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The Children of Children Keep Coming: An Epic Griotsong

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When I read the last words of The Children of Children Keep Coming: An Epic Griotsong by Russell L. Goings, the first thing that popped into my head was blessed be the rock; thank you Jesus. Mr. Goings combined fictional characters with actual historic icons, whose sacrifices and determination made a lot of what we have today very possible. The entire story was written in poetry. At times, as I read, I could visualize the scene taking place. I felt the prayers, the chants, and songs along the way.

Mr. Goings introduced me to James Meredith, the first African American to attend the University of Mississippi. Dred Scott was another unknown to me before reading The Children of Children Keep Coming. Also, I have to mention the sketches throughout the book. Romare Bearden, the artist, did not get extremely elaborate with the images. He kept it simple, which was the right touch, since the topic of slavery and equality is a deep subject. In this one book, I read about those who were considered the property of others, up to where segregation was abolished and the freedom bell rang.

The Children of Children Keep Coming: An Epic Griotsong is a book that I will pass on to my children. I recommend every family have a copy in their house. Families can take turns reading various verses and learn something new from every page

Jennifer Coissiere

APOOO BookClub

Alex Haley's Roots brought to the screen a more thorough account of heritage, struggle and triumph. As I was reading the introduction to THE CHILDREN OF CHILDREN KEEP COMING: An Epic Griotsong, Roots immediately came to mind. THE CHILDREN OF CHILDREN begins with the spotlight on two runaway slaves. Their destiny is the Freedom Train where they have hopes of reaching freedom and liberation.

Interestingly done, Goings allows the slaves to dwell in the past, present and future. They encounter fields of laborers, plodding under sun high and moon low, and they are acutely aware that the toilers are sustained by work songs, that express the dreams and fears of the downtrodden and that also burst forth with unbound faith and optimism. The two travelers seek refuge where they can find it, as they roam through fields, stepping over graves of the once enslaved. Throughout their journey, they meet imaginary and mythological characters. At some point, they come to the full knowledge that there is a better future when Gongs exposes them to "giants" such as Frederick Douglass, Billie Holiday, Hank Aaron, Sojourner Truth, and Rosa Parks. The voices of both real and symbolic characters speak through Goings, who wears the cloak of griot and prophet, a vulnerable soul, and a gifted writer. The genius of the book is based on how it is seamlessly connected by poetry and prose, blues and gospel, hymns and jazz, and work songs and prayers. The universal harmony with the runaway's cry for freedom and justice reaches a shattering pitch.

THE CHILDREN OF CHILDREN KEEP COMING: An Epic Griotsong is a powerful collection of poems that traces the journey of African-Americans in this country; that transcends pain and struggle and provides a vehicle for transformation. The rhythmic input is interwoven in a way that lends to a weightiness that is light on its feet because of its musical flow. This astounding mosaic of voices is accentuated by the images of Romare Bearden. An added bonus is a Glossary which offers information on African-Americans from all walks of life.

Reviewed by aNN

of The RAWSISTAZ(tm) Reviewers

Every once in a while one comes across a book which simply feels - vast - important - full of energy. The Children of Children is such a book. It's a ROOTS for everyone. A reminder that we are not just "us" but actually part of a continual wave of "uses" which keeps washing the shores of this great planet earth in hopes that each succeeding wave will begin to get it "right."

For Russell Goings to write this book in this time -- for this book to be published on January 13th, just 7 days before the most amazing inauguration this country or world has ever seen -- there is a universal All That Is - we are ALL ONE -- and Russell Goings has given it a voice.

You will not care what color your skin is - you will just be glad this book fell into your hands.

As a mother, I am always on the search for something for my daughter to read that will edify her culture and inspire her to take up the mantle of her fore-fathers and mothers. This book does that and then some.

The Children of Children Keep Coming is a fantastic book that takes us a mesmerizing journey from Slavery through out Civil Rights on the metaphoric Freedom train that redeems the child-like notion of the Underground Railroad that I grew up envisioning.

As a kid, I imagined this "Railroad" as choo-chooing from the south up to the north like a subway car... only to learn the dangerous truth about it. I was scarred and the magic of it all (and trust me the magic of freedom is real) was lost on visions of dogs tracking black men and evil men shooting other children whose only crime was freedom... This train ride, painted the struggle beautifully. I thank Mr. Goings for writing something that find love and beauty in the great struggle our people went through.

I think every child in America, if required to read Mark Twain, Shakespeare, Orson Wells or Hemmingway... should be invested in reading Goings. It is a true literary treasure.

