Category: Biographies

My Story-Marilyn Monroe with Ben Hecht

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marilynMarilyn Monroe remains to this day one of Hollywood’s biggest sex symbols.  Her image continues to be promoted today through articles about her life, books, posters and even documentaries.  When she died suddenly on August 5, 1962, she left behind millions of fans, a career and a film industry in which she was at the top of its list of stars. Her marriages and love affairs have been documented relentlessly and her sex appealed is desired by young men looking to be the next great sex symbol in Hollywood. But just who was the real Marilyn Monroe?   When she died she was only thirty-six years of age, far too young to have written a complete autobiography or to have experienced all that life has to offer.  However, prior to her death, she had begun to tell her life story to friend and business associate Milton Green.  Green kept the manuscript along with thousands of photos he took of the late actress. His son Joshua, has preserved the images digitally restoring them in the process.  When he found the manuscript he had it published into this short but revealing book about the early life of Norma Jean Mortenson.

This book is her story told in her own words. Her story is not glamorous nor is it tragic. In fact, aside from her early childhood memories and living situation that changed regularly, there isn’t much that stands out in the way of chaos.  For the most part, she was a normal girl trying to have a normal life. I believe that is imperative that the reader abandon any preconceived notions about Monroe’s life.  Her marriage to Joe DiMaggio and later love affair with President Kennedy are fodder for gossip columns and distract from her life behind the camera.   In fact,  the images we see of her on film and in pictures do not come close to revealing the real Marilyn Monroe.

It is incredible that fifty-four years after her death that you can still find her face on posters at most stores.  Recently on a trip to IKEA, a poster with her image was among the many that the store sells.  In just thirty-six years, she created a legacy that is certain to last for an eternity.   Sadly, the book ends right after she marries DiMaggio.  She has just set out to entertain troops in Korea.  We know that there is more to her story and that her life took a darker and more sinister turn.  Rumors about the real cause or her death have survived since she passed and show no signs of slowing down.   It remains to be seen if we will ever know the truth about her death and why it happened.  And even if the truth is known,  the loss of the late icon will still be felt.

Her story is short but highly entertaining.  There are no pieces of gossip about other stars and it will be surprising for some to learn how unassuming she actually was at the time.  She is very candid about her experiences and gives of a welcoming charm that explains the never-ending infatuation the media has with her. I believe that if she had lived, she would have finished this manuscript and it would be by far one of the best autobiographies we have seen.  But even in its shortness, Marilyn does a good job of telling us her story.

ISBN-10: 1589793161
ISBN-13: 978-1589793163

When We Rise: Coming of Age in San Francisco, AIDS, and My Life in the Movement-Cleve Jones

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Cleve1This past November marked thirty-eight years since City Supervisor Harvey Milk and George Moscone were shot and killed by Dan White. Their murders and the sentencing of Dan White to just five years in prison, led to the White Night Riots and filled the LGBT community of San Franciscans with shame and disgust.  After serving several years in prison, Dan White committed suicide in 1981.  Milk’s life was adapted for the silver screen in the Gus Van Sant directed biopic Milk. Sean Penn assumed the role of Milk in what became on his greatest performances. Josh Brolin took on the role of the film’s antagonist, Dan White and turned in an equally great performance.  They were joined in the cast by James Franco, Alison Pill, Diego Luna and Emile Hirsch who plays the role of activist Cleve Jones.  Jones is the most energetic character in the film and serves as Milk’s second in command as they take of Anita Bryant, John Briggs and Proposition 6.

Nearly forty years after their groundbreaking efforts, Jones has penned this autobiography which is not only the story of his life but also about that remarkable time in the Castro when men and women came together to effect profound change in the way Americans thought about sexuality.  And as one of Milk’s closest associates, he gives additional insight into how and why many of their decisions came about.   The film is about Milk and because Jones is a supporting character, his life is never explored except for the fact that he is from Phoenix, AZ. But was we learn in the book,  his life story is simply extraordinary and could easily be adapted for the silver screen itself.  Having been a first hand witness to all the major hurdles to be overcome in the movement, he is a treasure trove of history and knowledge.   And the revelations in the book about his life and those around him are intriguing and also surprising.   As an activist for the rights of the LGBT community, it is to be expected that he faced a severe amount of hate, bigotry and backlash for his efforts.  It is detailed in the book and will be tough for some readers to get through but it is necessary in understanding the importance of the movement in which he partook.

