The Morning Breaks: The Trial of Angela Davis- Bettina Aptheker

On By Genyc79In Civil Rights Movement1 Comment

davisOctober 13, 1970-Angela Davis is arrested in New York City and extradited to Marin County, California, where she is charged with conspiracy to commit murder.  The charge stems from the death of Judge Harold Haley, taken hostage by Jonathan Jackson and accomplices in an effort to free the Soledad brothers and all political prisoners from United States federal prisons.  Davis’ arrest and trial became a focal point in the struggle against an unjust and discriminatory judicial system in which the privileged often found themselves defenseless in frivolous trials resulting in equally absurd prison sentences.

Bettina Aptheker, close friend and supporter of Davis, penned her recollections of the trial and the hurdles and obstacles in the way of Davis’ path to exoneration.   Set in Palo Alto, California, a stronghold of conservative political views, the defense became embattled in a David and Goliath struggle against a prosecution bent on Davis’ imprisonment.   There are many highs and lows in the trial, but the shining moments are the selected readings of Davis’ letters to George Jackson, at the time incarcerated at San Quentin.  Davis and Jackson had become deeply involved with each other and Davis’ confession of love are moving and revealing.

The book isn’t always an easy read, there are parts where the ugliest side of human actions are shown.  Racism, sexism and political suppression are shown unrestricted for the reader to digest.   Her standing as a professor, civil rights activist and communist thrust her into the spotlight and her trial was one of the most important in the history of this nation.   Her acquittal would force America to re-examine itself and the concept of justice.  All of the negative aspects of society are brought to the surface bringing the past to life.   The very pitfalls common in that time period, while tragic, are also the same pitfalls that do make this nation great.  Our ability to constantly examine and self-criticize are the tools of any great democracy.   Our constitution says that all men are created equal, but for hundreds of years, minorities, women, the disabled, LGTB and many others of society have struggled in their cause for equality.  Angela’s story reminds us that while it may seem difficult, justice can and does prevail.

ISBN-13: 978-0801485978
ISBN-10: 0801485975

Born On The Fourth of July-Ron Kovic

On By Genyc79In Biographies, Vietnam WarLeave a comment

KovicOn January 20, 1968, Ron Kovic was shot and critically injured while leading a reconnaissance mission near the village of My Loc north of the Cua Viet River.  The injury leaves him paralyzed from the waist down.   After being transported back to the United States, he is moved to the Bronx VA hospital and witnesses first had the substandard treatment given to soldiers injured in the conflict.  Upon his discharge, the young marine leaves the hospital a changed man forever, no longer an innocent 18-year-old kid with dreams of being a rough and tough marine. As outcry against the war continued to grow and he began to read literature given to him by his cousin’s husband, his views on the war began to change and he eventually became one of the most outspoken anti-war activist in country.

This autobiography is Kovic’s life story and what he has learned before and after Vietnam.  The Long Island native of Massapequa, brings us back to a time where communism was the paranoia gripping the country and southeast Asia, the hotbed of U.S. military intervention.  The book at times is haunting and reminds the reader of the horrors of war.  Following the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003, he revised the book adding a new foreword.   Thirteen years have passed since the invasion of Iraq, but Kovic’s words were prophetic and his wisdom unchallenged.  Movies and documentaries sometimes glorify war, but this is the view from a side we often never see.  A deeply moving account, Kovic is the living example of the horror of war that can afflict any young man or woman.  His story is so moving that in 1989, director Oliver Stone released ‘Born On The Fourth of July’, Kovic’s life story in which he is played by actor Tom Cruise.   The film remains a personal favorite and chilling look into a dark side of war.

ISBN-10: 1888451785
ISBN-13: 978-1888451788

The Short Timers-Gustav Hasford

On By Genyc79In Vietnam War1 Comment

hasfordThe late Stanley Kubrick left behind a collection of films that have stood the test of time and have been used as inspiration by filmmakers to this day.   Known for such hits as The Shining and A Clockwork Orange,  his legacy continues to grow in American cinema.  In  July, 1987, Warner Brothers released Full Metal Jacket, Kubrick’s gritty portrayal of the Vietnam War focusing on the Marines and their role in the conflict.  The film is considered a classic and the performances by several actors are still revisited today.   Presented in two parts, the first shows the young men as they learn to become marines and the second, their experience in the war.  The film, as it is widely know, is based on of this novel by the former and late Marine Gustav Hasford (1947-1993).

