Customer Reviews

Why I Love Black Women

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Dr. Dyson is a serious intellectual, but one who is "down-to-earth", and who can identify and relate to everyone whether you are as highly educated, working class-- whoever. Dr. Dyson continues to give props to his race, and especially to black women who are often misunderstood, stereotyped, and unacknowledged. He no doubt loves, respects, appreciates, and worships black women. He never fails to use his intelligence and gifts to showcase the black woman. His columns and writings always bring about serious dialogue between the sexes and races. Thank you Dr. Dyson for letting black women shine!!

When I think of the contribution that black women have contributed to the makeup of this country, and their role in society in general, I as a responsive father, son, and husband can certainly give homage to why they are so important to our existence. As I've read other references on this subject it only reminded me that others may share some of the reverence I hold, and have opinions of their own. Eric Michael Dyson is one such person. Always opinionated bordering on controversial, his views somehow find ways to permeate the African-American social Diaspora. Why I love Black Women is his latest offering to commentary that he has given us throughout his annals in the academy. Dyson, married and an ordained minister, is the Avalon Professor in the Humanities at the University of Pennsylvania, once again shoots from the hip taking no prisoners as he candidly and vociferously opines about the virtues of the women that hold reverence in his mind. This is a book that will undoubtedly garner mixed emotions from some of the things that are articulated by the author. Albeit, his expressing his love for sisters in a way which is up front and personal. While he does devote some worthwhile space to his mother, the bulk of the book focuses on what seems to be his compulsive attraction to the rich and famous....and it may well be this fixation that may cause the average black woman to take issue with this show of "preference".

My problem with the text is that the author's appreciative gestures are to the point of distraction. As a result, one may perhaps tend to find other vestiges of value to justify continuing with the read. It's okay to fawn and express feelings for those that you admire on the level that you gravitate, but having such a lofty view should not neglect those that are women nonetheless and would ascend the same positions if they were so inclined. What's the big deal over this Ivy-League professor getting all worked up, not over everyday people, but over academics, lawyers, congresswomen, celebrities and business executives. Comments range on the rich and famous from Freda Payne to Star Jones.

I can't help but think too, that if I extol all that I love about African-American women, it would be imperative that I not neglect to include in generic reference all that may fall within my periphery in lieu of exalted personage. In sum, though Michael Eric Dyson's heart and mind might have been in the right place with good intent, his excessive if not thinly disguised parlance for lust got in the way of his emotion in this book superficial proportions.

Michael Eric Dyson tells us why he loves black women by featuring several prominent and not so prominent African-American females in Why I Love Black Women. He begins with tributes to an elementary teacher, his mother and aunts. He continues with tributes to women he comes into contact with as his educational and religious careers expand. His descriptions of their physical attributes and intellectual brilliance are intense, vivid and classic Michael Dyson. It may be too descriptive for some but it is vintage Michael Dyson. His spoken word definitely shines through his written word.

With each women highlighted, Mr. Dyson showcases their brilliance with reflections and quotes of his meetings. Many social issues are explored and while we all may not agree with the politics, Mr. Dyson has portrayed women who can back up their claims and go toe-to-toe with the best of the male species.

As an African-American female, this is a feel good testament to African-American women by a prominent African-American male; a read that is thought provoking; one that would illicit excellent discussions among book clubs because of the social commentary and one that I recommend to both women and men alike.

Reviewed by Dawn R. Reeves
APOOO BookClub

I am in love with Dyson for his passion and willingness to always say what it is not popular to say. This tribute to every king of Black woman on the face of the Earth is an indication that this brotha has been there and seen what others try to ignore. Never has there been another book or tribute to Black women, written by a man, that says more than this book does.
Every Black woman---tall, short, dark, yellow, plus, or minus--- has been lifted up and, finally, put on a pedestal by her man. Black women bend and fold for and at the hands of the world, and this book tells us that all the bending and folding, adapting and reinventing, does not go unnoticed and is appreciated. This book is his personal account of love and experience with Black women. But, also too, a guideline for how brothas should treat their most precious resource.

Since reading Open Mike, which I happen upon by accident, I have been reading everythign I could get my hands on by Michael Eric Dyson. He is a man that is as much a product of inner city blues and woes as Tupac and every other Black man born within the confines of this country. He is a wordsmith, often switching through venaculars with such ease as to hold you in awe.

For Father's Day, my brothers, cousins, and uncle will be getting a copy of thisbook from me. They need to see that it is okay to give a Sista some praise and love.

Again, thanx to Michael Eric Dyson, for reaffirming my faith in Brotha's; this book has opened my heart and touched my soul like it hasn't been touched ina very long time.