Incredibly, he came out to his parents at a young age, but as opposed to what is shown in the film, he had already traveled in and out of the United State and across it even before he formed his allegiance with Milk.  The early part of his life is incredible but will resonate with the hearts and minds of those who have the passion for travel. His meetings with Milk and subsequent involvement in Milk’s campaign signified the alignment of two minds united in a common cause.  Much younger than Milk, he becomes a student of the movement and quickly makes his mark.  And following Milk’s death, he became one of the loudest voices in keeping Milk’s memory and legacy alive. But what is overlooked is his life after Milk’s death which took on yet another critical turn with the onset of the AIDS epidemic.  While Milk is covered in the book, this is not the story of Harvey Milk, this is Jones story and this time, Milk is the supporting character.

Accurately portrayed in And The Band Played On, San Francisco became ground zero for the growing HIV epidemic originally believed to be a “gay cancer”.  Today we know that the term is pure nonsense and was fabricated by those ignorant of how HIV is spread. His account of the growing crisis which affect those around him is heartbreaking but an all too common story of hundreds or perhaps thousands of LGBT men and women who lived during the era.  He does not try to explain the crisis but does lend a voice to what he saw and heard through his experiences and relationships with many of the late leading figures such as activist Bill Kraus and author Randy Shilts.  And his own story is guaranteed to leave the reader both shocked and angered in regards to the political and social climate that once existed broadly in America and in some places still does.  In spite of everything that happened and his personal struggles, he is still here and his voice is still relevant. He is in an integral part in San Francisco and American history.

Jones is a lifelong activist and his work on behalf of the movement has never ended. In the second half of the book, he tells even more about the continuing movement, his role and life at the time.  The battle for marriage equality became the most important crusade and the Supreme Court’s decision deeming parts of Proposition 8 unconstitutional, became a landmark moment in the mission for true equality.  Jones was there as a witness and participant and his memories of the effort are important and a testimony that deserves both preservation and exploration.  Many years after he is gone, we will look back on his words to understand the enormous amount of work that goes into a movement and the courage that is required to face the daily threat of harm and death. This is his story, one that transcends across all social spectrums and is a historical record of pivotal times in the continuing evolution of the United States of America.

ISBN-10: 0316315435
ISBN-13: 978-0316315432

Dorothy Dandridge: A Biography-Donald Bogle

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20180603_133915In 1955, Dorothy Dandridge was nominated for Best Leading Actress in a Leading Role for her performance in “Carmen Jones”.  Her nomination marked the first time an African-American woman had been considered for the prized recognition. Ten years later she was gone, having died of an accidental overdose of prescription pills on September 8, 1965.  She was forty-two years old.  Her rise and fall in Hollywood is one of the most tragic stories of the era and she joins the ranks of other fallen female greats such as Billie Holiday and Marilyn Monroe.  She left behind a legacy that is undeniable and she broke down barriers that other African-American female stars faced prior to her rise to stardom.  But for all of her success on the silver screen, Dandridge’s personal life as shown here in this definitive biography by Donald Bogle, shows a woman who struggled throughout her life with her childhood, motherhood, fame, success and love.  Her story is largely forgotten but at one point in America history she was one of Hollywood’s biggest actresses.

