Books Off The Hook
By Davene Swinson
Read any ofF-the-hook books
lately? Well, how about
joining Hekima. Hekima,
the Swahili word for knowledge, is
a book club that reads a novel by
African-American authors each
month and meets to interpret and
discuss the book.
The Sonja Haynes Stone Black
Cultural Center (BCC) adopted
Hekima from the Black Student
Movement’s Education Committee
in 1997. Providing a way for stu
dents to connect to literature root
ed in their own culture, the pro
gram has become more than a
book club. Students begin to enjoy
reading by focusing on literature
about people with whom they can
relate. A brief synopsis of each
book is provided below.
“Men Cry in the Dark,” by
Michael Baisden, is the book for
September. This novel is about
four friends who grew up poor on
the south side of Chicago and how
they became successful entrepre
neurs. The story focuses on their
friendship and the many relation
ships that they have with the
women in their lives. Some of the
issues that this book addresses are
fatherhood, interracial dating and
the older man-younger woman
syndrome.
“In the Meantime; Finding
Yourself and the Love You Want,”
by lyanla Vanzant, will be the book
for October. Several people won
der what is the “meantime” and
how to get through it. This novel
focuses on how to use the mean
time to prepare yourself for your
true love. Vanzant’s first step is to
clean house, starting with the base
ment. According to this inspira
tional speaker, one will be ready to
accept love into their house after
spring cleaning room by room.
“B-Boy Blues,” by James Earl
Hardy, is the daring novel for
November. This book focuses on
the homosexual escapades of
Mitchell Crawford. Mitchell is a
young. Black, educated and gay
man who has flings with two B-
boys, as he calls them, until he
meets the man of his dreams. In
this book Hardy reveals what hap
pens when two cultures collide.
“When Chickenheads Come
Home to Roost,” by Joan Morgan,
is the book for December and
January. This book takes an inter
esting look at the contradictions in
being a strong woman and an
African-American sister looking at
the hip-hop world. Her book
searches for the truth with a series
of essays ranging from social
issues like the misogyny of rap
music, the stereotype of the strong
Black woman and the epidemic of
single motherhood in the Black
community.
“Temple of My Familiar,” by
Alice Walker, will be the book for
February. This book is filled with
the unique combination of magic
and reality. Focusing on people
who are tormented by the world’s
contradictions, this novel tells the
tale of three pairs of lovers who
transcend time to discover the
truth.
“Soul on Ice,” by Eldridge
Cleaver, will be the book for
March. This book is the prison
memoirs of Black Panther activist,
Eldridge Cleaver, that changed the
way America looked at the Black
experience and the Civil Rights
Movement. In one part of the
book, Cleaver says, “I’m perfectly
aware that I’m in prison, that I’m a
Negro, that I’ve been a rapist, and
that I have a Higher Uneducation.”
“Cheaters,” by Eric Jerome
Dickey, will be the book for April.
This novel looks at the single
scene in Los Angeles. The main
story deals with an affair between
Stephan Mitchell, who’s only inter
ested in a good time, and Chante
Marie Ellis, who’s decided to start
dogging the dogs. Stephan’s
friend, Darnell, is tempted to adul
tery by Chante’s understanding
friend Tammy. This novel will def
initely keep you guessing.
If any of the books appeal to
your reading likes, then come out
to the Hekima meetings on the last
Tuesday of each month at 6:00
p.m. in the BCC ready to discuss.
For more information, contact
Carol Ben-Davies at
cbd@email.unc.edu or Davene
Swinson at dj7@email.unc.edu.
All book review information comes
from www.amazon.com.
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Black Ink