I did a research study on American Dream in America during the 20s-30s decade. I've read a lot of books concerning the subject; literary works, forming the main portion of my resources. These ranged from Fitzgerald's 'Great Gatzby' to Steinbeck's 'Grapes of Wrath', from Dreiser's 'An American Tragedy' to Lewis's 'Main Street'. In addition to these quite old literary works, I collected statistical, analytical information about the particular decades, to verify what I've acquired from the novels. It was a hard study, but I managed to write a reasonably concise thesis, with the help of not the sources I listed, but with this book, 'Maggie's American Dream' instead. Why?

Almost all of the books I've read were productions of imagination. Even Dreiser, who was inspired from a real account, did not stick to facts in his book, but altered them to create a fiction. However, 'Maggie's American Dream' is a true story. It is told from James Comer's point of view, in a very poetical fashion. The second part of the book is his mother's story, which is again expressed by James. The book also contains a nice section of pictures of the Comer family, which are quite interesting after reading about the family.

James P. Comer had a very hard childhood, as it could be expected during the years of never-ending racism issues. Comer beautifully expresses how they managed to stand tall, and get their share in the competition of living. Mr. Comer is now working as a psychiatrist in New Haven, after having completed his doctoral work in Yale University. It is a dream that is realised, indeed.

This book will provide you with a lot of insights about the lives of black families, American societal norms, family relations during the 20s and 30s, which you cannot find easily in any other source this clearly and truely.

What a wonderful book. Very easy to read with lots of short chapters so that even the busiest of us can get through it quickly. And of course Maggie and her family are so real that you find you can't put the book down...you just have to find out what happens to them all next.
It's a great story, and worth reading from that angle alone. But all the way through this book also gives you plenty to ponder - whether you are someone with an interest in education (and doesn't that include all parents?), someone who wishes that all people had an equal opportunity to realise their potential, or someone who really wants to know what life is like for others from different backgrounds and countries. The author also inspires us to think about how we can make a difference, in some small way, wherever and whoever we are.

This book I have read is the best book I have ever read. It has inspired me by not being mad ever time someone gets in my face and be racis toward me. I really like this aurthor he is a very insperational writter. I would tell everbody who is going through something very hard, reconmemd this book to any and every one

Hunter-Gault's story is inspiring to all women who must transcend the prejudice and stereotyping imposed upon us by a society that has yet to learn to appreciate diversity. African, Asian, Hispanic and Caucasian-American women - all have made unique and indelible contributions to women's history and to the rich cultural history of our country. We should celebrate them in our schools and in our hearts!

mrs.Hunter-Gault's book is very powerful.overcoming hostility and race.the fight and determination is a must read for todays youth.i couldn't put this book down.very deep.

I enjoyed the reading of this inspirational message. It is truly a must-read for adolescents who are aspiring to make their mark on the world. Mrs. Hunter-Gault shares intimate feelings of her experiences. Her book demonstrates her worthiness as a beacon to those who are searching.

This book is about the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of South Africa. Krog does not just tell the story of the Commission, but she tells her story of her reaction to the Commission. In this way, the book becomes her story just as it is many other people's stories. I found the Introduction written by Charlayne Hunter-Gault to be informative and interesting. I read this book because I wanted to see different perspectives on South Africa. I did not always agree with Krog's worldviews, but in spite of this, I found the book informative.

Antjie Krog's book is an attempt to come to terms with South Africa's past through the experience of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. I'm not too sure whether she succeded in that attempt by the end of the book, but what is undeniable is that it makes the reader understand the power of narrative in trying to give order to the past, however chaotic this might have been. I found Krog's poetic style somewhat distracting, and, sometimes, she dwells on irrelevant details. However, her accounts of the many testimonies she attended while reporting on the TRC are oftentimes powerful and heartwrenching, and they deserve to be read by anyone interested in understanding what was South Africa under the apartheid regime. I highly recommend this book.

