Customer Reviews

Grandpa! Tell us a Story Drinking from Ancient Wells The Story of the Game Black people Play/Trilogy Book One: The Game's Soul

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In Grandpa! Tell Us a Story: Drinking From the Ancient Wells,
Book 1, Orchester (hip-hop Grandpa) Benjamin states his purpose
clearly and early in the book."I made a vow then and there to become
a Historian to teach my family the history of the Game,
and an autobiographer to teach them the lessons I learned about
living Life."

He arrived at this mission based on a realization. "It was the Game Black
people played that turn the Black world right-side-up, after slavery
had turned it up-side-down. . ." He goes on to say that he, and
most Black folks, had a lack of understanding of the role
the game played in black people's lives. "The history of the Game
is the history of African Americans' lives, past and present, and
the game they played to survive."

Drawing from his own life experiences, Priest Sowa and Priestess Mabole
(his ancient spiritual grandparents) who help him understand the
Ancient African history, Benjamin talks about all the games
that African Americans played from slavery to the present.
He confesses he has played the game since he was five years old,
so he recognizes game when he sees it. In addition to the different
games, Benjamin integrates African American history as he tells
his stories from both a soulview and a worldview perspective.
At the end of this book, Grandpa's children and grandchildren
know the games, the history and how to survive.

This was a fascinating read. Benjamin's candid storytelling,
mixed with the African history and his views on religion
was very engaging. His soulview (the spiritual view) and
worldview (the secular view) broadened one's perspective on life
and the game. The characters were very interesting and
represented differing viewpoints and experiences that
all impacted the game. Benjamin's experiences are
very interesting and real and will certainly enlightened any reader.
The language is raw, but expected from a hip hop street person.
Christianity is challenged and that may present a problem from believers.
Whether you agree or disagree with the religious views, Benjamin's point
is very clear. Not knowing and understanding your history can certainly
impact your future. Benjamin accomplished his mission with Book One
of his trilogy. I definitely want to read Book 2 and 3.
I recommend others read his book, too.

Karen Lemmons
APOOO BookClub

Orchester Benjamin started his life as a rebellious young man. He felt he was a warrior, and he was encouraged by his parents who knew it was his generation that would change the lives of Black people in America. He dropped out of school and began to travel by train, with his mother's encouragement. She told him to travel and read books and he did both. He traveled in the box cars of trains, going from city to city, having many experiences. He always looked for skid row so he could either learn a new con or run the ones he already knew. He learned much from the older men and women who inhabited that part of town. As he traveled, he began to trust his intuition and he also learned a great deal through his books and from the visions he had of his African ancestors. He discovered early he couldn't wish them present; they came in their own time, but they were more than willing to answer his questions and they filled him in on African American history from the end of the civil war to his time, which was 1948/1950. They informed him it was his generation which needed to change how African Americans thought and reacted to White people.

As a youngster traveling as a hobo, he sometimes got into trouble with the train detectives, but other hobos told him how to avoid them and which cities were the worst. Orchester also met and had affairs with several girls; one in Denver introduced him to her godmother who gave him a lot of information. His urge to travel took him from Denver to Atlanta, Georgia, where he met King Nothing and Mr. Pete, who were frequently at odds with each. King Nothing was enamored with Marcus Garvey and Mr. Pete wanted to gain his wealth and knowledge the White man's way.

GRANDPA! TELL US A STORY; Drinking From Ancient Wells by Orchester Benjamin is a curious mixture of African religions and the history of African Americans. The story started slowly but picked up speed as Benjamin began to tell about his real life and how he survived. There were, unfortunately, grammatical and spelling errors, but I learned a great deal of history I have not found in history books. His information on lynching, Ida B. Wells and Marcus Garvey were outstanding. It is definitely a book worth reading.

Reviewed by Alice Holman
of The RAWSISTAZ(tm) Reviewers