Uncle Tom or New Negro?: African Americans Reflect on Booker T. Washington and UP FROM SLAVERY 100 Years Later (Paperback)

~ Rebecca Carroll (Editor)
Key Phrases: coloured peo ple, black peo ple, boarding department, General Armstrong, African Americans, New York (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Today's struggle over the role of Booker T. Washington is "actually a struggle over the soul of the black community," argues Debra Dickerson, one of 20 contributors to this anthology, which highlights the complex position of one of America's most famous—and controversial—black leaders. Carroll (Saving the Race; Sugar in the Raw) brings together a diverse array of African-American voices, including economist Julianne Malveaux, linguist John McWhorter and broadcaster Karen Hunter. Washington's reputation has waxed and waned since his death, mostly due to his quasi-segregationist rhetoric, and the collection reflects these disparate views of him. Some contributors side with Hunter in her declaration that "he was a great man"; others align themselves more with Malveaux, who states, "[T]here are some things about Booker T. Washington that were purely evil." Nearly every contributor agrees, however, that whatever Washington may have said or thought, he is a preeminent example of self-realization through hard work and determination. Wisely refraining from a final verdict, this book exemplifies the diversity and value of African-American thinkers past and present. And Carroll's decision to include the complete text of Up from Slavery in the volume makes this an ideal choice for book clubs. (Jan.)
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From Booklist

This collection of 20 commentaries by contemporary writers offers new perspectives on Booker T. Washington's autobiography and his place in the struggle for racial equality. Among the commentators are Debra Dickerson, Julianne Malveaux, Bill Ethanson, Ronald Walkers, Earl Ofari Hutchinson, and John McWhorter. The book also includes the complete text of Up from Slavery. Contributors contemporize the debate on the virtues and flaws associated with Washington's purported accommodationist approach, famously likening blacks and whites as separate fingers in a glove in all things social, yet unified as a hand in the economic sphere. Commentators run the gamut from ironically reflecting that black nationalists have held similar philosophies to recognition of the post-Reconstruction Southern context, in which Washington wrote, that dictated survival tactics. While some praise Washington for aiding civil-rights efforts behind the scene, others criticize him for blocking and undercutting those blacks who opposed his agenda. The collection shows the power and complexity of Washington and the enduring nature of the debate he fostered. Vernon Ford
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Paperback: 483 pages
• Publisher: Harlem Moon (January 10, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0767919556
• ISBN-13: 978-0767919555
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.5 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,040,445 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Uncle Tom or New Negro, February 13, 2006

By	The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers (RAWSISTAZ.com and BlackBookReviews.net) - See all my reviews

UNCLE TOM OR NEW NEGRO: African Americans Reflect On Booker T. Washington and Up From Slavery 100 Years Later, edited by Rebecca Carroll takes a look back at Booker T. Washington. It was a blend of those who feel that Booker T. Washington was the man with the right ideas regarding race relations in America and those who feel that he let African Americans down in his haste to placate the white majority of the time. His defenders stressed that he worked behind the scenes to push for civil rights and those who were not so enamored of him felt his contributions were lacking in that he stressed hard work for African Americans without pushing for equality as well. Some of the contributing writers were Dr. Julianne Malveaux, Ronald Walters, Earl Ofari Hutchinson and Debra Dickerson. Each presented arguments for their position regarding Booker T. Washington. Also included was the entire text of Mr. Washington's memoir, Up From Slavery, which was extremely helpful in digesting the arguments of the various commentators.

Ms. Carroll did a commendable job of getting together those who are pro Washington and those who have issues with his handling of the race question at the end of the 19th century. The book gives a wonderful overview of the issues surrounding Washington as well as a view of the times when he was successfully attempting to establish his school at Tuskegee. Whether you are for Washington's accomodationist position or against it, it is a book well worth reading for its historical value.

Reviewed by Alice Holman
of The RAWSISTAZ™ Reviewers

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Worth your time..., February 15, 2006

By	Jane Reader (Barstow, California) - See all my reviews

Whether you admire, dislike or have barely heard of Booker T. Washington, he remains an important figure in American history and one, I dare say, many of us should know more about. Carroll has put together a very thoughtful and varied collection of work about him which is also the proverbial "good read."

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars sweet read, January 14, 2006

By	sulata patata "sulata patata" (Brooklyn, NY United States) - See all my reviews

Carroll provides a thoughtful and incisive meditation on race, history and culture--a collage of perspectives that elaborates and enriches the discourse on race.