I bought my copy of "The Country of My Skull" while on a trip to South AFrica in August, 1998. This is the first-hand observers view of the South African apartheid amnesty hearing in front of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (chaired by Archbishop Desmond Tutu).

This is a gripping and unsettling book. Hard to read because of the intensity of the tales that are retold by the author. But this is an important book because we learn again the extent of man's inhumanity to man.

If you are interested in South Africa, politics, racial relationships, or human struggle against injustice, this is a "must read" book. Nothing like it has ever been published.

I agree with a vast majority of reviewers that this book does have a tendency to not back up any sweeping statements with statestics or data (surprising coming from a sports writer!)HOWEVER, this book is not packaged or advertised as a tightly researched, sociological and theortical academic study of blacks and whites. It is an anecdotal book that has an unfortunate title of speaking for all blacks. It is a simply written book that does feel unfinished, but does touch on situations, scenerios, language, and "vibes" that are a touchy areas between blacks and whites. It may seem petty at times and bitter, but to see it as a primarily angry book seems to belittle the author, and makes me wary with such prejudice we all hold for women and for people of color to be unjustified or not thoroughly thought persons. She has justifiable reasons to be angry-and more importantly, she admits her shortcomings. I do not see anything worong her "token" chapter on white people and how they feel about the situation with black people because it is supposed to be a learning tool for white people to understand their actions and inactions do indeed matter with black people.

My main distaste with this book,(and moreover with her editor) is a point that another reviewer touched upon regarding that there are other races besides black and white that need to touched upon. Asian and Latino/Chicano/Hispanic and Native and South-Asian and non-european whites and Caribbean and so forth are totally ignored and dismissed in this book. At one point she states that HIspanics and Asains have it better because Blacks came as Slaves and therefore will always be the bottom of the heap-totally dismissing their lives, troubles, race experiences and so forth-now that is racist! Dismissing a race because they are not considred relevant, their voice nothing new, that they didn't come as slaves so therefore must have it just as good as white folks is ignorant and soured the message of this book. Perhaps there should be a book regarding how whites and blacks ignorance and dismissal of other races gets under their skin!

This is a brave and honest book about how it is to be black in the USA. For those of us who are white, it exposes us to the often insensitive actions of white people and the usually hidden thought processes of black people. As with some of the previous reviewers of this book, our initial reaction may be one of anger. Personally I hope people can get beyond that reaction for Lena Williams has done our society a real service by her openess and honesty. In fact I can imagine many of her black peers saying to her, "What's wrong with you Girl!! You're telling the (white) man our secrets and now he is going to use them against us."

Rather than feel angry, I left this book with a sense of sorrow and sadness. How difficult it must be to live in a world that constantly makes you feel less than whole; that makes you anxious and afraid of everyday interactions; that makes you hypersensitive to the events and reactions that surround you; that creates such a strong sense of outrage and anger that it colors your whole being and life. It must be an extraordinarily difficult burden to bear.

Under the Skin of Black People." This book did not live up to its title, as the viewpoint of whites was mostly missing. However, I thought it was a frank discussion of race relations in the country today. Isn't it really the little things we need to concentrate on today? I like to think that blatant racism in this country would not be tolerated in this day and age, and certainly isn't tolerated under the law, and what we need to move onto are the little things - the everyday interactions, as Ms. Williams states. Ms. Williams should be applauded for bringing out into the light things no one wants to talk about, but we all wonder about. I was surprised by the reviews that branded Ms. Williams as angry and living in a parallel universe - because they're right on target! People are angry and feel as if they live in another universe, some place where fairness and justice doesn't exist. We should acknowledge that anger and talk about it, not deny the right to feel it. All in all, a good read, and a must - but I must say I have always felt that race politics in the United States has always been framed in terms of white and black, when there are a lot of shades of brown in the U.S....we routinely get entirely left out of the picture, and I wish Ms. Williams had not fallen into that trap of framing race in such a narrow spectrum. For one thing, I'm so sick of people asking if I speak English, or why I don't have an accent...