Customer Reviews

YellowBlack: The First Twenty-One Years of a Poet's Life (English and English Edition)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Mr. Madhubuti cleverly uses prose, poetry, and narrative vignettes to tell readers about his life. He describes in great detail how life experiences, artists, writers and other people of influence have shaped and molded his character and stirred his creative juices. I especially enjoyed the poetic tidbits. Mr. Madhubuti's memoir is truly an inspirational story that shows with hard work, vision and determination you can reach your goals and make a difference in the world.

I found out about this book on someone's blog and was not disappointed. This is a very well written memoir that reads almost like poetry. I truly enjoyed it and highly recommend it to others. He is real.

This book has been a long time coming. Privately & prayerfully I have wished that Haki would write this... I have read most of his work over the years, and he often mentioned his family and his childhood pain... Being a relative (his mom was my father's niece)I had intimate knowledge of what he was writing about.

Immediately upon reading "Yellow Black", I came back to Amazon.com and ordered 5 additional copies for family members... They were totally happy to read it, and we have had several conf call conversations about the book and my father's side of the family. It almost has a "family reunion" effect on us.

I remember cousin Maxine as a very lovely and loving person. I lived with her and cousin Johnny Graves briefly in Chicago in the 50's, just prior to enlisting in the United States Air Force.

This is great reading, even if you are not a relative (smile)...

Also, it is great to know that I have relatives I have not met, and I will be making every effort to contact them...

PS: There are some in the family who do not appreciate this work because it "exposes information about Maxine", but I say "Great Work by a Great Poet", and I wish cousin (Haki) nothing by continued success.

In some small way I hope "Yellow Black" provided a cathartic effect for Haki... I feel great after reading it.

Lastly, I rate this work 5 stars - not just because he is "cuz", but because he has become exactly what he set you to be: A great Writer / Poet... His work will stand the test of time...

Albert Weekly-Jones
Singapore / U K & Northern California

I am a relative by marriage. I am the wife of Haki's sisters son. This book was an insightful journey into the hearts and minds of my in-laws. It gave me a deeper understanding of where they came from and who they are. When I look at the book cover, I see my daughter, her cousins and their grandmother. This is my childrens history. From humble beginnings.....