4.5 but quickly dropped because of this.

[Bruin Mccon · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a memoir in essays, author and journalist Charlayne Hunter-Gault shares her remarkable life and works. She was one of two students to integrate the University of Georgia and shares what that was like. She writes for various outlets, covering the civil rights movement in the US and then moving to South Africa. Her essays are eye-opening and make you feel like you were there with her. Excellent book.

[Susan Molloy · Rating 1 out of 5]

🖋️ I donated this book to my HOA Library. I quit reading it because it was not for me; dull. 🗑 Conversely, other readers may find this book their cup of tea and right up their alley.

♦️ I received a paperback book copy via the Goodreads Giveaway Program. Thank you to the author. 😀

📖 Book version.
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