Book Review: The Trials of Phillis Wheatley

Phillis Wheatley

Stars: 4/5

You will make quick work of Henry Louis Gates, Jr’s essay expanded to book form; the hardback is less than 100 pages. However, don’t be mislead by its brevity. It is overflowing with information on Phillis Wheatley, the tribunal gathered to validate her authorship of published poems, an assessment of the attitude of the time (late 18th century), and a more current assessment of Phillis Wheatley’s place in the African-American literary community.

Gates sets the stage with a review of the eighteen member panel selected to determine whether recent publications of poetry was indeed written by slave girl. No doubt that the panel members possessed a discerning palate when it came to poetry and/or were skeptical of the artistic and intellectual capabilities of people of color.

Regarding Wheatley, “She is on trial and so is her race.” p.6

Regarding the eighteen member panel, “What they were not, however, was an association for the advancement of colored people.” p.15

Gates continues with his analysis; providing an exposition on the impact of Wheatley’s poetry, then and now:

“And so, against the greatest odds, Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral became the first book of poetry published by a person of African descent in the English language, marking the beginning of an African-American literary tradition.” p.31

“...the overwhelming tendency in Wheatley criticism has been to upbraid her for ‘not being black enough.’” p.81
 
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Book Review: The Future Of The Race

The Future Of The Race

Stars: 5/5

I recommend that if you are planning to read, or have recently read, W.E.B. Du Bois's 1903 essay `The Talented Tenth', that you also follow through and read `The Future Of The Race'. I, myself, landed on this book after reading The Talented Tenth (Illustrated). `The Future Of The Race', published in 1996, is a collection of essays by two of the foremost leading black public intellectuals: Henry Louis Gates, Jr. and Cornel West. The compositions by Gates and West specifically address W.E.B. Du Bois and `The Talented Tenth' and offer a more contemporary perspective on Du Bois's call for Black intelligentsia to be the leaders of the race. Dr. West would probably state that his critique of Du Bois at the turn of the 20th Century is out of respect, admiration and love; however, he does not hesitate in underscoring the areas where Du Bois is lacking:

"The grand example of Du Bois remains problematic principally owing to his inadequate interpretation of the human condition and his inability to immerse himself fully in the rich cultural currents of black everyday life." (p. 55)

In the essay, `The Parable of the Talents', Gates interjects his own collegiate life experiences to provide the framework to the notion that so much diversity (socioeconomic, cultural, class, etc...) exists within African-American community that just the intelligent tenth of same group would find it difficult to satisfy Du Bois's request to `save the Negro race':

"As economic differences increase, the need to maintain the appearance of cultural and ideological conformity also increases. But it is these fake masks of conformity that disguise how very vast black class differentials really are. And no amount of kinte cloth or Kwanzaa celebrations will change this." (p. 37).

For convenience and reference, both 'The Talented Tenth' and Du Bois's own critique some 45 years later, `The Talented Tenth Memorial Address', is located in the book's appendix. A great all-in-one book for readers.


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Book: Cane (Second Edition)

Cane (Second Edition) - Release Date: 01/06/2011

The second edition has 560 pages with an introduction by Harvard professor Dr. Henry Louis Gates Jr. and Emory professor Dr. Rudolph Byrd. Also included:  a criticism and review section,chronology,and an updated Selected Bibliography.


Read more here:
The Root: Scholars: Renowned Writer 'Passed for White'
NYT: Scholars Say Chronicler of Black Life Passed for White

Ny Times: Ending the Slavery Blame-Game

HENRY LOUIS GATES Jr.
Cambridge, Mass.

THANKS to an unlikely confluence of history and genetics — the fact that he is African-American and president — Barack Obama has a unique opportunity to reshape the debate over one of the most contentious issues of America’s racial legacy: reparations, the idea that the descendants of American slaves should receive compensation for their ancestors’ unpaid labor and bondage.

There are many thorny issues to resolve before we can arrive at a judicious (if symbolic) gesture to match such a sustained, heinous crime. Perhaps the most vexing is how to parcel out blame to those directly involved in the capture and sale of human beings for immense economic gain.

read the entire article here