David R. Collins (1)

I enjoyed this biography, learning more about the man who wrote the "Star-Spangled Banner." The book is written for elementary or middle school readers and tells the story from the first person. It tells of his growing up years, experiences at school, studying to become a lawyer while also having a heart for preaching. Of course, it also tells how he came to be somewhat of a captive observer of the battle that inspired what became our national anthem.

Black Rage: Malcolm X- I knew I had to read this book as soon as I saw the title. Is the book really going to really going to going to persue the theme of black rage? The short answer-yes.
Ironically, this book is one in an apparent series of 'People in Focus.' The book's first sentence drives home the perspective of the book, if the title was doubted, "He called himself the angriest black man in America." While this may be true, to open your book with this line (as well as with this title) show more almost makes it impossible for the reader to see anyone but a harsh, scary, militant, emotional man- just how white society would want him portrayed. The one page introduction alone was full of charged statements like "lifted the voice of the frustrated black to a new volume." Frustrated black what? A giant homogeneous black what? The introduction continues with "his anger" and his disquiting voice.
Chapter One tells of Malcolm X's assination. It is mentioned that death threats against him left him "frustrated and angry." Malcolm had a wife and children. Did he not feel anything more complex: worry, fear, concern for his family? Painting him in a consistantly limited strokes creates a flat character that even a decent fiction writer would avoid.
The remainder of the book follows the first chapter in cadence and language. The word 'black' is used over and over again, the word carelessly strewn about and thrust into sentence after sentence. The n-word was also repeated a number of times. I understand using it once, demonstrating the harshness of people and their words, but once again, like 'black' in overuse it appears insensitive. There is a feeling that the author abuses his privilege. Those are not the only incidentes of thoughtless language. On page twenty-one, after dropping the n-word, Collins wrote "Although blacks tolerated being called these names..." Tolerated, as if it were simply a small annoyance. Why not write instead African Americans were forced to endure these slurs due to unrelenting disenfranchisement? Because the 'rage' perspective is so heavily pandered to, there is a sense that these words are not employed to help the reader understand the time and predicament of Malcolm X.
In a biography about Malcolm X, a man known for his oratory skills, the entire book used four direct quotes, two of which are totally superfulous and could have been uttered by anyone. The other two were selected to depict Malcolm's rage: "The white man is the devil..." and "Chickens have come home to roost." Also included in the book are twenty pages of black and white photos. One photo is a dead Malcolm X being carried on a strecher immediatly following his assination and one of his dead body in a casket with the caption 'Peace at last.' And once again, because there was so little empathy for Malcomlm X and a reluctnace to acknolwedge anything positive about the man, the photos were raw and uncomfortable. I saw one of the same photos in another book, but because the other book was less inflamatory, the photo was less appaling.
From beginning to end, I was enraged at this book. In the final chapter, the funeral, even its attendants were described in detail, but there was not one mention of Malcolm X's legacy or his deep impact on the lives of African Americans. I felt the language so insensitive and brusque, the content so unevenly and unnecessarily negative it could have only been written by a white man. I looked up other books written by David Collins and saw that he wrote a biography about George Washington Carver and Cesar Chavez. I cringed. Maybe I will read those two, out of morbid curiosity, to see if perhaps I was being overly sensitive. I disliked this book so much I thought, for a split second, mentioning to the public library about the garbage in their biography section. Of course I would never do such a thing, but I do hope that if a teacher or parent selects this book to teach in the class there is a deep conversation about power structure and race in the United States. show less

A biography of George Washington Carver, written for young people. I liked how the author included Carver's faith in God as an integral part of his life and work and success. It was told in the first person, so that made it more interesting. There are a few uses of the now-offensive "n---" word (as quotes from black-hating whites). And one instance of "millions of years" -- oddly, while talking about God's magnificent creation. I skipped the "n---" words and changed millions to thousands.

The publisher has a good reputation, and there is a six item bibliography. This was such an engaging read it seemed almost as if it twisted the truths, but I don't think it did. It may have left some things out, but it's very short, and aimed at 7-9 year old children, so of course it did. I enjoyed the narrative bio and the illustrations very much. I liked learning that Potter was a brave woman, in some respects a feminist.