Some Versions of the Black Experience in the 60s

Narratives of Experience--Alice Walker's "Everyday Use" and John Edgar Wideman, excerpt from Brothers and Keepers. These are in two separate pdf files, the first has most of the Walker story, the second the Walker conclusion and the Wideman piece.

Alice Walker wrote in and about the 60s: she is most famous for her novel, The Color Purple.

John Edgar Wideman is one of he foremost black writers working today. A college basket ball player and later a Rhodes Scholar, his life of achievement is set in contrasst to his brother's life that ends in prison in his non-fiction book, Brothers and Keepers.

 

Wideman writes about Marvin Gaye in his work, particularly the album "What's Going On," and also about James Brown, "I'm Black and I'm Proud." Here is a photo-montage inspired by "What's Going On." Another video tribute to "What's Going On." From the same Marvin Gaye album, "Inner City Blues (Makes Me Wana Holler" Lyrics to "What's Going On" Mother, mother There's too many of you crying Brother, brother, brother There's far too many of you dying You know we've got to find a way To bring some lovin' here today - Ya Father, father We don't need to escalate You see, war is not the answer For only love can conquer hate You know we've got to find a way To bring some lovin' here today Picket lines and picket signs Don't punish me with brutality Talk to me, so you can see Oh, what's going on What's going on Ya, what's going on Ah, what's going on In the mean time Right on, baby Right on Right on Father, father, everybody thinks we're wrong Oh, but who are they to judge us Simply because our hair is long Oh, you know we've got to find a way To bring some understanding here today Oh Picket lines and picket signs Don't punish me with brutality Talk to me So you can see What's going on Ya, what's going on Tell me what's going on I'll tell you what's going on - Uh Right on baby Right on baby Lyrics to "Inner City Blues, (Makes Me Wanna Holler)" Rockets, moon shots Spend it on the have nots Money, we make it Fore we see it you take it Oh, make you wanna holler The way they do my life Make me wanna holler The way they do my life This ain't livin', This ain't livin' No, no baby, this ain't livin' No, no, no Inflation no chance To increase finance Bills pile up sky high Send that boy off to die Make me wanna holler The way they do my life Make me wanna holler The way they do my life Dah, dah, dah Dah, dah, dah Hang ups, let downs Bad breaks, set backs Natural fact is I can't pay my taxes Oh, make me wanna holler And throw up both my hands Yea, it makes me wanna holler And throw up both my hands Crime is increasing Trigger happy policing Panic is spreading God know where we're heading Oh, make me wanna holler They don't understand Dah, dah, dah Dah, dah, dah Dah, dah, dah Mother, mother Everybody thinks we're wrong Who are they to judge us Simply cause we wear our hair long