Thoroughly entertaining from start to finish, the short novel pulls the reader in refusing to let go.  We are introduced to the characters of Joker, Cowboy, Animal Mother, Rafter Man, Doc Jay and Capt. January, all of whom make an appearance in the film adaptation.  The notable differences are the characters of Sgt. Gerheim and Alice.  In the film they are changed to Sgt. Hartman and Eightball.  Because the book was written by a former Marine, military jargon, comradeship and the pride that comes with being a Marine is found throughout the book.  Hasford did a masterful job of taking the reader into the battle zones with Joker, Alice, Animal Mother and the unit to witness the terror, fear and carnage that is war.   He followed up this book with ‘The Phantom Blooper’ and had planned a third book but died before it could be written.  This novel has been called the best work of fiction about the Vietnam War and Full Metal Jacket is a film full of unforgettable performances and memorable scenes.  Next to Oliver Stone’s  Platoon and Francis Ford Coppola’s Apocalypse Now, it remains one of the best films about the Vietnam War.   However, Hasford’s novel is even better and those who love the film will find this book to be priceless.

ISBN-10: 0553267396
ISBN-13: 978-0553267396

Me and D*ck: It’s Now Who Know, It’s Who You…

On By Genyc79In fictionLeave a comment

indexThere are certain elements of life  that remain constant, never-ceasing to captivate, intimidate and stir controversy.  An accepted part of life, sex is one of many things that always sells no matter how taboo it may be in some cultures.  For some, it’s a very private subject that shouldn’t be discussed in conversation outside of the home and for others, it’s a topic which should be freely discussed.   No matter which side you find yourself on,  we can all agree that sex always remains fascinating and its explicitness is part of its aura.

In this intriguing fictional tale,  author C. Robinson brings to us Sunshyne Mercy, teacher by day and escort by night. Existing in two different worlds, Sunshyne exemplifies the human ability to live a life full of contradiction but at the same time, maintaining integrity and hope in world that can be full of treachery, tragedy and disparity.  Jung explained it the best in his analysis of the duality of man.

The book contains an entire cast of characters and I believe that if Oscar Wilde were alive today, this would be by far one of his favorite books.   While the book is about sex in most parts, it’s also about human emotions, psychology and self-reflection.  No one in the book is beyond reproach and through these characters we see the internal struggle for self-acceptance that plagues so many of us.   Sunshyne is an escort, but she’s not the ordinary one and her escapades and thoughts pull the reader in one page at a time.  And through her eyes, we see that we all have secrets, some are just darker than others.  This is the first part of a continuing project and the second part should be just as good as the first if not better.

ISBN-10: 1463517440
ISBN-13: 978-1463517441

A Nation of Enemies: Chile Under Pinochet-Pamela A. Constable and Arturo Valenzuela

On By Genyc79In Latin America3 Comments

a nation of enemiesThe Cuban Revolution, carried today by Raul Castro, set an example for other Latin American nations and became the shining example of a successful campaign to resist U.S. intervention.  In time, more countries began to look to Cuba as a model for their own revolutionary goals in an effort to spread Marxist ideology throughout Central and South America. Salvador Allende’s efforts to spread the beliefs throughout Chile would be in good faith but severely short-lived.  On September 11, 1973, he was overthrown in a military coup led by the late General Augusto Pinochet.  Allende, who died of reportedly self-inflicted gunshot wounds, tried unsuccessfully to lead Chile down the path of socialism inspired by his Marxist-Leninist beliefs.  The removal of Allende and assumption of power by Pinochet, would bring Chile some of its darkest days.  Political suppression, unemployment,  famine, murder and corruption became constant aspects of Chilean society under a dictator with an insatiable appetite for power, greed and subordination.  Pamela Constable and Arturo Valenzuela bring the past to life with this excellent historical account of a crucial period in the history of Chile.  Under Pinochet, the dreams of change, freedom and economic prosperity began to fade as the income gap between the rich and the poor became the largest in the country’s history.  Poverty,  depression,  health issues and domestic surveillance by the notorious DINA would transform a once free society in a military state.   Freedom of press, expression and religion became archaic ideas subject to intimidation, imprisonment and in some cases, death.  Schools and universities were under rigorous scrutiny in efforts to purge them of any ideological teachings by the far left bearing a haunting similarity to Nazi controlled Germany.