P.S. The king that I eventually marry, will have several copies of Dyson gracing the shelves of his book case.

No wonder Dyson's wife wrote that article in Essence several years ago complaining about all of the women who go after him!

While I'm sure Dyson is sincere in his praise of black women, his poorly hidden lust (combined with his good looks) makes this book read mostly like a brilliant 300 page booty call.

He actually goes on and on for 2 1/2 pages describing a 1973 photo spread of Freda Payne (complete with page numbers!) He then goes on to describe dancing with the "mercilessly sexy" and "insanely fine" Ms. Payne: "I was "flabbergasted, moved, disturbed, bothered, as the erotic swirl of her movement sent me crashing into sensual overload. I was done, done-in, undone, overdone."

The man is Michael Baisden with a Ph.D.!

I was happy to see that he devoted a chapter to discussing why some black women get upset over the double standards in interracial dating (i.e. black women are golddiggers with standards that are too high -- yet many educated black men "marry down" when they marry white women.)

Unfortunately, he doesn't give any sources for his stats (something he loves to criticize conservative writers for) so it's hard to take this book entirely seriously.

I'm giving him 3 stars for the title of the book, not the content. But if I were his wife, I'd put a tracking device on his shoes.....

This book taught me more about loving my black women than anything. It also taught me to appreciate all the positive ones that have been in my life. The strongest human being I have ever met in my life is my mother, and I know plenty of men who feel the same way. There have been all types of women who have helped to mold me into the man I am today and who I will be in the future. One reviewer said it's a book she'll be getting for many people in her family, and I'm sure I will do the same. It's a shame there aren't more books like this out there, not just about Black women, but every woman who has made her mark on this Earth. He won me over with this book, and I'll make sure to read anything else he brings to the table.

I am in love with Dyson for his passion and willingness to always say what it is not popular to say. This tribute to every kind of Black woman on the face of the Earth is an indication that this brotha has been there and seen what others try to ignore. Never has there been another book or tribute to Black women, written by a man, that says more than this book does.
Every Black woman---tall, short, dark, yellow, plus, or minus--- has been lifted up and, finally, put on a pedestal by her man. Black women bend and fold for and at the hands of the world, and this book tells us that all the bending and folding, adapting and reinventing, does not go unnoticed and is appreciated. This book is his personal account of love and experience with Black women. But, also too, a guideline for how brothas should treat their most precious resource.

Since reading Open Mike, which I happen upon by accident, I have been reading everything I could get my hands on by Michael Eric Dyson. He is a man that is as much a product of inner city blues and woes as Tupac and every other Black man born within the confines of this country; he is as much a scholar and thinker as Malcom, Martin, West, and Cone. He is a wordsmith, often switching through venaculars with such ease as to hold you in awe.

For Father's Day, my brothers, cousins, and uncle will be getting a copy of thisbook from me. They need to see that it is okay to give a Sista some praise and love.

Again, thanx to Michael Eric Dyson, for reaffirming my faith in Brotha's; this book has opened my heart and touched my soul like it hasn't been touched ina very long time.

This book was outstanding. Finally, a sensitive and thoughtful black man pays public tribute to the pain and beauty of black womanhood. In a society that is bent at all costs to defemenise and destroy black women and to see her as less then lovely and portrays her in a negative light, Dyson honors our pain and beauty. I wish that more people not just black men and women could understand the painful hole this society has dumped black women in. And, to the narrow small minded pinhead man, who wrote the no thanks review, (see above) he obviously hates black women and is insensitive to their pain and suffering. His comments deserve NO attention at all and perhaps he could use his time more wizely flipping through the cable channel and watching the O'Riley Factor. Please read this book, if you want to understand more black women.

I was really looking forward to this book, but was a bit disappointed. Dyson gives wonderful descriptions of high profile black women that DO serve as role models. However, I was very disappointed where only 2-3 chapters were devoted to the triumps and obsticles that black woman face today. Surely as a high profile professor, Dyson would have more interactions of black women that are not CEOs or actresses, but black women that you might see and meet in everyday life. None the less, it is a positive book and we still need this reinforcement.

At first, I thought this book was just a love letter to black women; it's that and a whole lot more. Rev. Dyson is THE black Forrest Gump! This man has met and has included interviews from some the strongest, black women this nation has known including Corretta Scott King, Merlie Evers, and Assata Skakur-just to name a few. He rationalizes the state of black america and includes very good research to back his claims. Rev. Dyson has a way of describing black women in poetical phrases that never grow old throughout the book. After reading this, I felt I had gained the knowledge to make myself an even better man-I wanna go look for my queen now! Men and women alike need to pick this up.