Defending the Spirit: A Black Life in America [Paperback]

Randall Robinson (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 1 and up

Randall Robinson's Defending The Spirit is a personal account of his rise from poverty in the segregated south to a position as one of the most distinguished and outspoken political activists of our time. In 1977, Robinson founded TransAfrica, the first organization to lobby for the interests of African and Caribbean peoples. TransAfrica was instrumental in the release of Nelson Mandela from prison in South Africa and the reinstatement of President Aristide in Haiti. Robinson's thoughtful and provocative memoir paints a vivid picture of racism in the hallowed halls of Harvard, where he went to law school, as well as the corridors of power in Washington, D.C. He also recounts in fascinating detail his trips to troubled African and Caribbean nations; more than anyone else, he has raised awareness of the problems in those countries. Defending The Spirit also gives a devastating commentary on America's foreign policy endeavors in African and Caribbean nations, and an impassioned call to African-Americans for new leadership and activism to fight racism all over the world.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

This elegant memoir by Randall Robinson, political activist and founder/president of TransAfrica--an organization that lobbies for African and Caribbean interests that was instrumental in defeating Apartheid in South Africa--details the triumphant life of a warrior dedicated to fighting racism and shows us by his brilliant example how to carry on the fight. You can almost hear Robinson's booming, southern baritone in his forceful prose when he writes about segregation in his native Richmond, Virginia, his experiences at African American Virginia Union University and Harvard Law School, and his near-death from a 27-day fast to protest the government's anti-Haitian immigration policies. Robinson conveys a profound sense following the 1989 AIDS-related death of his brother, ABC News anchor Max Robinson: "In that final year we drew closer as a family, saying to each other the important things, leaving aside the extraneous." On the subject of race, Robinson leaves us with this warning: "Our nation's white leaders have elected, consciously or unconsciously, to ignore the deepening national racial crisis.... Better we face the painful problem now than the conflagration looming ahead." --Eugene Holley, Jr. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Robinson founded TransAfrica in 1977 to reverse U.S. support of South Africa, and his evocative, eight-essay memoir recalls the life that brought him to organize against that country's apartheid system and to lobby to empower and free black peoples in Africa and the Americas. Moving easily from childhood in a strong black family of nurturing parents and talented siblings in Richmond, Virginia, to Harvard law school and then to the policy wars in Washington, D.C., Robinson offers personal observations that champion decency and sanity as the foundation of national social and foreign policy. More than a splendid inner view to complement the panoramic view of Robert Kinloch Massie's Loosing the Bonds: The United States and South Africa in the Apartheid Years, Robinson's slices of what he sees as unflattering truths make required reading for anyone even remotely curious about black America and American racism or about U.S. policymaking in general toward the black world. Highly recommended. [For a review of Massie's book, see p. 126.?Ed.]?Thomas Davis, Arizona State Univ., Temp.
-?Thomas Davis, Arizona State Univ., Tempe
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 1 and up
  
• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Plume (February 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0452279682
• ISBN-13: 978-0452279681
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #221,060 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Defending The Spirit: A Black Life in America, February 21, 2000

By 

Dr. Rene Thomas (Methuen, MA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Defending the Spirit: A Black Life in America (Hardcover)

This book should be required reading for all schools. It is time for us to hear the truth about those who run our government, maybe then we will make better choices in our elections. The hardest part about reading this book is that, as a white American, I truly believed we were past racism. Sadly to say we have covered it up in many ways. The forces that were so visible in the past are still alive and well hiding behind the mask of whatever. Thank you Mr. Robinson for telling the truth so that others like myself who continually search for truth can be better informed. The hard part is that I don't know how to change the injustice that is so prevalent.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good overview of American foreign policy, December 30, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Defending the Spirit: A Black Life in America (Hardcover)

This book is not so significant for its detailing of racism in America, which both white and black surely know of. Rather, it is a lovely view at how American foreign policy holds Africa and the Carribean to be simple pawns in their games, not caring for the countries involved nor their residents. Mr. Robinson, founder of TransAfrica, does a fine job criticizing policy to Rhodesia, Haiti, Rwanda, Zaire (now the Congo once more), Jamaica, Nigeria and more. Angry at times, but often rightfully so. Robinson does a fine job using personal experiences to highlight his message. Worth reading for Americans of all skin colors and backgrounds.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A POWERFUL READ, January 12, 2000

By 

Nicole McBride (Los Angeles, California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Defending the Spirit: A Black Life in America (Hardcover)

I just finished reading this book. Talk about a page turner, I couldn't put this book down. I have never read a more powerful and inspiring book. Bravo to Mr. Randall Robinson for his courage to stand up, write and speak the TRUTH!