Old opposition movements began to re-form and newer organizations began to take shape eventually dividing Chilean society between Communist, Christian Democratics, Humanist parties and pro-regime organizations.   Tension began to simmer and Pinochet’s time in office began to see its last days.  His reign lasted from 1973 until October 1988, when the Chilean people demanded change and elected Patricio Aylwin by a large margin bringing democracy back to a country in need of hope and security.  His election was a culmination of years of disillusionment by the Chilean public, and even the Regan administration.  The Chile we know today is far removed from its darkest days under one of the most notorious dictators in Latina American history.  This book is a must read for anyone interested in the regime of Augusto Pinochet and Chilean politics.

ISBN-10: 0393309851
ISBN-13: 978-0393309850

Orders To Kill: The Truth Behind The Murder of Martin Luther King-William F. Pepper

On By Genyc79In Civil Rights MovementLeave a comment

peppers order to killApril 4, 1968-Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is assassinated as he stands on the balcony in front of room 306 at the Lorraine Hotel in Memphis, Tennessee.  That same night, Senator Robert F. Kennedy (D-New York) gives what is considered by many to be the best speech of his career on the back of a pickup truck to a crowd of stunned and angry supporters.  A drifter and ex-convict by the name of James Earl Ray is arrested at Heathrow Airport in London after a manhunt and extradited back to the United States.  Following his indictment, he pleads guilty to the crime, but many questions about his motive and actions continue to go unanswered.   The murder of Dr. King and of President Kennedy would be the subject to investigation by the House Select Committee on Assassinations.  And although the investigations revealed new evidence in both murders, new suspects and evidence of a probable conspiracy in President Kennedy’s murder, the complete truth about both murders continues to elude the American public.

Decades have passed since Dr. King’s murder and the official story still stands.  But this book by William F. Pepper will challenge everything you thought you knew about the murder and his alleged assassin James Earl Ray.  The Freedom of Information Act completely changed the face of investigative reporting and gave citizens of all professions and walks of life a powerful tool in their efforts to learn the truth about historical events in which disturbing questions still linger.  The FBI, under the tutelage and direction of J. Edgar Hoover, conducted illegal domestic wiretapping and surveillance on American citizens, political organizations and figures.  The infamous COINTEL program cast a dark cloud over the agency and re-enforced the suspicions and concerns of an agency out of control.

1968 was a tumultuous year with the Vietnam war raging  and American involvement increasingly escalating.  Social tensions brimming under the surface resulted in race riots across the country and the murders of John F. Kennedy and Medgar Evars were still fresh in the minds of civil rights activists and citizens deeply concerned about the direction in which their country was headed.   Destined to break with the Johnson administration, King’s opposition to the Vietnam war, his rhetoric and social standing sent chills down the spines of the politicians in Washington and the military industrial complex.  Unwilling to tolerate civil unrest at home, the government began to increase domestic surveillance using MIGs (Military Intelligence Groups), the CIA, FBI, ONI and NSA.  Their trail of King would lead them to Memphis where fate would take over resulting in the tragic events on April 4.  Ray’s conviction seemed simple enough, he pleaded guilty as recommended by then attorney Percy Foreman and sits in jail to this day.   However, as Pepper’s reveals, the guilty plea and evidence presented, both crumble under intense scrutiny and there were events that transpired that day unrelated to James Earl Ray.  Over the years, Ray has given many accounts of his actions that day and none are in tune with those of a lone nut. Portrayed as a stone cold killer and rabid racist, he was convicted in the court of public opinion even before he set foot in a courtroom.  Pepper’s investigation unearths a mountain of evidence and cast strong doubt on Ray’s guilt and forces the reader to re-examine everything he/she thought they knew about one of the most infamous murders in American history.

There’s an entire cast of characters in the book, including President Johnson, J. Edgar Hoover,  H.L. Hunt and Carlos Marcello.  The web of intrigue between these once powerful figures is nothing short of spell-binding and disturbing.   A common question Americans ask one another is who really controls this country?  I believe that investigations into the murders of President Kennedy, Senator Robert F. Kennedy and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., will provide insight into the machinations of the U.S. Government and show what true power really is.  Had Dr. King lived to this day, he’d be 86 years of age and we can only guess as to what he would think of the current state of our country.  Next month is the national holiday for his birthday, but this year, the celebration will have a different meaning for myself and I’m sure others that have read this book.  I no longer question why he was murdered but question what if he had not been.

