Book Reviews and Suggestions

This was the book I needed back in high school, college, and law school when I thought the world was unfair. Unbeknownst to me, or unacknowledged, there were those who faced far worse conditions than I but managed to accomplish far more. The man who faced harsher conditions than I and accomplished more was named Richard Gregory. And his autobiography, “Nigger”, is one of the best pieces of literature I have ever had the pleasure of reading.

 First published in 1964, the book tells the story of a young Black man from St. Louis, MO who wrote a book documenting the first 32 years of his life, when he was still a relatively young man. His story resonates with me more than the Miseducation of the Negro because “Nigger” is plainly written and speaks from the soul. Dick Gregory tells of being a thief, a dirty child whom other kids in the neighborhood would not play with, watching his mother be emotionally abused by his father, receiving a track scholarship, being an entertainer, and eventually his involvement in  Civil Rights. 

This may not have been the story that was needed in the middle of the Civil Rights Movement, but it is most definitely a story that would motivate many young Black people today.  By no means was Mr. Gregory an angel. He was a liar and a conniver at times. But, he was also a hard worker and earned his soul through tests that would have broken a lesser man. Although this book was published in 1964, I did not read it until 2020. I think about how many lessons I could have learned from this book that I had to learn through my own experiences. I believe Dick Gregory wrote this book as a guide. When it comes to Black literature and learning firsthand about the Black experience in America during Jim Crow and the beginning of the Civil Rights Movement, this is the book to read. It is right up there with the Autobiography of Malcolm X. It can be found on Amazon.com.