The African-American actors and actresses whose names have shone brightly on Broadway marquees earned their place in history not only through hard work; perseverance; and talent; but also because of the legacy left by those who came before them. Like the doors of many professions; those of the theater world were shut to minorities for decades. While the Civil War may have freed the slaves; it was not until the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s that the playing field began to level. In this remarkable book; theater producer and historian Stewart F. Lane uses words and pictures to capture this tumultuous century and to highlight the rocky road that black actors have travelled to reach recognition on the Great White Way. After the Civil War; the popularity of the minstrel shows grew by leaps and bounds throughout the country. African Americans were portrayed by whites; who would entertain audiences in black face. While the depiction of blacks was highly demeaning; it opened the door to African-American performers; and by the late 1800s; a number of them were playing to full houses. By the 1920s; the Jazz Age was in full swing; allowing black musicians and composers to reach wider audiences. And in the thirties; musicals such as George Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess and Eubie Blake’s Swing It opened the door a little wider. As the years passed; black performers continued to gain ground. In the 1940s; Broadway productions of Cabin in the Sky; Carmen Jones; and St. Louis Woman enabled African Americans to demonstrate a fuller range of talents; and Paul Robeson reached national prominence in his awarding-winning portrayal of Othello. By the 1950s and ’60s; more black actors―including Ruby Dee; Ossie Davis; and Sidney Poitier―had found their voices on stage; and black playwrights and directors had begun to make their marks. Black Broadway provides an entertaining; poignant history of a Broadway of which few are aware. By focusing a spotlight on both performers long forgotten and on those whom we still hold dear; this unique book offers a story well worth telling.
#4629171 in Books Virgin Books 2007-08-01 2010-03-09Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 7.25 x 1.00 x 5.00l; .66 #File Name: 0753511940304 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. very informative and objectiveBy YanoAn excellent book to know more about Islam.I really appreciate the different angles of presentation:- faith- history- sects- muslim presence in the world; by each countryIt is clear and very factual. A must read; in my opinion; to understand the world we live in.The authors stick to the facts; except for a couple of short aparté in the whole book. So it makes for pretty raw reading. Compilation of infos like in a school book.Yet; there is not so much that it would become overwhelming.I picked this one in a good library after browsing the section; and am happy about my choice.8 of 9 people found the following review helpful. Some good info but often inaccurate and polemicalBy Gerard LynchThis is a 2003 rewrite of a 1990 book; dealing with Islamic history; theology and culture. Written by non-Muslims with no particular axe; pro- or anti-Islamic; to grind; it would seem to be an ideal introduction for non-Muslims. However it is riddled with errors; dismally proofread; and on occasions the authors just can't put their polemic aside.On the plus side to start with - it has a very useful brief introduction to early Islamic history; and it deals with the different schools of Shari'a jurisprudence in a readable and crisp manner. It also presents a useful; though occasionally inaccurate; section on various sects of Islam. Useful if you're confused as to the difference between the Shi'i and the Sunni.However; from here the book starts going wrong. Firstly; the proofreading is dreadful. The Arabic name for Morocco; al-Maghrib; apparently means the West or the 'sunrise'. Er; don't know about your planet lads; but on mine the sun rises in the East. The section on the United Arab Emirates tells us there are 6 emirates in the UEA (sic); having listed 7 on the same page.The gross factual errors are even worse. Istanbul; they tell us; means 'City of Islam'... er; um; no; that would be 'Islaminsehri'. Istanbul is actually a Turkicisation of the Greek 'i stan polis'; or in the city. Alawites are apparently confined to Syria and Lebanon... er; that might surprise the 15 million or so Turkish Alevi; who form the largest Alawaite community in the world.Finally; when they come to the section on Islamic countries; you know who they don't like; and in this case arch-enemies No. 1 and 2 are Turkey and Pakistan. Blinded by their own political convictions; they fail to do justice to the complexities of either country.Also lacking in that section is any analysis of countries where Muslims are not at least half the population - as a result important and ancient Muslim communities in India and China are ignored; as is the Islamic diaspora in Europe; as are the growing Islamic communities of countries like Kenya and South Africa.There is some useful information in this book; but in a crowded market you can do much better.4 of 5 people found the following review helpful. Heavy with Opinion; Light on FactsBy Wayne Beckham"What is Islam" is the product of two tabloid journalists; Chris Horrie and Peter Chippindale; whose previous titles include "Stick It Up Your Punter" and "The Man Who Was Screaming Lord Sutch." Chris Horrie is described (in a November 2002 interview with NPR's "On the Media") as an expert on English tabloids. In "What is Islam" you see the proof of that assertion.As previously pointed out; the book is riddled with simple errors (al-Magrib; al-'Arabi means "place of sunset" or "western" in Arabic) that anyone with access to the internet should have been able to discover. It also meanders from topic-to-topic; each only peripherally related to the subject that preceded it. Smack in the middle of the book is a tedious chronology; followed; only then; by a description of the sects in Islam.As far as this being the "revised and updated" version; the only evidence I could find of that was Chapter 10; an ill-reasoned and thinly veiled attack on America. Without citation or proof; it claims that George "Dubya" Bush declared a new crusade against all of Islam - never mind the careful pronouncements by the administration that Islam was a religion of peace hijacked by a minority of extremists. To expose the (supposed) ignorance and deep paranoia of America; Chris and Pete resort to linking American policies to the extremist positions of an obscure "Professor Huntington." After establishing this as their only source of information; they inform the world that America fears that; (on Page 104) "the far more technologically adept Confucian civilization of the Far East (which includes Japan) will finance the Islamic world and; in due course; supply it with all the high technology it could possibly require. Thus; at some unknown point in the near future; the West will face a deadly foe in the form of billions of fanatical Muslim fighters; financed and armed with high-tech weaponry by the latter-day space-age Chinese Emperor."In "What is Islam" Chris and Pete's version of hyperbolic yellow journalism reaches new heights.As far as the descriptions of Islam; such the five pillars of the faith and the difference between Shia and Sunni; you could have gotten more facts; without the editorial comment; by browsing any online encyclopedia.For the totally misinformed; this will be an easy read; aimed at the lowest common denominator. As such; you'd be better off picking up a tract from your local Masjid or Mosque. Or better yet; find an actual Muslim source for your investigations into Islam.
