The Obama presidency represented a major milestone in African American
history. The very presence of a black First Family had a profound
cultural impact, but did the Obama White House actually addressed any of
the ongoing issues faced by Black America? Did communities of color
organized sufficiently to voice their concerns? How could lessons
learned from past freedom struggles guide the organizing that's needed
to meet today's opportunities and challenges?
To explore these questions in depth, international journalist Joanne
Griffith traveled the country to interview black intellectuals,
activists, authors and educators, including former advisor to former
President Obama, Van Jones; civil rights advocate and litigator,
Michelle Alexander; economist, Julianne Malveaux; and friend and speech
writer for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Dr. Vincent Harding.
The result was a wide-ranging exploration of the hot-button issues
facing America today, from economics, education and the law, to the
cultural impact of mass media. Timely and rich in personal wisdom,
Redefining Black Power connects the dots between past freedom
struggles and the future of black civic and cultural life in the United
States.
Redefining Black Power [was] an important, historical rumination on
race, class, power and politics in the Age of Obama. The conversations .
. . are thoughtful, probing, nuanced insights into the state of African
American political power at this historic moment. The book raises
challenging questions, but rather than offer definitive answers, it
provokes the reader to personally define 'Black power' and inspires all
of us to continue the work of 'deepening the meaning of
democracy.'--Wade Henderson, president and CEO of The Leadership
Conference on Civil and Human Rights
Joanne Griffith is a superb journalist! She writes, speaks, and
interviews with great skill, sincerity, and sensitivity to those she
covers. Joanne has made it in a tough journalism world--one where the
white males, working for wealthy news organizations, have the
advantages. Her writings and insights are a lesson to all. She reflects
President Obama's spirited call of 'fired up, ready to go!'--Connie
Lawn, Senior White House Correspondent (since 1968)
International broadcast journalist Griffith draws on the archives of
radio interviews with black intellectuals to offer a perspective on how
the election of the nation's first black president has changed notions
of black power and ideas of a multicultural democracy. . . . Griffith
provides context for each excerpted interview, adding to the texture of
the analysis of changing perspectives on contemporary black
power.--Booklist
Griffith concludes by wondering if progressives have been 'lulled into a
satisfied slumber' by Obama's election, and whether Dr. King's ambitions
have been betrayed by this complacency. Multifaceted discussions
regarding the challenges faced by African-Americans during the Obama
presidency.--Kirkus Review
Joanne Griffith is an award winning international broadcast journalist
who has reported, produced and hosted programs for the British
Broadcasting Corporation, National Public Radio and the Pacifica Radio
Network. Joanne has spent her career telling the stories of tragedy and
triumph throughout the African Diaspora; from voting rights in the
United States, the legacy of slavery in the Caribbean, the contribution
of immigrants to the United Kingdom and the politics of food and power
in southern Africa.
