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The Panther
April 4 1994-PE
Special Book Review Sectioi
Understanding Malcolm X: The Controversial
Changes in his Political Philosophy
By Malik Adams
Staff Writer
If you want to study the
many ideologies, influences, and
actions of Malcolm X, including
a variety of related topics and
people, Understanding Malcolm
X: The Controversial Changes
in his Political Philosophy, by
Clark Atlanta University jour
nalism professor Dr. Edward
Roland Leader is the book for
you.
In addition to helping the
reader understand Malcolm X,
Dr. Leader uses social, political,
and historical elements to enable
the reader to comprehend the
world in which Malcolm X
lived.
For example, he uses a modi
fication of the "Dominant-sub
missive" model by former
Atlanta University Political
Science department Chairman,
Dr. Mack H. Jones, to show the
political and social relationship
between blacks and whites in
America.
In an author’s note, Dr.
Leader states that the many
views of Malcolm X in the past
and in the present have been
inaccurately represented by
those who have praised and crit
icized him. “More and more
black petty bourgeois-oriented
and potential black revolutionar
ies alike are reading and mis
reading, quoting and misquoting
Malcolm on a variety of issues.”
In the preface, Dr. Leader
writes that the purpose of his
book is to critically analyze the
political philosophy of Malcolm,
and to ascertain whether or not
there were changes in his
thought, from his emergence as
national spokesman for Elijah
Muhammad and the Nation of
Islam to the time of his assassi
nation in 1965.
Although journalists are
taught to remain objective in
their writing, Dr. Leader points
out that most of the articles and
books written about Malcolm
are biased, he includes facts
about the various political affili
ations of authors to show why
their writings would demon
strate political biases as they dis
cuss the philosophies of
Malcolm.
In addition to documenting
the political changes in
Malcolm’s views by including
portions of his speeches, Dr.
Leader incorporates the writings
of other authors in order to
compare and contrast the vari
ous interpretations of the
changes in Malcolm X’s beliefs.
As a result, the reader is able
to see how the authors debate
and defend their positions.
Coincidentally, the reader is also
educated about the history of
communism, nationalism, sepa
ratism, socialism, and
Garveyism as they relate to the
study of Malcolm.
Not only does Dr. Leader use
the works of other authors to
answer key questions, he also
uses them to raise one all impor
tant question. “What accounts
for the lack of objective black-
authored works written about
Malcolm?” Leader asked.
Commenting on the lack of
such published studies, Dr.
Leader writes, “...it is a state
ment of fact that it is difficult to
find three books written by
black scholars devoted to an
impeccable critical analysis of
Malcolm X, who is often cited
as one of the most important
black political figures of the
twentieth century.”
In addition to his political
science doctorate, Dr. Leader
holds two master’s degrees, one
in political science from the
University of Wisconsin and the
other in international relations
and philosophy from the
International Institute of the
Americas, where he also earned
a bachelor’s degree with honors
in international relations and
journalism. He has also earned
a diploma from the London
School of Journalism.
Although he has studied the
politics of other countries, Dr.
Leader’s diverse career has led
him to conduct extensive
research in American and
African politics. He has worked
as a journalist for publications as
varied as Black Belt Magazine
and the Pulitzer Prize-winning
San Juan Star. He has been
honored with fellowships from
the Poynter Institute, the
American Press Institute,
Columbia University, and the
American Society of Newspaper
Editors.
Sugar Hill:
An Exciting Urban Drama
Photo courtesy of Ebony/Jet
Wesley Snipes plays a drug lord in film. Sugar
Hill.
By Kenya Johnson
Contributing Writer
Sugar Hill is a real-life drama that follows the life of a
drug dealer at the top of a crime empire.
The movie is based on the reality of the streets in the
inner-city of most large urban centers. Writer, Barry Michael
Cooper, deals with the reality of streets by illustrating both
sides of the street life. This movie shows how two brothers
built one of the largest crime empires in Harlem. The broth
ers took over from where the father left off after becoming
addicted to drugs.
