A photo album poetry book of Black Detroit from the 1930's to 1950's when "Paradise Valley was one of the most prosperous Black business and entertainment districts in the country. This poetry book takes a nostalgic look back into Detroit's past at a time when showgirls, tap dancers, and jazz greats took center stage. This book features more than 200 timeless photographs and the work of 56 poets.
FREE Two-Day Shipping for students on millions of items. Learn more |
Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Review
"Paradise" revives Black Mecca. Writer's Guild compiles memorable book of photos. ...By the 1960's, urban renewal projects and the Chrysler Freeway destroyed the neighborhood that was once filled with black-owned businesses, clubs, and hotels. Today the rich memories of a paradise lost live on in Paradise Valley Days, a new book by the Detroit Black Writers Guild -- Book review, 2/3 of a page, Detroit News, Wednesday, February 17, 1999 and Friday, February 19, 1999
A new book on Detroit's Paradise Valley captures a time of star-studded music-making and round-the-clock revelry. This is a two page article with photographs of the editors -- Detroit Free Press, Friday, July 24, 1998
In the Free Press on Friday, you'll get a glimpse of an amazing new book, "Paradise Valley Days".... I've had an advance look at this historical treasure. Between more than 200 historical photos and the lyrical words of 56 Detroit poets and writers, one can hear, smell, and feel paradise Valley and sense the times. -- Detroit Free Press, Tuesday July 21, 1998
Paradise Valley, Southfield author chronicles birth of Detroit's Black cultural pulse. -- Article is 1/3 of the front page. Southfield Eccentric, Thursday, February 18, 1999
A new book on Detroit's Paradise Valley captures a time of star-studded music-making and round-the-clock revelry. This is a two page article with photographs of the editors -- Detroit Free Press, Friday, July 24, 1998
In the Free Press on Friday, you'll get a glimpse of an amazing new book, "Paradise Valley Days".... I've had an advance look at this historical treasure. Between more than 200 historical photos and the lyrical words of 56 Detroit poets and writers, one can hear, smell, and feel paradise Valley and sense the times. -- Detroit Free Press, Tuesday July 21, 1998
Paradise Valley, Southfield author chronicles birth of Detroit's Black cultural pulse. -- Article is 1/3 of the front page. Southfield Eccentric, Thursday, February 18, 1999
From the Publisher
This book is destined to become a classic and should be in every library and on the coffee table of every American home.
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
If you walked in Paradise Valley today . . .,
By A Customer
This review is from: Paradise Valley Days (Hardcover)
. . . all you would see would be a faded hand painted signed on on a brick wall. Club 666 is still standing but that's about it. This book brings back an era of Zoot suits and all night Jamming. In the 1930's all the black business's and entertainment in Detroit were crammed into one small area because of racial discrimination. This book has several newspaper articles which give a broader insight into the area, and has poems and recollections which let you into the daily life of the area. And it was a colorful life: jazz, gambling, prostitution, world class shows, black and tans, Purple Gang gangsters, blind pigs, elegance, money and povery are all reflected upon by people who lived it. It is also a coffee table picture book. Many pictures. And the stories ... Often the big bands of Cab Calloway, Duke Ellington, and others would play the white clubs elsewhere in Michigan, but due to discrimination, the band's bus would have to return to the Hotels in Paradise Valley, and the bands would mingle and jam all night. If a horn player thought he was good, this was where he came to prove himself. If you love jazz and Detroit, you will love this book!
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
|
|
Tag this product(What's this?)Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organize and find favorite items. |
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
