Books

Reread Book Club: Paul Robeson: A Watched Man

Book: Paul Robeson: A Watched Man
Author: Jordan Goodman
Times Read: 3

I happen to be reading this book when the whole controversy started when Trump told the so-called Squad – Congresswomen Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilham Omar, Ayanna Pressley, and Rashida Tlaib – that they needed to go back to the countries they come from. Only one out of the four is an immigrant. It is a racial trope all people of color have had said this to them at some point in their lives because they used their first amendment right to share their opinion.  And then a few days ago, Trump demanded that the Israeli government deny entry to Omar and Tlaib into its country, to only reverse their decision for Tlaib on a humanitarian basis to let her see her grandmother.

So it is interesting how the American government went out of its way to keep actor and activist Paul Robeson in the United States because of his opinion. The State Department revoked his passport because of his outspokenness on racism in America and anti-colonial struggles around the world. He was also branded a communist, which abruptly ended his career. Today, he is viewed as a human rights hero worldwide.

Listen to the man himself speak his truth on a wide variety of issues:

How to Find Books That are Actually Worth Your Time

Summer is a great time to catch up on some reading, but how do you find the right book to read?

I found this video that gives some great advice.  I would also add that going to your local library is a must.  It is actually a job requirement for librarians to know about all types of books to recommend.

Best of all, books from the library are free!

Book Review: The Queen

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I had only heard of Linda Taylor a couple of times in my life.  Her many scandals predate me!  I knew that she was the real-life welfare queen Reagan made famous, but I didn’t know her backstory.  Many people didn’t even know the “welfare queen” trope was based on a real person. This is why I was fascinated when I got Josh Levin’s new book, The Queen: The Forgotten Life Behind an American Myth. (For transparency, I got an advance review copy from the publisher.)

I also listened to the Slate podcast Levin did on this. It is so interesting how the actions of one person could affect generations that come after them in a very negative way. In this case, Taylor’s scheming has cemented this negative stereotype about poor people and especially poor people of color on government assistance as being lazy “takers.”

But it is not just her fault, politicians on both sides of the aisle have used this welfare trope to demonize poor people. Yes, Reagan used Linda Taylor to win elections and stir up subtle racism, but it was Bill Clinton who pushed for welfare reform to stir up middle-class resentment.

I also found her upbringing quite interesting. She was born to a white mother and a black father in the Jim Crow South, and the mother’s family rejected her biracial daughter. Linda ran away at an early age and went onto to live a bizarre life of crime. While her early life doesn’t make any excuses for her crimes of fraud, theft, kidnapping and possibly murder, it was clear that this woman had mental health issues along with going through an identity crisis.

This book is not just about race, both it’s also about class and how the politics of dog whistles can leave a lasting impression.

Reread Book Club: Just Mercy

Book: Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption
Author: Bryan Stevenson
Times Read: 2

I reread this book for a book group at my local library recently. Stevenson is an amazing writer who helped to humanize the complex topic of the death penalty. Americans have been programmed to assume that if someone is on death row, they are automatically the worst person ever and deserve to die. In many cases, death row inmates deserve to die, but, as this book points out, it isn’t that simple.

I’m against the death penalty in most cases not because it is cruel and unusual, but because it is unfairly administered. Most people executed are people of color and/or poor people who can’t afford decent counsel. Also, it costs less to keep someone in jail for life than on death row, and a lot of Americans are starting to think this same way.

Maybe when rich white men start to get executed, I might change my mind.

Luckily, for now, HBO is putting out a new documentary about the Equal Justice Initiative and a feature film about the book that is being developed now starring Michael B. Jordan.

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