ISBN-10: 0786702532
ISBN-13: 978-0786702534

Out of My Life and Thought- Albert Schweitzer

On By Genyc79In BiographiesLeave a comment

schweitzerOn September 4, 1965, Albert Schweitzer died in Lambaréné in Central Africa.  The founder of what is known today as the Albert Schweitzer hospital was the recipient of the Noble Peace Prize in 1952.  Today, little is spoken of him and in most classrooms his name is unknown.  But this religious scholar and doctor was one of the most influential and respected individuals of his time.  This is his autobiography, about the life he lived up until several years after he returned to Lambaréné to continue his missionary aid to the people of the Central African nation.  Born in the German occupied territory of Alsace in 1875, Schweitzer began his training in theological studies before making the decision to become a doctor which forever changed his life. His discussions about the Old and New Testaments are thought-provoking and encourage the reader to ask pertinent questions as to what we believe and know about Christianity, the Bible and Jesus.  The writings reveal a brilliant mind, always seeking the truth but remaining a steadfast proponent of analytical and profound thought.

His writings on colonization are those of an individual committed to freedom, prosperity and equality and he holds nothing back in his criticism of the colonial system and its barbaric effects upon the people within its control. Written many years before the civil rights movement, his words serve as a predecessor to subsequent writings and speeches on colonialism penned by such authors as the late Franz Fanon and Huey P. Newton.  Although not as fierce in his rhetoric as the latter two mentioned, his words are just as straightforward and as can be imagined, controversial at the time.  Nonetheless, he would remain in Lambaréné until the end of his life.  Prior to reading this book, my knowledge of Albert Schweitzer was limited and I was unaware of his thoughts, writings and contributions. Having now read this autobiography and learning more about this iconic figure,  I can fully appreciate his contribution to society and the importance of his place in history.

ASIN: B00N04PC9W

Reasonable Doubt: An Investigation Into The Assassination of John F. Kennedy- Henry Hurt

On By Genyc79In JFKLeave a comment

hurtThe assassination of President John F. Kennedy remains the biggest unsolved murder in American history.   The murders of the President, Lee Harvey Oswald and Dallas Police Officer J.D. Tippitt, have fascinated the American public for over 50 years.  Hundreds of books have been published, each one analyzing the case from a different angle.  Henry Hurt presents to us, his investigation into the murder and why there’s reasonable doubt about what we’ve been told to believe all of these years.  The book was published in 1985 and since then, other books have appeared, most notably Joseph McBride’s ‘Into The Nightmare’.  There is far more information is available today than when Hurt wrote this book due to the release of thousands of pages of documents relating to the investigation.  But any researcher into the assassination will be well served by reading Hurt’s interesting investigative report.   From the start, he explains that he wanted to believe that the Warren Commission report was the final say on those tragic events in Dallas on that day.  But as he continued to dig deeper into the investigation, more questions arose than answers, casting severe doubt on the Commission’s report and giving him reasonable doubt as to the guilt of Lee Harvey Oswald.

The most perplexing aspect of the entire crime is that as one uncovers more information of the sinister deeds that day, the more mysterious and puzzling it becomes.  There are never-ending leads and hundreds of suspicious characters, but concrete links to major figures continue to elude even the most experienced of researchers.  Hurt’s research into the lives of Oswald and Tippit was exhaustively completely and  he concludes, both men are still a mystery.  And while the question as to whether Ruby, Oswald and Tippitt knew each other remains,  there’s circumstantial evidence that there did indeed exist, some sort of relationship between the three.   Hurt also revealed the names of several individuals who I previously had been unaware of and their possible relationship to the events in Dealey plaza.   I should point out that those who are familiar with the assassination and have previously read other books will fill in some of the gaps in the book regarding information unknown to the author at the time.  This book is rarely mentioned in conversations about the assassination and is sometimes overshadowed by Jim Marrs’ classic, ‘Crossfire’.  But I think it is recommended reading for anyone interested in the assassination of John F. Kennedy.

ISBN-10: 0030040590
ISBN-13: 978-0030040597

Mary’s Mosaic: The CIA Conspiracy To Murder John F. Kennedy, Mary Pinchot Meyer, And Their Vision For World Peace-Peter Janney

On By Genyc79In JFKLeave a comment

mosaicFifty-One years ago, a mother of two was brutally murdered in broad daylight in the Georgetown section of Washington, D.C.  For several hours her identity remained a mystery to investigators.  When her identity was revealed, it as sent shock-waves through the political and intelligence circles of Washington and raised the eyebrows of researchers of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.  Mary Pinchot-Meyer, the estranged wife of Cord Meyer, Jr., was only 44 when she was murdered, leaving behind sons Quentin and Mark.  Peter Janney, a friend of the Meyer family and best of friend of the Meyer’s late and middle son Michael,  presents to us his investigation into her murder and why it remains a crucial part of the investigation into the murder of President John F. Kennedy.

