ebooks The Black Calhouns: From Civil War to Civil Rights with One African American Family by Gail Lumet Buckley in History

Review

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful. A History book of another colorBy Herbert L CalhounThis Roots-like journey back through both black; and American history; of one black family; reminds us of many lessons about this country; lessons that cannot be avoided. Perhaps foremost among them is just how deeply drilled into the psyche and consciousness of everyone who lives in the US is the sickness of white supremacy and white racism.The other enduring lesson is just how difficult it is to avoid being infected by this disease. For like a poison fog; white racism and white supremacy descend upon the nation at night and chokes the life out of all in it in their sleep. If you inhale it you die just as surely as you do if you hold your breathe. No one in America; Brazil; or South Africa can escape its ill-effects. The disease of white racism and white supremacy are the waters that we swim in and breathe each day. There is no escape from it; period.The saddest truism is that white racism in these societies trump all other values. No values are prior to; or more sacred than; the mindless edicts imposed on these societies by the rules of race. Neither intelligence; patriotism; industriousness; religiosity; and especially not freedom or liberty; can take precedence over the rules of race. As a result; the hope and dream of ever being un-encumbered by white racism; remains a pipe dream; one to forever remain just beyond the reach of those who believe in the promise of this nation. At least that was the truth of the journey and life of my namesake; the Calhouns.The story of this branch of the Calhouns; began right after the Civil War; and ends with the story of the life and times of perhaps the most famous of all the black Calhouns; Lena Mary Calhoun Horne; and her daughter; the author of this book. I am sure our bloodlines cross somewhere as it seems self-evident that my family's roots also vector back to the John C. Calhoun plantation.From Moses Calhoun; to Lena Horne and beyond; the reader will discover just what made the black descendants of house servants successful. And while it is never admitted openly; it is clear from the unacknowledged subtext of this book; that it had a lot to do with their DNA; with their white genes acquired in the usual way: through rape of young sexually ripe black female house servants by their white masters.This DNA allowed the black Calhouns; to claim a favored spot at the top of the black social food chain. Owing primarily to having near-white skin; some were allowed to "pass for white;" or to marry into the talented tenth of the black race. And while many did succeed without the advantages of white DNA; the black bourgeoise skillfully played all sides of the racial fence. When it suited them; they formed alliances with powerful white men; and when it was convenient; they also practiced their own kind of trickle-down second-order racism against their own kind -- that is to say; against darker or less fortunate blacks.The black community in most cities; both North and South; had their own unwritten color-coded charts in which skin color was as vital for success within the black race; as it was in dealing cross-racially with racist whites. Blacks communities were created to reflect white superiority back to whites through the racist mirror called American society. And thus following Booker T rather than WEB Dubois; for the most part blacks were like compliant children: faithful; simple; obedient; ignorant and cheerful.We were a race of children with a talented tenth fringe on top. The subjectivity of what made racist whites evil was (and still is) not a topic up for discussion. Today; it remains just as James Weldon Johnson put it in 1917 Atlanta: "The race problem in the United States has resolved itself into a question of saving black men's bodies and white men's souls."I will end my review of this wonderfully crafted book by saying that I would have been remiss not to have exposed the pregnant underbelly of white racism that still is the most salient (and only) element in American culture -- witness the "Donald Trump effect" today.But of course the events of black history in the foreground of this narrative are at least as important as the white racism that runs parallel to it in the subtext. This review; in the face of emphasizing so much black suffering; is just a warning not to forget what organizes the mind of black people everywhere and at all times; just as surely as it does white people -- even if both are pretending that race is nowhere present. Five Stars2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. The combination of love and neglect in her mother's difficult childhood makes one ...By Calvin CrawlThe author; in my opinion; succeeded in acquainting the reader with several generations of Black Calhoun descendants; their contributions and the relevant history of African Americans at the time. The combination of love and neglect in her mother's difficult childhood makes one marvel at the adult she became. That Lena Horne and her family had the courage of their convictions is made quite clear. Ms. Horne; like many members of the Calhoun family; was a very accomplished person. Ms. Horne's life touches on the lives of so many black notables such as Paul Robeson; Cab Callaway; Noble Sissle; Joe Lewis; William E. B. Du Bois; James Baldwin and many others. As a black person in entertainment; she also had friends and supporters among many American notables such as Cole Porter; Frank Sinatra; Humphrey Bogart; Bettie Davis; Kate Thompson; Edward G. Robinson; Barbara Stanwyck; Katharine Hepburn; Gregory Peck; Joan Crawford and James Cagney. The book goes beyond the author's mother's life and family to include African-American history with regard to achievement in Atlanta's blacks; black migration; and black entertainment. it's a good read.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Lena's LegacyBy Georgia Ann MullenHistory; culture and equality--or lack of it--in one book. Eye opening. I read a lot of similar books; but this one was particularly enjoyable. Tracing the family from slavery and freed blacks down to one of the greatest singers of all time is enlightening.