This is just wonderful - poetry, fiction, essays, spanning from slavery to the modern day. Early has gathered an important collection of writing, period. Forget ethnicity, forget locality, this stuff is GOOD.

I thought this book was incredibly entertaining. It has local flair and memorable comments from some of the most famous blacks in history. The essays are provocative, fun and entertaining. A must read.

J.R. Weatherford and his grandmother Biggie visit Quincy, Texas to learn what it would take to put together a historical society. Quincy (based on Jefferson, Texas) is obsessed with its history including a colorful ghost. Yet the dead woman J.R. discovers in the fountain outside his hotel room is no ghost. With the Sheriff sick, Biggie is called in to investigate.

BIGGIE AND THE QUINCY GHOST is fun. J.R. is the point of view character and author Nancy Bell does a fine job remaining true both to the 12-year-old character telling the story, and to the East Texas setting. Anyone who knows Texans will get a smile (or belly-laugh) from some of the expressions that J.R. uses.

Bell provides the reader with a rich serving of Texas history, Texasisms, and a purely enjoyable mystery.

Although some of the materials may be inappropriate for children, BIGGIE AND THE QUINCY GHOST is easy to read and a lot of fun.

Biggie Weatherford is famous in Job's Crossing, Texas because her family founded the town and she is the richest person in it. Her notoriety has spread to East Texas because of her work in the DAR and her knack for solving various homicides. Her twelve-year-old grandson lives with her and adores his grandmother because life with her is anything but dull.

Biggie's latest project is starting up a historical society in Job's Crossing. She, her grandson, and a few townsfolk travel to Quincy (near the Louisiana border) because their historical society is giving a four-day workshop on how to preserve the local history. The hotel Biggie and company are staying at is supposedly haunted but it isn't a ghost they see from their windows. It's the body of the waitress who served them the night before, a butcher knife in her chest. When the sheriff is suddenly hospitalized, he asks Biggie to help him in his investigation, a job she eagerly accepts.

This story is written in the first person narrative through the viewpoint of a twelve-year-old boy who has seen more tragedy and evil in his life than most adults ever do. Although BIGGIE AND THE QUINCY GHOST has a dark side to it at times, this cozy is full of homilies and charming stories about small town living both past and present. Nancy Bell knows how to tell a good story with characters that represent the spectrum of the human race.

Harriet Klausner

After reading this well written biography, I experienced the sorrows, joys, and accomplishments in the life of one of our country's greatest statesmen.

Lynn H. Parsons has written a biography that is blessedly free from 'academic speak' or the sense that he is only writing for other historians. This is definitely a biography for even the most casual lover of history. Parsons' familiarity with JQA allows him to introduce us to that prickly character as one would introduce an eccentric friend--always aware of the eccentricities but never apologizing for them. Adams (and his father) are two of the greatest of America's early statesmen and two of it's worst politicians. Parsons presents the genius and the folly and allows us to weigh our opinions--tho' its clear where Parsons' affections lie. It is hard to imagine that anyone will (or could) write a better one volume popular biography of JQA. Parsons clearly could tell us much more, but he chooses not to bog his narrative down in the kind of historical detail that glazes the eye of the casual reader. For serious historians this is a valuable book because it doesn't get lost in its own importance--the writing is direct, succinct and keeps the reader aware of the difference of the attitudes of Adams and his contemporaries to our current sensibilities. Parsons ends with a note that JQA's only monument in Washington is a small plaque in statuary hall in the Capitol. I would argue that Adams' best monument in DC is the one he would be proudest of--the Smithsonian Institution he fought so hard to help establish. I highly recommend this book.

This book is a classic..it has it all; from Marvin Gaye to LL Cool J...from Boxer Sugar Ray Robinson to our today's Michael Jordan, Men of color have a history of fashion that is detailed throughout this tabletop book.

The different types of suits, hats, styles of the periods are examined. Black men have always taken pride in their dress and appearance. This is revealed in all the remarkable pictures and the editorials and interviews. The pictures are Excellent! A combination of black & white, Sepia and some color. You have different poses, camera angels of men like Sam Jackson, Lenny Kravitz, Billy Dee, Ed Bradley...and so many more!!

This is a great investment....for yourself or as a gift! With all it has to offer, there is much to appreciate about Men of Color.

I bought this book for myself and I've truly enjoyed it. I received a second copy from a co-worker as a Christmas Gift. I think that it's very interesting to look at the different styles of Black Men of years past.

I loved the Different Profile Commentary from Byrant Gumble, Bill Cosby, Ed Bratley, etc. I really respect each one's own personal sense of style.

I was given my second copy from a White Female Co-worker, who simply loves the book. I really think that she hated to give it up. Perhaps I'll buy her her own copy in the future.