Today she is rarely mentioned and her name has faded into history.  Often eclipsed by the memories of Lena Horne, Diahann Carroll and the late Holiday,  she reached heights that few of her contemporaries could only dream of.  The pictures in the book and the descriptions given by those who knew her show prove that she truly was one of the most gorgeous women that the film industry had ever seen.  But hidden from the public light was the reality that an incredibly gifted artist was struggling with demons, some of which plague her up until her death.  Bogle did an exceptional job of capturing the essence of her life and remains biased throughout the book.  He is neither for against her but examines her life in its entirety.  Through his engaging writing style, he transports us back into time to an era where films featuring African-Americans and other minorities were considered to be “race films”.  A thoroughly segregated Hollywood in conjunction with prevailing attitudes at the time about race delegated African-American stars to stereotypical roles that gave them no recognition or opportunities to perfect their craft.  They were forced to suffer indignation on a recurrent basis and frequently barred from socializing in the very places in which they had just performed.   The plight of the African-American film and musical star during the era of Jim Crow policies cast the United States is a dreadful light in the eyes of the world.  Nonetheless it would be many years before the pioneering efforts of Dandridge and other stars paid off.  Today it is unfathomable to think that a performer cannot stay in the hotel in which they had just performed because of their skin color.  But for her and others that was the standard method of procedure.  The Last Frontier Hotel’s draining of its swimming pool to prevent Dandridge from swimming in it, is just one example of the extremes taken to keep segregation alive and heavily enforced.  But as her star rose and she gained famed, she began to possess the power to break down those barriers and she did so unapologetically.

She remain firmly committed to the cause of civil rights her whole life and despite the love she displayed for others, it was an area in which she struggled throughout her life.  And as we see in the book, he attempts at domestic happiness and motherhood are nothing short of heartbreaking.   Her failings and insecurities are explored in the book and the details about her childhood will shock many readers who are new to her story.   But the incidents, both positive and negative, are necessary in understanding exactly who Dorothy Jean Dandridge really was.  Bogle conducted extensive discussions with those who knew her including her late sister Vivian, friend Geri Branton and other Hollywood names.  Branton provides the bulk of the crucial parts of Dandridge’s life and stands out in the book as her closest supporter.

The book is an incredible account of the life of a fallen legend.  Her life was complex and cursed with a tragic fate.  But for those looking to learn the true story of Dorothy Dandridge, this is the place to begin.  So come along with Bogle and explore the life of one of Black America’s forgotten icons whose life was filled with fame, success, destitution, death and encounters with some of the biggest names in the 20th century film industry including, Otto Preminger, Phil Moore, Samuel Goldwyn, Peter Lawford, Harry Belafonte and the legendary Sammy Davis, Jr.  She is long gone but for a generation of older Americans, she lives on as the immortal Carmen Jones.  And for the younger generation of Americans, this is a place to learn about woman who transcended racial and gender lines to become a mythical figure in her own right.

ISBN-10: 1572972920
ISBN-13: 978-1572972926

Romero: A Life-The Essential Biography of a Modern Martyr and Christian Hero-James R. Brockman

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The evRomeroening of March 24, 1980 marked a changed in the course of the history of El Salvador.  In the evening of that day, Archbishop Oscar Romero was shot and fatally wounded as he conducted a mass for his followers.  He is rushed to a nearby hospital but quickly succumbs to his wounds.  His death plunges the nation in mourning and earns widespread condemnation across the globe. On May 23, 2015, thirty-five years after his death, he was beatified.  In El Salvador his grave site is destination for visitors curious about the martyred priest.  On the silver screen, he was brilliantly portrayed by the late Raul Julia in the 1989 film ‘Romero’. Following his death, the country fell deeper into civil war and chaos resulting in the deaths of thousands of El Salvadorans. And to this day, the country continues to heal itself from the brutal system of tyranny and murder that plagued the nation for decades.

It is fair to argue that Romero is more popular in death than in life.  Today he is faintly remembered but during his time, his voice was one of the loudest to be heard from Central America.  James Brockman takes another look at the life of the mythical figure.  The book clearly is a biography of Romero and traces his origins to his hometown of Ciudad Barrios.  The day-to-day experiences of his life are included in detail but more focus is placed upon Romero’s later years as he struggles to maintain his place as Archbishop among dissidents and seeks to have the government investigate and subsequently punish those responsible for the wave of murders of clergy that gripped the country.  Disappearances, assassinations and other crimes of unspeakable horror surrounded Romero forcing him into a position that would earn him praise and bring about his demise.