This is a story of one brother, Roemello, wanting to find a
way out of their drug empire and the other brother,
Raynathan, wanting his brother to stay in the business.
Roemello is tired of all the killing and the ways that make
their money. He wants to go back home to their mother and
father’s roots. He wants to take his brother and father with
him. Roemello wants to start a family. He’s tired and he
wants to settle down with a wife and children. He’s tired and
he wants a way out.
On the other hand, Raynathan, wants to stay in Harlem
because he feels that Roemello and the business are all that
he has. Throughout the entire movie, he’s gradually telling
his friends that he will be leaving the business soon. After
his best friend is brutally killed, he really feels that a new life
will be better for him.
If you want to see a movie dealing with survival on the
streets, unconscious choices given to children by parents, and
Harlem History then I reccomend Sugar Hill.
Shakespeare Evening A
Great Benefit
In The Company of My Sisters:
Black Women and Self-Esteem
By Lisa Flanagan
Contributing Writer
After polling 50 black females around
the Atlanta University Center about their self
esteem, 35 admitted they don’t have any feelings
of self worth or self confidence.
“I don’t have any self confidence,”
admitted a Clark Atlanta University junior. “My
family always used to tease me about my dark
complexion and coarse hair.”
Julia Boyd has attempted to put an end
to the negative attitudes and feelings that black
women are confronted with. The Seattle,
Washington based psychotherapist has written a
book especially for black women entitled In the
Company of My Sisters: Black Women and Self
Esteem.”
According to Boyd, “To develop and
maintain a healthy sense of self-esteem you must
receive two basic messages; “I am lovable and I
am worthwhile.”
The novel is divided into five parts,
which discusses why black women have low self
esteem and solutions to everyday problems that
can chip away self-worth and confidence.
According to Boyd, black women allow
the media, their families, boyfriends, friends and
other sources define who they are.
“The media does play a big part in our
problems,” said Mary Allen a Spelman student.
“Take videos for example. The majority of black
male performers cast two types of black women,
the club dancers or the mulatto type very light
skinned with curly hair. Our men even stereotype
us.”
She discussed relationships between
black females, religion, spiritual growth, the
work force, self love, fear and relationships.
Boyd has written an extraordinary book that
offers solutions to the intricate and complex
problems that black women face.
Every black female should have this
enlightening book in reach at all times. Boyd
ends the book with a very powerful statement,
“Healthy self esteem is a present reality and we
can have that reality with two small, very power
ful words: ‘I Am. ’ ” }
The Clark Atlanta University Players, along with other stu
dents in the Atlanta University Center, delivered a compelling
evening of Shakespaere starring Charles Dutton star of Roc.
Held at the 14th Street Playhouse on February 12, the students
behind and before the scene successfully staged four of the great
plays of Shakespaere; Macbeth, Othello, Julius Caesar and King
Lear.
For four hours, with a fifteen-minute intermission, the actors
effectively executed a prime production. The actors captured
the Shakespaeran era oy applying the heightened language
which portrayed the beauty and majesty of Shakespaere's
words.
Veronica Henson Phillips, CAU dialogue and voice coach said
she worked with the actors’ to master the language, “I showed
them how to work with their breath in order to control the
words.”
Directed by CAU Theatre Arts Director, J.W. Lewis, each
individual play utilized the sounds and effects the production
demanded. One of the most compelling effects was the thunder
storm in King Lear.
CAU Senior, Kenyata Rogers said it was exciting to see “the
rapport the students had with Charles Dutton on stage.”
According to CAU graduate Byrle Colley, the students were
excellent actors and actresses. “Lady Anne and Macbeth were
excellent and the clown was cool,” he said.
Dutton, a veteran stage actor, said it was a wonderful produc
tion, “ we did the impossible in melting a show this big and
under duress.”
The production was conducted in benefit of the CAU Arts
Guild Scholars Fund. Dutton said he was proud that they did it
“I will remember the students, the moments and the experience I
had with CAU.”
The CAU players are currently working
on their next produo
tion, Home which will be performed April 4-9.