Title:
America behind the color line : dialogues with African Americans
JLCTITLE245:
Henry Louis Gates, Jr.
Personal Author:
Publication Information:
New York : Warner Books, ©2004.
Physical Description:
xvi, 448 pages ; 24 cm
ISBN:
9780446532730
General Note:
Includes index.
Abstract:
"Henry Louis Gates, Jr., examines the surprising social and economic journey African Americans have made. Using the interviews he conducted for his PBS series, Professor Gates portrays a community united by shared memory and a strong, vibrant culture, yet divided by wealth and lack of opportunity - a people still struggling to ensure true equality for all." "Professor Gates traveled across the country interviewing forty-four famous and not-so-famous individuals from parts of the African-American community - the "Black Elite, " "The New South, " "Chicago's South Side, " and "Black Hollywood." In their own words, each discusses what it means to be African American in the twenty-first century: from Maya Angelou and Morgan Freeman's reflections on "returning home" to the South ... to convict "Eric Edwards" telling us how his peers find self-sufficiency and prove their adulthood ... from an interracial couple describing how they cope with the remnants of racism in Birmingham to a single mother's insights into how life on Chicago's newly renovated South Side still presents its own particular obstacles and dangers."--Jacket.
Contents:
Part 1: Ebony towers -- The Good Soldier / Colin Powell -- Chairman of the Board / Vernon Jordan -- House of dreams / Franklin D. Raines -- Corporate man / Russell Simmons -- Chess master / Maurice Ashley -- Black and white logic / Dan Rose -- Breaking through / The Irvins -- Living the life / The Pearsons -- Résumé stories / Lenora Fulani -- Part 2: The black belt -- Home / Morgan Freeman -- Choices / Maya Angelou -- Policing the South / James H. Bolden -- Training Days / Sergeant Major Kenneth Wilcox -- Keys to the city / Willie W. Herenton -- Word of God / The Reverend Dr. R. Lawton Higgs, Sr. -- The big house / Carmen Johnson -- "Why not?" / Deirdre Wolff, Jerald Wolff -- Color-blind / Lura and Chris -- Part 3: Black Hollywood -- Different stories / Chris Tucker -- In character / Samuel L. Jackson -- Changing minds, breaking even / Arnon Milchan -- Independent means / Reginald Hudlin -- How it's done / Alicia Keys -- Life Purpose / Nia Long -- Excellence / Don Cheadle -- Living in the community / John Singleton -- Action / Reggie Bythewood -- The Buddy / Darnell Hunt -- The Chameleon / Bernie Mac -- The bonus / Larry Wilmore -- Part 4: Streets of heaven: Chicago's south side -- Restitution, reinvestment / Jesse L. Jackson -- Looking back, looking up / Timuel D. Black -- Twirling for success / Elaine Rhodes -- A mother's story / Tammie Cathery -- Finding their way / The Massenbergs -- Revolving door / Clark Clemons -- One prisoner's story / Kalais Chiron Hunt -- Ticket to success / Dr. Emiel Hamberlin -- A different version / Jason Smith.