This book deals with events from 1835 to 1845 and is principally concerned with John Quincy Adams' fight over the House rule which forbad the reception of petitions about slavery. This may seem like a narrow issue to be the subject of a 556 page book, but this book is flawlessly written, and has great humor--exposing the idiocy of the slavery upholders--and at times brought tears to my eyes. A dropback to the stirring events of 1775 and 1776, found on pages 155 to 157, is as good a writing as I have ever seen evoking the sheer drama of those days. This is a nigh flawless book for one as interested as I am in congressional history and the years before the Civil War.

Miller presents a detailed history of a remarkable period in U.S. Congressional history leading up to the Civil War. Miller describes the battle waged in the U.S. House of Representatives, led by John Quincy Adams, to preserve the right of citizens to petition their government, and his efforts to keep the issue of slavery before the House. I finally saw one of the important effects of the infamous 3/5's rule, which was to create a power imbalance in Congress in which slave holding states dominated the House due to the additional Congressional Reps. they gained by virtue of their large slave populations. It was this imbalance that hindered Congress from a full debate regarding the abolition of slavery. Extremely informative, very well researched and documented, and Miller weaves a witty commentary throughout that is most enjoyable. This is a book that should be read in every high school American History class. It is at times dry (big surprise as Miller details Congressional proceedings) but nonetheless fascinating. I have a new appreciation of the contribution of Adams to the battle against slavery.

Try discussing the relative role of slavery in the American Civil War, and the discussion will likely turn on its ear quickly, with little generated other than heated words. So often, it seems, we cannot discuss this subject except with anesthetic prose, or highly spirited points of view. Not so with William Lee Miller's Arguing About Slavery. The author, Thomas C. Sorensen Professor Political and Social Thought at the University of Virginia, has crafted a wonderfully expressed story of the battle over slavery in the 1830s and 1840s on the floor of Congress.

To those of us in the late twentieth century, the idea of petitioning to consider a prayer for action, the Constitutional sanctity of the act, and the relative abuse of the privilege by Congressmen both North and South seems the actions of an almost foreign government. The nearly maniacal desire of Congress to avoid any discussion of slavery in toto also seems incredible in light of government today. Using Congressional records to retell the story in the words of the participants, Miller weaves a fascinating tale as forces in the North try to ensure the rights of their petitioners, as well as deal with continued efforts to stop them dead in their tracks.

There are three major areas to the book: the opening of the slavery issues in Congress, with the presentation and fights by Southern radicals to keep any admittance of them from even appearing in Congress, the development and passage of the "gag rule," in which any attempt to place a petition in front of Congress regarding slavery was "gagged," and finally, the story of former President John Quincy Adams in these fights, and his efforts to support the rights of American constituents in these battles.

The story of Adams is the centerpiece of the book. In laying out the man who would not back down to both Southern and Northern Democratic interests, Miller brings back to life an American figure who is likely lost to many of our generation. Adams, already in his sixties as the slavery battles began, was an unlikely hero. Having served in nearly every capacity he could prior to agreeing to run for Congress after his presidential term, he brought a dogged determination to duty that is hardly recognizable in today's terms. Adams was not an abolitionist, but he was determined that the voices of his constituents, should they be of an abolition ideal, should be heard in the halls of Congress. To that end, he battled for a decade to make those voices heard.

Making use of Adams's massive personal diary, historical context, as well as the Congressional Globe coverage of the proceedings of Congress, Miller delivers the story of these battles in the words of those who were there. Thus, we can see the fanatical words of South Carolinian planter James Henry Hammond: "And I warn the abolitionists, ignorant, infatuated, barbarians that they are, that if chance shall throw any of them into our hands he may expect a felon's death," and Waddy Thompson, Jr.: "In my opinion nothing will satisfy the excited, the almost frenzied South, but an indignant rejection of these petitions [calling for the end of slavery in the District of Columbia]; such a rejection as will at the same time that it respects the right of petitioning, express the predetermination, the foregone conclusion of the House on the subject -- a rejection, sir, that will satisfy the South, and serve as an indignant rebuke to the fanatics of the North." And finally, we see and hear in our minds eye the torture of Adams as he struggles to balance his personal devotion to his country (he was a strong Unionist) with his obligations and duties to his office. Looking at war as a possibility between the two sides of the Union, he concludes in his diary: "It seems to me that its result [that of war] might be the extirpation of slavery from this whole continent; and, calamitous and desolating as this course of events in its progress must be, so glorious would be its final issue, that, as God shall judge me, I dare not say that it is not to be desired."

Much more than just a chronological narration of events, Miller weaves in background of the events and personalities in order to make his subject come alive. Arguing About Slavery is a book outside the mainstream of standard Civil War book fare, but a must if you have any desire to understand the people, events, and stories that led to the great conflict beginning in 1861.

