In Search of Black America: Discovering the African-American Dream [Hardcover]

David J. Dent (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 2000

Exposing myths and exploding stereotypes, "In Search of Black America" is a landmark work that looks at the lives of African Americans throughout the United States. David Dent, a noted journalist and professor, set out on a cross-country road trip into the heart of black America with stops in Detroit; Washington, D.C.; Portsmouth, New Hampshire; Gallipolis, Ohio; Seattle, Washington; Hampton, Virginia; and many other places, including Lawnside, New Jersey, a historically black town with strong roots and ties to the Underground Railroad.

This book is the result of his five-year odyssey, which took him and his tape recorder to upscale art galleries, schools, bowling alleys, formal balls, college campuses, fishing trips, mansions, summer homes, ranches, rodeos, and many more places -- well off the beaten path. What he discovered not only contradicts most of the common stereotypes about black America prevalent in today's popular media but uncovers new truths about African-Americana.

Drawing from hundreds of hours of taped interviews and keen journalistic observation, Dent uncovers the widespread diversity of the lives of the black majority -- middle- and upper-middle-class African Americans. Along the way, Dent encounters a most eclectic and insightful array of characters. Through their lives, he not only examines and questions the most common American beliefs about race and politics but also explores issues that go beyond race and touch on social and moral questions that Americans of any hue confront.

All of Dent's subjects share at least one thing: They park pieces of their lives in what Dent calls secluded spaces of black culture. Few are separatists but most areprofoundly ambivalent -- yet often hopeful for a future America free of racial inequality and social injustice.

Candid and honest, controversial and pragmatic, "In Search of Black America" is written with journalistic fervor, and will change the way people view this piece of America that is often over-looked and little understood.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

If you watch the news, it is possible to misconstrue African Americans as an undereducated, hyperathletic, and jail-prone demographic group residing largely in urban areas. This is precisely the kind of cliché that journalist David J. Dent seeks to undermine in his thought-provoking In Search of Black America. In his travels across the U.S., Dent found that, contrary to popular opinion, African Americans are a complex group of people with a myriad of opinions, viewpoints, and beliefs. "While diversity and multiculturalism within the African American community are rich, there are still some common threads running throughout it," Dent writes. In 1993, he began his five-year mission to seek out these common threads and to meet the people behind the statistics. What emerges are the hopes, plans, triumphs, and failures of a people, as well as a close look at America in general. Dent reveals himself as an informed and enlightening travel companion. --Eugene Holley Jr.

From Publishers Weekly

After crisscrossing the U.S. for more than four years and taping hundreds of hours of interviews, Dent, a professor of journalism at New York University, has produced a startling overview of the middle-class majority of America's black population (62% of African-Americans have middle-class incomes and 17% make more than $50,000 annually). Attempting to offset the media's view of black life, which in Dent's view is dominated by images of black celebrities and inner-city rage, he balances the entertaining narrative of his travels with solid reporting, based on historical and sociological analysis and observation of a wide range of individuals and milieus. In Gallia County, Ohio, he interviews Elaine Armstrong, a woman who makes a living selling antique collectibles of racist images because she "feels compelled to directly confront the past." In Detroit, he speaks to George N'Namdi, an art dealer who sells paintings by black artists to a primarily black clientele. In a series of chapters, he charts the life of Gabrielle Hilson, who dropped out of the historically black Spellman College when she became pregnant and decided to become a single mother, move in with her parents and continue her education at another school. Never avoiding the institutionalized or personal racism that his subjects face, Dent manages to convey how it is both omnipresent and yet peripheral in their everyday lives. Candid and consistently engaging, Dent's work contributes to a better understanding of the role of race in American life. Agent, Faith Childs; 6-city author tour. (Feb.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 416 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster (February 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0684810727
• ISBN-13: 978-0684810720
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,720,989 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Neo-Conservative View of David Dent's Splendid Work, March 19, 2000

By 

David Thomson "Second Rate Eric Hoffer Imitator" (Houston, TX USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: In Search of Black America: Discovering the African-American Dream (Hardcover)

Both Liberal and Conservative commentators often prefer to perceive black people as card board abstractions able to easily fit within their own ideological preconceptions. David Dent did not fall into this seductive trap. He writes about real flesh and blood Afro-Americans. Regrettably, Dent's work is needed to aid present day Americans to better understand and resolve the racial issues haunting our nation since its earliest history. One can only hope that in the near future this superb work will become essentially irrelevant and of interest to only academics studying the peculiarities of American life at the dawn of the 21st century.

I am a white man who can choose to be indifferent towards his ethnic heritage. It is impossible to tell when I walk down the street whether my ancestors were originally from Russia, England, or Sweden. I am actually of German extraction, and this fact bores me to death. The German language and culture is meaningless to me, and I have absolutely no interest "in getting in touch with my roots." An Afro-American, however, does not have this option. Their blackness is inescapable and perhaps even suffocating. I recall Sidney Poitier's public criticism of journalists who constantly asked him questions pertaining to racial issues. Poitier had to remind these probably well meaning individuals that there were also many other facets of his life that were being ignored.

The very concept of a viable middle class black life is an oxymoron to many decent white Americans. Afro-Americans who garner most media attention are the very wealthy artists and athletes, and their opposites residing within the "permanent underclass" areas of our nation's impoverished ghettoes. Blacks either get their pictures on a Wheaties box, or a wanted poster---virtually nothing in between. David Dent has succeeded admirably well in depicting black Americans as varied socially, economically, and educationally as the rest of "main stream" America. I am glad that I read this book.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A new perspective..., April 19, 2000

By 

Audrey (Richmond, Indiana) - See all my reviews

This review is from: In Search of Black America: Discovering the African-American Dream (Hardcover)

Long overdue, this book presents a rich and layered look at middle-class black Americans. We journey along with Dent through his vividly portrayed encounters and engaging text while discovering truths about our society, about ourselves. Read this book, encourage your friends to do so as well. In it lies the hope of finally starting to clear away the misconceptions and stereotypes, seen and heard far too often. The resiliancy and beauty of these people changes you.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book!, March 9, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: In Search of Black America: Discovering the African-American Dream (Hardcover)

I recently purchased "In Search of Black America" after seeing David Dent interviewed by Bryant Gumbel on the Early Show a few weeks ago. David Dent makes Charles Kuralt's journeys boring in comparison! I was stunned by how much insight I gained from this extraordinary work. This is a book that is long overdue--a serious exploration into what Mr. Dent says is the "Black Majority" --those African Americans that make up the working and middle class. I was energized by all the stories of ordinary African Americans who are living their lives with dignity and respect all around the country. I especially loved the chapters on Detroit and the N'Namdis who have overcome a life stopping tragedy and managed to succeed beyond their wildest dreams. It is so invigorating to read about people who don't limit themselves by race! Kudos to all! I can't wait until Mr. Dent's next journey!