Brockman creatively uses Romero’s own words in parts of the book to highlight his thinking and clarify the positions that he took.  As we follow Romero’s last few years on earth, we are periodically reminded of the endless number of priests that fell victim to gunfire as they spoke out against the crimes destroying their country.  We travel with Romero on his two trips to Rome where he seeks guidance about his role in El Salvador and back to his native land as he attempts to steer the congregation and nation towards a better path in the face of an administration infiltrated by corruption and incompetence. As a member of the clergy and voice of the people, the selflessness displayed by Romero in his frugal way of life and tireless efforts to help those in need, exemplify the highest character that a Christian can seek to possess.  Not without his faults, he remains an icon for those who advocate for love, prosperity and the messages of the Catholic Church.

For some readers, parts in the book may be hard to accept.  The stark truth as exposed by Brockman is that during the 1970s and 1980s, El Salvador found itself at the doorstep of anarchy.  The accounts of murders, kidnappings and disappearances of common people is alarming and tragic.  The crimes and the victims force us to ask ourselves why people can commit those acts towards each other.  Someone very close to me was born in this small Central American nation and has told me stories of the fragile state of the nation and her family’s  escape from a life that was a living hell.  Today her parents have since returned to the land they call home but it is much different from the nation that they left many years ago. The country is no longer in a civil war but struggles to combat the rise of gang warfare that centers around the notorious MS-13.  But there was a time when El Salvador was one of the most dangerous places on earth and a priest tried his best to salvage what was left of it.  This is his story and the truth about his words and actions.

ISBN-10: 157075599X
ISBN-13: 978-1570755996

The Murder of Sonny Liston: Las Vegas, Heroin and Heavyweights-Shaun Assael

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sonnyOn December 30, 1970, Charles “Sonny” Liston (1932-1970) died at his home in Las Vegas, Nevada at the age of thirty-eight. His body was discovered six days later by his wife Geraldine when she returned home from a trip out-of-state with Liston’s son Daniel.   It was first suspected that Liston, a known user of heroin, had overdosed.  But it was later declared by the coroner’s office that he died of natural causes.  To this day it is the official cause of death.  The late Liston is remembered as one of the greatest boxers to ever grace a ring. His battles in and out of the ring with Muhammad Ali are some of boxing’s most entertaining moments.  Although Liston lacked the personality of Ali or the flair of Floyd Mayweather, Jr., he was feared in the ring as a powerhouse of a brawler unafraid to go in and demolish whoever stood in front of him.  His personality in the ring was a direct reflection of his personality outside the ring in a life full of twist, turns and ultimately tragedy.  Shaun Assael recounts the short and tragic life of Liston and his death which he believes was in fact a homicide that was wrongly classified at the time of Liston’s death.

Las Vegas is known as the City of Sin and the places where secrets remain after visitors have made their destinations back home. But for those who live in or near Vegas, the lure of casinos, fame, glory, drugs and a fast life are sometimes too great of a temptation to resist.  For Liston, the question that always remains is why was he drawn to the dark side of Vegas to begin with?  His successes in the ring earned him a spot in boxing history and with a good financial advisor, he could have put his earnings towards good use.  But as we learn in the book, Liston suffered from the same problem that plagued a number of African-American athletes during those times, he was functionally illiterate and immersed in a boxing world controlled by crooked managers and dark figures from the criminal underworld.  In fact, boxing was so infiltrated by crime figures, that Liston himself once appeared before the famed Este Kefauver to answer questions about the organized crime influence in professional boxing.  The mafia, fast women, drugs and money engulfed Liston in one of America’s fastest cities that has claimed the lives of many including the late Tupac Shakur (1971-1996).