Of the Ross Thomas books containing the Wu & Durant characters, this one is arguably the best. A great story with twists and turns that keep the pages turning with very little effort.
The characters are so well developed only a photograph would offer any more insight. If a picture is worth a thousand words, Thomas has the ability to modify that statement to paint a picture using very little wordage. If your a Thomas fan this book shoud definitley be high on your list of "next" reads.

I happened upon Ross Thomas by chance and not design. As my local library had only Out on the Rim and The Fourth Durango on its shelves, I read them first. I was hooked. Through the library's inter- library loan program I have now read from Cold War Swap through Chinaman's Chance. I'm only 50 and admittedly have a lot of reading ahead of me but I can not remember enjoying reading someone's work as much as I do reading Ross Thomas. I cannot imagine that he will ever be out of my top 10 favorites.

Lifelong pals since they hooked up in a San Francisco orphanage, Artie Woo and Quincy Durant are two of the best characters you'll come across in any thriller. Nobody plumbs the depths of corruption and works a great con like this dynamic duo of the Pacific Rim. Throw in the likes of grifter Otherguy Overby, CIA master Whittaker Lowell James, and a former folk trio named Ivory, Lace, and Silk, and you've got the makings for one helluva adventure.

"Chinaman's Chance" is a delight to read. The juicy, twisted tale of opportunists on the make was tailor-made for Ross Thomas' fast-paced, witty style. He had a remarkable ability of making cynical characters likable and complex plots believable. His novels are "page-turners," but they're also insightful and poignant sketches of the human condition. He was truly an uncommon talent.

vibe did an excellent job of letting its readers know who the real tupac was. this book is a compilation of the articles that vibe has published over the years dealing with tupac and the people close to him. The articles are interviews from tupac, death row associates and others, along with some letters sent to the editor, and quotes from people who knew tupac. it goes in-depth about suge knight and his multi-million dollar recording company, death row, and all the people who were involved with it. the book also goes behind the scenes of tupac's shooting in new york, his court cases, his enemies and his struggles with the law, prison and trying to make it in the world. many of the articles have to do with the conflicts that surrounded tupac and his music, his lifestyle and personality. tons of awesome, colorful photos are included, although there are no captions for them so the reader is left wondering when, where and who the photo is about. overall this book is very well put together in chronological order and should be on the shelf of any true 2pac fan. we miss ya pac and will never forget you!! your spirit lives on forever!

First and foremost, this is an excellent book. In pictures and in words, the life of the (arguably) late Tupac Shakur gets documented and commemorated in 157 glossy pages. The best part about all of this, is that VIBE magazine was (and still is) a major player in the hip-hop music industry - the reader's letters and articles on these pages are as real as it gets. Read on:

"This is my last interview. If I get killed, I want people to get every drop. I want them to get the real story." - (VIBE, "Ready To Live" - April 1995)

Writer Kevin Powell really gets to the heart of things in this interview with 'Pac from Rikers Island.

"When you do rap albums, you got to train yourself. You got to constantly be in character. You used to see rappers talking all that hard [stuff], and then you see them in suits and [stuff] at the American Music Awards. I don't want to be that type of [person]. I wanted to keep it real, and that's what I thought I was doing. But now that [stuff] is dead. That Thug Life [stuff]...I did it, I put in my work, I laid it down. But now that [stuff] is dead."

I can't help but wonder...would Tupac still be alive had he stuck to this quote back in 1995? Would the Notorious B.I.G still be alive? Would they be friends?

There were so many facets to Tupac. He was hard...perhaps the 'realest' rapper to ever live. To say that Tupac Shakur was charismatic is an understatement - his sheer presence had the power to electrify a room. His lyrics were insightful, and his visual package had his female fans in a trance. He was truly a legend.

I (like many others) practically grew up on Tupac. I remember when he landed the role of "Bishop" in 'Juice' (he was still a relative unknown that fall of 1991); how he got to star opposite Janet Jackson (lucky dude!) in 'Poetic Justice'. In music, "I Get Around", was the joint in the summer and fall of 1993 - and it is now a classic.

Then in 1994, the trouble really started. He got shot up; sent to Rikers Island on a sexual assault charge, yet released a new album anyway. Tons of stars turned out for him to shoot the "Temptations" video (dang, Pac had a lot of friends, huh?). Then the infamous Source Awards of 1995 happened - the real powder keg of the Bad Boy/Death Row feud. The letters back and forth - the finger pointing...(I'll leave that at that).

That whole East Coast/West Coast rivalry proved once and for all that hip-hop (as DMX says) is not a game. On that note, all the shadiness, all the unsettling moments, and the unsettling quotes are documented on these pages as well. Read it, and draw your own conclusions - I just hope we never return to that state of affairs. It was most likely a very tenseand scary time to be a music journalist in hip-hop...from the outside looking in.

