“Song Yet Sung”

Review snippett:

McBride is just as inclusive and ambitious in his new novel, Song Yet Sung. The book begins: “On a grey morning in March 1850, a colored slave named Liz Spocott dreamed of the future.” With that, McBride places us back in a terrible time in American history and introduces a character that would seem to merit our pity: a slave woman in Maryland, trapped in a sinister system while living so very close to freedom. This is the well-documented territory of Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass. With them in mind, it's easy to assume Liz is praying for her freedom and the chance to have a family of her own.

But her dreams are not so personal. She has been granted the gift (or curse) of prophecy: “And it was not pleasant. She dreamed of Negroes driving horseless carriages on shiny rubber wheels with music booming throughout, and fat black children who smoked odd-smelling cigars and walked around with pistols in their pockets and murder in their eyes . . . and colored men dressed in garish costumes like children, playing odd sporting games and bragging like drunkards — every bit of pride, decency, and morality squeezed clean out of them.”

Sound familiar? With that opening to this powerful novel, McBride makes it clear that he is not just interested in staring into an antique, distant past. This past is living. It is linked to the present, and the work ain't done yet.

http://www.amazon.com/Song-Yet-Sung-James-McBri...

They wanted him to look pathetic, like a victim of the mean Latina's discrimination.

And we all know damn well Ricci didn't write one word of what he was finger reading, he nor Vargas.

Yet Ricci stated firemen had to have the book knowledge to know the rules of the job, experience in the field was not enough.

Apparently he studied and was tutored endlessly so he could pass the test.

That makes him real special because none of the black fireman passed the test.

“But I believe in the universal spiritual qualities of empathy, compassion and humility.

Thank you! He looked liked needed to go straight to a remedial reading class. If he was black, the Pat BuKKKlanan's of the world would've said that he was an affirmative action candidate.

There is more to this firefighter story than we know. He uses this to spew his hate and flame the fires of “white oppression”. I saw the fireman reading his statement before Congress yesterday, gliding his finger from word to word like a second grader. Who knows, maybe the Black firemen didn’t fail the test after all.

Naw…you didn't read the last post..with the sermon

When Problems Show Up

“CPL was clearly in the wrong environment and my belief is that the Almighty G has something much better in store for her. She's going to evolve as we must all evolve and that evolution is (believe it or not) a gift”

Riiight. I agree that is what the sermon is about!

Did you ever think that maybe it's not meant for CPL to be in subservient roles to the MAN for the rest of her life?

CPL was clearly in the wrong environment and my belief is that the Almighty G has something much better in store for her. She's going to evolve as we must all evolve and that evolution is (believe it or not) a gift.

Paychecks and livelihoods are important, but peace of mind is priceless. Even in this economy, we must not lose the essence of who we are.

Sorry, I just believe in tough love…did you read the sermon I posted for her…that was my compassion…if not ..go and read it, let me know what you think.

Are you part of the Black CIA? I would have never known JoeJohns and MickyB were husband and wife. After mental deliberation, they seem(ed) perfect for each other.

BTW, I saw the back-and-forth between you and CPL the other night. It was painful to read.

Yes. It means if God's grace did not protect him..they would.

Old bastard. Time's up for you and your ilk.