Customer Reviews

The Cotillion: or, One Good Bull Is Half the Herd (Black Arts Movement Series)

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The first time that I encountered this book was in 1984, when I was a teenager. I was on my way to do laundry and wanted something to read and this book was on my mother's bookshelf, in that spot where she put books that she bought at the deal table at the library (Great books for sale from ten cents and up). I was never much of a romance novel reader, but neither is my mother so I figured there had to be more to the book then the back flap description, and boy was I right! This book was a definite early influcne on my own style and approach as a writer, as Killen's poetic approach to the language and his recreation of a mood, time and attitude of the Black Power era. As a very slow reader, this book became my companion for the next two weeks. As the 80's were a period of serious contradictions and identity crisis for a lot of Black people, this book proved to be a reconnection to a time and place in history where the clashes of tradition and self-determination created something beautiful. A great read and highly recommended.

An excellent book detailing the perils and possibilities of Blackness in America. While there are references to African American/New York-centric institutions (such as the I-Be-Damn News) that may escape some readers, it provides a viciously funny, historically accurate and insightful look at a community in transition.