As a former heavyweight champion, Liston enjoyed many privileges in the City of  Sin.  But those privileges came with a price, a heavy one that eventually claimed his life.  His actions and the situations that developed are sometimes unbelievable. But they also highlight the mindset Liston was in as his addiction to heroin grew and his grip on reality slipped.  A lifestyle such as Liston’s typically results in a few conclusions and death is one of them.  His demons stayed with him throughout his life all the way up until his last moments on that tragic December night. But for all of his mistakes and untimely end, his accomplishments remain as an example of a rags to riches story common in America.  As one of 24 children, he rose to stardom with literally nothing but the clothes on his back.  An arrest and time in prison became a blessing in disguise that launched him onto the path that became his life’s calling.  But Liston’s brutish personality and addiction to things that served no good purpose in his life became the foundation for the house of cards that eventually collapsed. Nevertheless, Liston remains an icon and one of boxing’s all-time greats. Assael has provided yet another crucial look into the life and death of the great Sonny Liston.

ISBN-10: 039916975X
ISBN-13: 978-0399169755

The Last Testament of Lucky Luciano- Martin A. Gosch & Richard Hammer

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16057485-_uy200_January 26, 1962, Naples, Italy – Salvatore Lucania, also known as Charlie Luciano and Lucky Luciano, dies of a massive heart attack at Naples Airport at the age of 64.  The aging mobster had suffered several recent heart attacks and had arrived at the airport to meet film producer Martin Gosch, who was to adapt a screenplay of the legendary mobster’s life.  Luciano had resided in Italy since February, 1946 when he left New York Harbor for the last time.  The terms of his parole, granted after lending his help to the allied effort in World War II, required that he leave the United States and never return. Tragically, it wasn’t until death that he was allowed to come home when he was interned at St. John’s Cemetery in Middle Village, Queens, New York.

Luciano never wrote an autobiography and it is for this reason I’d like to point out that this is not his autobiography.  This book is based on notes from the conversations that Gosch (1911-1973) had with Luciano before his death during the years 1961-1962.  Gosch has long been deceased.  Richard Hammer is still alive and has commented on the criticism that the book received. He admits that the originals of the notes are no longer in existence and much of what Luciano said is hard to verify.  With that in mind, I think it is wise to remember that the book is a look at this life but not a word for word autobiography.   And since Luciano is also deceased, he is unable to verify its contents.  But I think on the whole, the book is a good look into the New York underworld of that era and the major players.  The major events in the book are true and have been well documented. The smaller day-to-day events, transactions are thoughts alleged to have come from Luciano himself are sometimes questionable.  Do I believe that all of the statements attributed to Luciano are true? No, but I do believe a large number are probably accurate.

It would have been great if Luciano could have either written this himself or given his approval but since neither is possible, this is the closest we have to any type of statement by Luciano about his life aside from the postcards, letters and other miscellaneous documents in his writing that are currently in existence. Mafia bosses have rarely written or verbally told their life story with the exception of Joseph Bonanno who broke from the norm publishing a book of his life in the mafia. But what we do know is that Luciano was in negotiations to have a movie based on his life produced.  His untimely death canceled any possible deal and the project has been lost to history.

His role in the reorganization of the American mafia can never be understated but it can be overstated.  To many he is the man who built the modern-day mafia but to others, just a smaller part of a big effort to change the  direction of organized crime in the United States.  Here is and his story is left up to the reader to cast judgment.  Frank Costello, Meyer Lansky, Bugsy Siegel, Thomas Dewey and all of the big names from the era make an appearance in the book resulting in an engaging tale that pulls the reader in from start to finish.  But it is important to remember that sometimes the line between fiction and non-fiction can become slightly blurred. Nonetheless, it’s a good look at the legendary figure.

ISBN-10: 1936274574
ISBN-13: 978-1936274574

Stokely: A Life-Peniel E. Joseph

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Each year as we revisit the civil rights movement and the contributions of African-Americans,  those of us old enough to remember the movement and the violent and turbulent decade of the 1960s, will recall vivid memories of Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X and the Black Panther Party, among others.  The movement contained dozens of highly gifted and intellectual activists whose rhetoric and charisma often galvanized an entire audience. Among these gifted orators was Stokely Carmichael, later known as Kwame Ture. Although he died on November 15, 1998 after  a battle with prostate cancer, his legacy continues and he is remembered by many as one of the most passionate and controversial voices at the time.

