Customer Reviews

Sleepy Willie Sings the Blues

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Since the death of Langston Hughes (yeah, I know, the Hughes/simple comparisons are unavoidable) there has really been very little good African-American satire in the written word as of late. Mr Horace Mungin (who I recently met at Charleston's Black Expo and thus purchased this book) more than ably fills the void with this collection.

He does a good job of articulation the view of a "silent majority" of African-Americans who know who they are and treasue all that is good in Black America, but despise such things as gangsterism and the low road that (much of) hip hop music has taken in depicting Black culture.

Here, he tackles such issues as homophobia, the Reagan administration, the deaths of racist leaders, the hip hop "culture," police brutality, et. al. But there is an amazing set of vignettes early in this book where "Sleepy Willie" tells of his refusal to return to Beaufort SC. It does a great job in expressing and articulating the bitterness of Black people who survived the Jim crow era in terms more poetic than polemical. He talks, and does not scream, thus even when you disagree with him, you still want to listen.

Mr. Mungin, keep writing. I hope this book becomes better known as it should be. Read it and you'll see what I mean.

This book is a must have. The author combines southern roots with northern sensibilities to create a piece that speaks to us all. In the spirit of Langston Hughes Mr. Mungin disarms critics and demogagues forcing them to see the reality of the common man. In a world filled with hurtful and degrading dialogue 'Sleepy Willie' makes his point while putting a smile on your face.