But who was Mary Pinchot Meyer and who would want her dead?  Janney answers these questions and his closeness to the Meyers gives him a unique perspective regarding her murder, the actions of her close “friends” after her death, the sham trial against Ray Crump, Jr. and the actions of his own father, Wistar Janney, also an employee of the Central Intelligence Agency.   Beginning with Meyer’s death, the book takes us through several twist and turns, each revealing more and more troubling aspects of both murders.   We’re also introduced to several highly important individuals related to both of the deceased such as William Harvey, Ben Bradlee and the mysterious James Jesus Angleton.  And the further the author takes us into Meyer’s life and the chilling connections surrounding her  death, the more we realize how crucial her murder is in solving the crime that occurred in Dealey Plaza on November 22, 1963.  Many years have passed since she and JFK departed this earth, but their murders have brought to life a very dark side of U.S. intelligence.  Her life was truly a mosaic, filled with unbelievable characters and events and one that continues to put fear into those who knew and loved her.

ISBN-10: 1510708928
ISBN-13: 978-1510708921

 

The Dark Side of Camelot-Seymour M. Hersh

On By Genyc79In JFK5 Comments

20180603_134838Interestingly, the term “Camelot” was never used by President Kennedy or his family.  And according to Author M. Schlesinger, Jr., it was a term coined by the press to described the Kennedy legacy.  The President’s death still remains one of the most shocking moments in U.S. history.  Thousands of pages of documents relating to his administration and murder still remained classified as do numerous documents relating to the then Attorney General and President’s brother, Robert F. Kennedy. In recent years, more information about the inner workings of the Kennedy administration have come to light. And the number of books written by people who knew the President or are investigation his murder is nothing short of staggering.  To my knowledge, there is no other President in history about which, so many books have been written. The prevailing image of JFK is that of a young President, murdered by a lone assassin, leaving two children and a grieving widow behind.   However, the further we explore his murder, administration and personal life, the more we will come to realize that there was indeed a very dark side to Camelot.

Seymour M. Hersh, the famed investigative journalist, takes us deep inside the Kennedy family and their history in the politics of the nation.  I forewarn the reader that the book isn’t pleasant. Hersh does not sugar coat anything and at times some of the things that are revealed are both shocking and disturbing.  People with knowledge of the Kennedys and assassination researchers will know quite a bit of some of the things in the book.  But for those who are learning these facts for the first time will find themselves in for a shock and a new understanding on how fractured the personal life of John F. Kennedy was.   It’s often been said that Kennedy and his mother Rose had what would be considered a “cool” relationship. Often away during his childhood, his relationship with his mother quite possibly played a large part in his future relationships with his wife and the many affairs he had during his lifetime. Guided by an assertive and driven father who would not take losing at any cost, the young Senator and future President found himself in the biggest office in the land, inheriting the problems of the previous administration and a nation in the midst of political and social upheaval.   But behind the scenes, the President was in a tumultuous marriage, strained by infidelity and the prying eyes of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.   Protected by his father Joe, Sr., and his younger brother Bobby, the young President was continually insulated from situations that could have severely damaged his reputation and possibly removed him from office.

In his defense, President Kennedy isn’t alive to defend himself and like all of us he had his faults.  Had he lived, there’s a strong possibility that he may not have had a second term in office due to the many scandals brewing just beneath the surface and ready to explode at a moment’s notice.  However, the facts remain that he did avert a nuclear war, put into motion several important laws and had begun to work on a plan for civil rights.  And contrary to Hersh’s assertion that Kennedy alone was responsible for Vietnam, Kennedy did in fact have a plan for withdrawal that sadly, he wouldn’t live to fulfill.  This book is a roller-coaster ride, full of all sorts of interesting pieces of information.   All of the major players are here, and what results is a complicated web connecting Washington, the Italian-American mafia, call-girls, Cuban exiles, the military and the Central Intelligence Agency.  Hersh did a incredible job researching this addicting and intriguing read.

ISBN-10: 0316359556
ISBN-13: 978-0316359559