The native of Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, left a mark on America, even after relocating to Guinea under the government of Ahmed Sékou Touré.  As we look back on his life in this phenomenal biography by Peniel E. Joseph, we are able to revisit a life that was nothing short of extraordinary and spanned across three continents.  Present at nearly every major event of the movement and associate of many of its pioneers, his actions and movements resulted in both praise and consternation from his peers.  His fiery and passionate speeches, encouraging armed struggle, earned him the wrath of several presidents and a spot on the FBI’s list of racial radicals.  He was so despised, that the U.S. government even attempted to prevent him from leaving the country.  And throughout all of this and much more, Carmichael remained committed to the struggle with the full intent of overturning what he saw as an unjust and morally corrupt government and society.

Reading about icons is never easy for that they have as many negative traits as they do positive.  We sometimes make them out to be larger than life but in the process often forget that they are also human.  Failed romances, a troubled marriage, adultery and accusations of misogyny, plagued Carmichael throughout his life.  And for some of his peers, his words were far more extreme than they were willing to accept. Thoroughly researched and presented in an engaging style that keeps the reading stuck to the pages, the book is a gem and a pleasure to read.  In publishing this masterful work, Joseph as done a service to Carmichael’s legacy.   We also revisit the friendships and enemies that were mainstays of his life which including Eldridge Cleaver, Huey P. Newton, Martin Luther King, Jr., Idi Amin and Harry Belafonte to name a few.  And is through these relationships and the public battles he waged, that Kwame Ture was eventually born.

His tragic death at the age of 57, prevented him from seeing the results from the monumental efforts put forth by activists and Carmichael himself.  If he were alive today, perhaps he would still be calling for Pan-Africanism and armed struggled. But I do believe he would feel vindicated by his prior radical beliefs.   Jim Crow has long been demolished and America has made great strides in living up to the reputation as the land of freedom and democracy. Far from perfect, the nation continues to reexamine itself in the effort to move forward progressively.  And as we do move forward, Stokely’s words will be there to remind us of the pitfalls of oppression and ignorance.  He will always been controversial to many but we can all agree that he remains one of the most colorful and dynamic figures in the history of the civil rights movement.

ISBN-10: 0465013635
ISBN-13: 978-0465013630

Young, Black and Determined: A Biography of Lorraine Hansberry-Patricia C. McKissack and Fredrick L. McKissack

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20180602_215808January 12, 2017 will mark fifty-two years since Lorraine Vivian Hansberry (1930-1965) died at the age of thirty-four after a long battle with intestinal cancer. Her masterpiece A Raisin In The Sun and the Broadway play of the same name, broke new ground in America for African-American playwrights. In fact, her play was the first by an African-American woman to have a run on Broadway.  The story of the Younger family has been played out in cities all over the country as people have desired to leave their own communities in search of a better quality of life. The book remains her most popular work but just who was the real Lorraine Hansberry?  In this biography, Patricia and Fredrick McKissack tell the story of the playwright’s life from start to finish. And what we see is the formation of the one of the most gifted Americans to have ever lived.

Tupac Shakur had always mentioned Hansberry as one of his idols. The same applies for the myself.  Her tragic death at such a young age, is one literature’s and society’s greatest losses.   She was born into a family of descendants of slaves on both sides but grew up in a very affluent household.  Educated in schools of high prestige and was surrounded by family members committed to excellence who instilled in her from a young age, a commitment to excellence and other traits that remained with her through life as she becomes a playwright and spokeswoman for the growing movement to eradicate Jim Crow and obtain civil rights for all people in the United States.