As an African American child, teachers seemed to draw a blank as to how to give us meat during Black History month. I mean, we got the standard "Black people are strong" and " they heralded great triumphs over slavery and prejudice" from well intentioned educators who tried to share what they knew. The windows in the classroom were tinted with cut outs of Harriet Tubman and Rev. Martin Luther King as a visual aid to any discussion about great Black leaders. There was always some little girl dressed as Rosa Parks and a little boy as George Washington Carver (complete with a peanut model for emphasis) identified to stand before the February Assembly to recite what they had learned about Black people during the month. But for me that was not enough. Oh how I yearned... for enough.

This book, The Children of the Children... completes a lack in creative study of how my ancestors must have felt and how their struggle continues. In a poetic tense, it makes it as riveting The Odyssey or The Illaid, the adventures of Siddhartha or the Bhava Gita... except the story is not foreign to me... it's as exotic but so familiar. More over it is a timely celebration of the dream of the slave: President Barack Obama.

The Children of Children is mine. It is ours. I am one of the children and I will make sure that all the young people I know... will be one of the children. This book is a must for all American's who care enough about that long train ride through history... like me you can get off at the White house.

This book is truly inspiring! I am a college student and it really opened my eyes to a lot of things and I am so grateful to have read it. I am making all of my friends read it now. GET THIS BOOK

Russ Goings writes from his heart and soul to touch ours, but beyond that he provides us with the rare of experience of seeing how God can use us by working through us. What comes through profoundly in this saga of the flight toward freedom, the crossing of the River Jordan, the glimpse of the Promised Land is that he was called to this writing and his life was indeed a preface to this expression. This is soul stirring writing, awe-inspiring expression of the human journey, and a transformational reading experience. You will not come away untouched by the divine love that pours through these pages making us aware of the sacrfices and accomplishments of our foremothers and forefathers not only on the path to freedom, but on the spiritual path to union with God. We feel sustained and also challenged. Few works of human creation can simultaneously bring a tear to the eye, a quickening in the heart, and a cry to the lips like the Children of Children. Bravo!

This poetic griot song by Russell Goings is a MUST READ for all. I have introduced my students to the book for Black History Month and will continue it for Women's History Month. The book expresses the struggle of Afro- American ancestors in a brilliant explorative way. Goings engages the reader by tapping into all our senses with his words. GET A COPY NOW:)

Bravo! Like the urgent voices of the "children of the children" who sing out in this book-length, epic poem, Russell Goings is a force to be reckoned with. His sweeping and melodic verse washes over us in waves, lending new life to the successive generations he seems so effortlessly to channel. The reader is filled with hope, faith, and the powerful rhythm of incantatory prayer.

Mr. Goings' book comes at the perfect moment in our history. On the heels of President Obama's extraordinary inauguration, we, the totality of the American people, need Mr. Goings' inspiring words. They remind us that only by opening our individual and collective eyes to history can we open our hearts, and together heal and go on to create a more responsible and compassionate future.

A must-read for every man, woman, and child who chooses to live in our rich, multi-cultural society, and strengthen it through honesty, dignity, mutual respect, and solidarity. Thank you, Mr. Goings, for guiding us toward the light.

Poet Russell L. Goings has released a book titled "The Children of Children Keep Coming-An Epic GriotSong." The book was released by Simon and Schuster. This book is the perfect book for the inaugural season. The book features images by Romare Beardon and a forward by poet Kim Bridgford. Kim Bridgford is an English professor and a published poet in her own right. Russell L. Goings is a member of the Wall Street Hall of Fame for his business accomplishments. Russell, a former football player, is a very well known businessman and his is a founder and chairman for Essence Magazine.

"The Children of Children Keep Coming-An Epic GriotSong" is a very good book. Readers who enjoy black history and poetry will thoroughly appreciate this book. Part one of the book is titled "Taking the Train to Freedom." The book ties together the lives of two anonymous slaves. The slaves are on their way to catch the freedom train. The journey of the anonymous slaves is intertwined with words of poetry, song lyrics, and important bits and pieces of history. Part two of the book is titled "Jubilee," and the third part of the book is titled "Celebration of Survival." A poetry book of this caliber has not been released in quite some time. The tempo of the book is very fast paced and the reader not only has the chance to enjoy quality poetry, they have the opportunity to learn African-American history at the same time.

The book is really awesome and will make a great Black History Month selection. The book provides a glossary in the back of the book that details the biographies of many well known figures in African-American history such as Frederick Douglass, Sojourner Truth, and Rosa Parks among many other notable African-Americans.