Defending the Spirit: A Black Life in America

Rating:
Summary: Excellent read. Disillusioned by extent of US betrayal.
Review: "Defending The Spirit" was extremely enlightening and at the same time painful for me to read. I applaud the lifetime dedication and courage of Mr. Robinson 's commitment to a worthy cause. South Africa,s exclusion and distancing of the very people who struggled and fought for their freedom brought tears to my eyes. I can only imagine the hurt experienced by Mr. Robinson.

I am an African American fully aware, I thought, of the racism that exists in this country - my country, but reading about the extent of government and corporate manipulation and support of apartheid and inhumanity comes as a direct rejection of me. It is disheartening to know that so many in the country I call home would be happy if I simply did not exist.

I can only agree with Bill Cosby, "This is a very important book that should be read by everyone in America".

Rating:
Summary: moving account of what one man can accomplish
Review: I read this book because I was intrigued by the interview that Brian Lamb did with Randall Robinson on CSPAN's Booknotes. Superficially, this book falls into the genre of "an angry black looks at America". If I had I browsed this book in a bookstore I probably would not have been interested in it. However, while Mr. Robinson is certainly both angry and black, this autobiography is much more than a complaint about 20th century America. It is an emotionally powerful story of an individual who changed both America and the world.

Randall Robinson's experiences clearly demonstrate that America has yet to recover from the abhorrent behavior patterns engendered by decades of slavery and discrimination. Ironically, the original draft of the Declaration of Independence contained a strident denunciation of slavery as violating the most sacred rights of life and liberty. That clarion call for the equality of all men, black and white, was deleted from the Declaration in the interest of political expediency. When America turned its back on equal rights for all people, the effects of slavery proceeded to devastate the ethical sinews of the nation, directly degrading blacks and indirectly debasing the consciences of many whites. The blatant examples of racism that Randall Robinson experienced in settings ranging from Alabama back roads to the halls of Harvard Law School are startling to a middle class white such as myself. It would be easy for Randall Robinson to justify rebelling against a system which allows the stereotypes and prejudices of slavery to infect its social structures.

Randall Robinson chose a different path; he chose to do what is morally right rather than what portends short term political expediency. Randall Robinson decided to change America's wholly unjust and racist foreign policy towards African and Carribean countries. The impact that he and his compatriots had on US foreign policy towards both South Africa and Haiti is stunning. They didn't just nudge the lumbering ship of state on a small course change. They stopped the US in its tracks and caused it to support democracy rather than totalitarian dictatorship. Why is it that in the country of the Declaration of Independence, private citizens have to stand up and tell our government to advocate democracy over totalitarian rule in other countries? Both the occupation of the South African embassy and Randall Robinson's hunger strike over Haitian policy are compelling narratives. These two stories alone make the book worth reading.

The book also documents the warm family relationships Randall Robinson enjoyed. Growing up in materially impoverished conditions was never an excuse to underachieve. Randall Robinson makes it quite clear that strong family values are needed and nurtured by all races. The insight he provides into the daily life in many African countries stands in stark juxtaposition to the common stereotypes of dumb, lazy blacks. That Alexander Haig could "beat tom-toms" during White House cabinet sessions on Africa is appalling for its ignorance. Many African countries are slowly and assiduously building democratic societies, more than can be said for Mr Haig's atavistic contributions.

Overall I'd recommend this book as fascinating reading. Randall Robinson is a shining example of the power of an individual to change America and the world.

Rating:
Summary: now i now why cops stop me for no reason...
Review: it's because of books like this. randall robinson and david duke are on opposite poles of the same page. stop hatin', and start lovin'!!!! god is the way.

Rating:
Summary: Good overview of American foreign policy
Review: This book is not so significant for its detailing of racism in America, which both white and black surely know of. Rather, it is a lovely view at how American foreign policy holds Africa and the Carribean to be simple pawns in their games, not caring for the countries involved nor their residents. Mr. Robinson, founder of TransAfrica, does a fine job criticizing policy to Rhodesia, Haiti, Rwanda, Zaire (now the Congo once more), Jamaica, Nigeria and more. Angry at times, but often rightfully so. Robinson does a fine job using personal experiences to highlight his message. Worth reading for Americans of all skin colors and backgrounds.