The Lorraine we come to know as we read through the book, is one who is not afraid to break new ground, challenge social norms and express her thoughts.  She remains disturbed by racial prejudice, war and poverty.   Writing becomes her outlet and as a result, she produced classic works that have stood the test of time.  Her personal life in many ways, made as much of a statement as her works of fiction.  She was present at the now famous meeting with then Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, in which she and several other activists made their case for civil rights heard.  Kennedy came away from the meeting browbeaten but in just a few short years, he would become a candidate for President of the United States and a leading icon of the movement to reshape America through a liberal lens.   Her marriage to Robert Nemiroff was a social taboo at the time and illegal in some states.  She smoked cigarettes, supported the gay cause, wore long pants and even challenged Malcolm X on his views against interracial marriage during his tenure under the Nation of Islam.  Reportedly, the two became friends later on.  Never one to be controlled, she lived her life on her own terms and at her own pace. And even as she was dying from terminal cancer, she continued with her work while focusing on the many issues that continued to plague Black Americans.  Her vivacious personality, sharp mind and literary skill, earned her the respect, admiration and friendship of an endless list of writers, actors, government officials and activists.

Today I often wonder what would she think if she were alive today, about the current state of America. I think she would ask us if we have learned anything from A Raisin In The Sun.  More than fifty-seven years later,  America still struggles with acceptance of those of us that come from different countries, speak different languages, eat different foods and worship different gods.  We have come a long way since Hansberry’s time and  are decades past the inhumane system of Jim Crow.  However, we still have a long path in front of us where much work is needed.  If she were here with us, she would encourage us to continue to make our voices heard in opposition to injustices afflicted upon anyone of any background.  As A Raisin in the Sun continues to be re-made for film, television and Broadway, Hansberry lives on in immortality with her words continuing to remind us of the importance of self-reflection and the struggles we all face.

I highly recommend that anyone who is a fan of Lorraine Hansberry read this biography of her life.  She and her family were quite unique in many ways but Lorraine by far was the standout.  As a person who loves literature, it would have been a pleasure to just sit and talk with her about a range of topics.  Reading through her material, I have become acquainted with a voice that touches deep inside human emotion forcing us to confront the very things we wish did not exist.  Had she lived, I believe her career would have reached new heights and Broadway would have been in her debt. This is the life of Lorraine Vivian Hansberry.

“Never be afraid to sit awhile and think”. -Lorraine V.  Hansberry

ISBN-10: 0823413004
ISBN-13: 978-0823413003

Code Talker: The First and Only Memoir by One of the Original Navajo Code Talkers of WWII-Chester Nez with Judith Schiess Avila

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Alan Turing is famously remembered for developing the machine used to crack the encrypted messages of the German military during World War II.  However, in the Pacific, where fighting against the Japanese army and navy was just as brutal, coded messages sometimes meant the difference between life and death.  U.S. military officials, looking to gain the advantage  in the battles against Japan, decided to use a language unknown to the Japanese that could be used to transmit highly important messages between soldiers and commanders.  Officials decided to try a new approach and selected members of the Navajo tribes. Chester Nez (1921-2014), one of the original Navajo code talkers, presents his autobiography with the help of Judith Schiess Avila.

A native of New Mexico, Nez begins his odyssey when he and fellow Navajo tribe members enlist into the United States Marine Corps. They are told they will have to develop a secret code based of their native tongue.  But just how do you develop a code from a language which isn’t written in any shape or form? Navajo is a rare language in that it is taught by word of mouth and not through books.  The young code talkers start working and as we see in Chester’s memories, they develop a code that proved to be unbreakable throughout the entire war.  The code was so secret, that it wasn’t declassified until 1968.  And even today, their story is still largely unknown and many of them remain unsung heroes in the story of World War II.

In 2001, Nez received the Congressional Medal of Honor from then president, George W. Bush.  As he explains in the book, it was one of his proudest moments and he proudly served the nation he’s always called home.  His courage and patriotism are remarkable considering that in grade school at Fort Defiance, the students were prohibited from using their native Navajo language and were subjected to physical punishment as a result. But when the Marines came calling, Chester and his friends answered the call and in the process would change the course of World War II.  His story is an invaluable part of American history as today, Native Americans still struggled with the dark history of the United States which includes acts of extreme violence and prejudice to those of Native American heritage.  This book should be required reading by all students and for those who find English to be a second language, his courage and acts of heroism can serve as positive reinforcement for anyone concerned about the acceptance of their heritage among their peers.