That being said, I'd say that this is a great place to start finding out more about Tupac. He seemed to be an extremely lovable guy. He was engaged to Quincy Jones' daughter - and he was friends with classy ladies like Jasmine Guy and Jada Pinkett-Smith. Obviously, Tupac had class...but like everyone else has been saying, he must have just turned into his "thug-life" image...and just like his character "Bishop", he died way before his time. Gone too soon.

Someone once said that "Vibe magazine is one some love s###." No, I disagree. Tupac has graced the cover of Vibe no less that 4? times before his untimely death. No one in the rap game (then or now) affected us the way Tupac did. The mystery that still surrounds his death still haunts most of his fans. Tupac became larger than life in death. He released more albums in death than in life. He has easily become the Black Elvis. The book gives you a timeline from the beginning to his tragic end. The questions still linger on. Who? What? When? Where? Most of these questions will never be answered. One man who was going to come forward with information was killed, execution-style. Suge (at the time) was in prison. Other people are either too scared to talk, are in prison, dead or cannot be located. There are lots of theories that Tupac is still alive as he may have insinuated in his music: post-humous album Makaveli: The 7 Day Theory. We even get to hear Tupac's side of the story for the woman who accused him of rape. {He was never convicted of rape, but of sexual abuse.}as well as the story of the first attempt on his life. This is an excellent book!

That's the word for this book: "spendiferous". What more can you say about a super-empowered pig with values to boot! I read this book with my kids, and it lead to a thoughtful discussion about moral values. One of them was suspicious at first about creatures from outer space with moral tales to tell, but he's come to accept the pig and what he stands for: America, I'm proud of you!

I read this book here, and It made me squeal like a pig with delight at the madcap antics of Qunicy. He shur does make those kids seek the righteous path, and who better to know than a pig from outer space with supersonic and most excellent values!

I say "Buy it. Read it. Live it". Yepper!

The dog was cool (read the book!). This book is cool. The pig is ... well, a pig, albiet a very intelligent one. To heck with political correctness, here's a great, colorful, fun story that isn't afraid to demonstrate good values through actions. The story is quite good, and our kids love the illustrations. And for us, as parents, the best thing is that our kids see another example of judging right from wrong, how to act responsibly, why it's not okay to lie, and how to order a pizza from a cel-phone. Whimsical and funny, but more than just entertaining, reading this book is great learning for kids

There have been lot of books written on the abolishment of Slavery in United States. But this book is unique in that it is not a mere putting down of facts which piled on for years. Through the characters the author has nicely portrayed the different attitudes and perception that people had about slavery and its abolishment. A Very nice book wherein you feel the characters and get involved in more than one way.

It's shocking to discover how much of real American history gets glossed over in schools. What's the point of teaching history at all if it's edited? At that point it might as well be folk tales, interesting stories lacking any real facts. Alexs Pate's version of the events surrounding the slave ship La Amistad are easy to follow thanks to his simple, direct writing style and unique ability to describe much in a few words. While a "fictionalized" account of true events, the story is nonetheless riveting and heartwrenching, astounding and sickening to behold. I am saddened and even a little angry I have so little knowledge of how the vast majority of Africans found their way to America and the truth of how my ancestors may have considered and treated them. The author does a fine job of remaining mostly neutral on the topic himself, letting the story unfold and almost tell itself. While some Africans had it a little better than others, during pre-Civil War days and even in some cases still today, no black man was ever truly free. Amistad is a brilliant book about suffering and the strength it may bring, about how hope may prevail under the direst of circumstances, about how mistakes can save lives and doing "the right thing" might end them. A quick, powerful read anyone of any color or belief may enjoy. An excellent book for anyone readying to delve into the truth of the past instead of blandly accepting some outdated school textbook of it. Masterpiece.

This was a great book. i had to read it for a book report. To tell you the truth I hate reading. This is the first time I read the whole book for a book report, it had me hooked. Now I get to see the movie. But, I understood the wording in the book, and It's just a good book the read. And I recommend it for all age groups.

If you want a book that will get your mind stirring, this is it.

This book should be course-required reading for those aspiring to a career in radio. As a student studying broadcast communications this book has been invaluable at framing the industry and providing insight into the nuances of the medium. Mr McCoy has been a pioneer in the industry and has consistently inspired creativity in others... this book continues that trend.

As a person in the radio industry, "No static" gives one the straight goods. Quincy MCCoy has become my new mentor. "No static" certinally has opened my eyes to a industry that I thought I knew. If there is one book about the business we love to love, Q's book is a page tuner and a must read!!.