It is that quality of being both the ship and the safe harbor that I like in my imaginary women."-Toni Morrison, in discussing JazzToni Morrison's vibrancy and vision, expansive soul, and keen sense of humor pervade this engrossing series of landmark conversations on her works with Professor Emerita Angels Carabi of the University of Barcelona. Belles Lettres: A Review of Books by Women was also blessed that two more creative powerhouses - contributing editors Jewelle Gomez and Faye Moskowitz - wrote perceptive reviews of two groundbreaking novels by the greatly missed Nobel laureate (Beloved and Jazz). Morrison's wisdom envelops us and today remains more timely than ever."I lived in a mixed neighborhood and I was always amazed at the language that people spoke, regardless of their education. The metaphors were fabulous: They used pictures that would make your mind jump. So it occurred to me that I would use the language and strip it to its gleaming power.... The language of Black people is extraordinary, a truly theatrical language." "When I was writing the book [Beloved], I thought that some parts were going to be too difficult to deal with. But in those moments I kept saying to myself: 'All I have to do is to think about the people who lived there, who lived through it. If they could live it, I could write about it."-Toni Morrison"The ominous presence of Beloved grows like a poisonous flower."-Jewelle Gomez"Sections in Jazz will take your breath away. They sing like a Lester Young solo."-Faye Moskowitz"I would love to see a contemporary novel by a white woman revealing what it was like to be a slaveowner's wife" (re her 1986 discussion of Beloved). "In Song [of Solomon], music takes the shape of a family tree." TM
Gibbs and Bankhead examine the history and current situation in California as it struggles to deal with the ethnic and racial change that will make it the first American state to have a non-white majority in the first decade of the 21st century. From shock and denial, to bargaining to change the outcome, they analyze the impact in California and what this may mean for the rest of the country. They begin by tracing the major historical, social, economic and political events of the past 50 years that laid the foundation for the impetus of such ethnically and racially divisive initiatives as the efforts to strengthen anti-crime measures, remove illegal immigrants, limit affirmative action measures, and eliminate bilingual education. Each of these ballot propositions is examined, detailing the pro and con arguments of their advocates and opponents, their major financial contributors, campaign strategies, ethnic voting patterns, implications of implementation, and their impact on people of color. Gibbs and Bankhead then look at parallels from a national and international perspective. They conclude with a discussion of the values that should guide public policy debates in a multiethnic, multicultural society, and they propose specific policy alternatives to address the issues of crime prevention and control, illegal immigration, affirmative action, and bilingual education. A thoughtful analysis that will be of value to concerned citizens as well as policy makers, scholars, and students of contemporary American issues.
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