In 2002,  John Woo directed Nicholas Cage in ‘Windtalkers’, the story of a Marine designated to protect a Navajo code talker.  As expected from Hollywood, the effects and actions sequences are visually stunning. But the focus of the film lies in the wrong place and doesn’t come close to telling the whole story of the code talkers.  To date, this is the only biography of a code talker and many of them are now deceased. In fact, Chester was the last living code talker until he died on January 4, 2014.  He life is an example of those who proudly serve their country even when their country doesn’t serve them.  The courage and never-ending efforts to protect the lives of American soldiers shown by the code talkers while risking theirs on the battlefield, make them true American heroes.

ISBN-10: 0425247856
ISBN-13: 978-0425247853

A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier-Ishmael Beah

On By Genyc79In BiographiesLeave a comment

0978037410523_500x500The story of the continent of Africa is one of the most beautiful and tragic we have ever seen.  The mass of land that has been described as the cradle of civilization and home to some of the most beautiful places on earth, has also been subjected to severe colonization resulting in continuing poverty, tribal and cultural division and civil wars that nearly destroyed several countries as millions of people lost their lives before the genocidal campaigns were brought to a halt.  The story of Rwanda is largely well-known, from books and even a feature film, ‘Hotel Rwanda’ starring Don Cheadle.  Rwanda, however, is not the only country to experience a crisis of that nature and as we learn in this memoir by Ishmael Beah, Sierra Leone also has a dark history of internal conflict which caused the nation to be considered one of the most dangerous places in the world.  And even to this day, their dark past continues to remain relevant.

As the British government gradually reduced its presence in the country and a transition government was formed, Sierra Leone began the first of many critical phases in the country’s history. First ruled by the Sierra Leone People’s Party, several coups would occur to bring instability to the nation and long simmering tensions rise to the surface with the deadly actions launched by the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) in 1991.  The conflict continued for another 11 years before ending in 2002.  During the conflict, the RUF and the Sierra Leone army both recruited children to participate in the  battles. Pumped up on a combination of narcotics and brainwashed by the rhetoric of their leaders, the children became killing machines with severe drug addictions.   And such is the story of Ishmael, a young boy from  a small village known as Mattru Jong, one of many towns destroyed by the RUF soldiers.  Forever separated from his mother, father and older brother, he is left with no choice but to join the many other kids left homeless and without family as the rebels continued on their path of destruction.  As we follow Ishmael, the gritty reality of the conflict is brought home as he recounts his memories of cheating death, witnesses death, indoctrination as a child soldier and his actions as a drug-riddled and fearless killer.

Aeschylus once wrote that in war, truth is the first casualty.  Many of the young boys fighting in the war found themselves caught in a battle with no clear lines defined at some points.  Marijuana, cocaine, fatigue and violence began to dull their senses, turning them into the efficient killers that were needed to carry out the most horrific acts.  And as we see later in the book, the nightmares and visions never left them and continued to plague them throughout life as they suffered from extreme post-traumatic stress disorder.  Their movement closer to the capital of Freetown, marked a sudden change in their lives, a change which many of them were not prepared to handle.  Beah’s slow transformation from child killer to eventual speaker at the United Nations in New York City is nothing short of miraculous and highlights the monumental effort needed to transform these former soldiers into young boys again so that they may have a close to a normal life as possible.  To those who are natives of the west in first-world nations, his life will seem surreal as it is hard for many of us to fathom such events could have taken place, but the reality is that in some parts of this earth, many children are robbed of their innocence and genocide is a stark reality.  From the Hitler Youth, Rwanda and even the Vietnam War,  the youth has always been a focal point of resistance and used as pawns to spread the propaganda endorsed by the forces behind them.

Today, the war is many years behind him but the memories and physical scars remain.  Beah lives in New York City and is a member of the Human Rights Watch Children’s Rights Division Advisory Committee. He has told his story on numerous occasions and given us this gift which reminds us of the importance of history for if we do not know it, we are bound to repeat it.

ISBN-10: 0374531269
ISBN-13: 978-0374531263