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Mass Market Paperback To Be Young, Gifted and Black Book

ISBN: B0072Q2VP2

ISBN13: 9780451531780

To Be Young, Gifted and Black: An Informal Autobiography

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Format: Mass Market Paperback

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Book Overview

"Anyone who has ever wondered what it really means to be Black will find the answer in this book."--MINNEAPOLIS TRIBUNE

To Be Young, Gifted and Black
is a special kind of autobiography, in a very special voice. Both the story and the voice belong to a young woman from Chicago who moved to New York, won fame with her first play, A Raisin in the Sun--and went on to new heights of artistry before her tragically early death.

In turns angry, loving, bitter, laughing, and defiantly proud, the story, voice, and message are all Lorraine Hansberry's own, coming together in one of the major works of the Black experience in mid-twentieth-century America.


"A milestone."--TIME

"Wonderfully moving and entertaining."--Clive Barnes, THE NEW YORK TIMES

"I advise anybody who is interested in the human condition, black or white, to read it."--NEWSDAY

Customer Reviews

7 ratings

Exceptional!

as a black woman in this world whom herself At least I was Young Still. gifted and Black 😂 now in this World m WOW of two countries Canada, and American Born. figured I was blessed by the Lord.. from a bloodline of greats! They Whitney's Houston style Auntie, and then Dionne Warwick type mom.within my family's. still remains in the world to this Day. on to the next generation of my mother and grandmother, Grandpa.the American Hopi Indian he was!,👪❤️ And I have too say Oh I can truly relate t they journey very well.yup first hand. And this is an exceptional reading. of hers story. Raisins in the Sun. watching documentary on biography many years ago. But it didn't begin to cover the deaths of what this book has Young gifted and Black. I recommends I highly and I'm glad I purchased a copy. I thanks you very much thrift books for doings and Providing this great services..

Very Inspiring and Beautiful

This book was a absolute joy to read. She was so inspiring and beautiful as a person, her words were so touching. She seen the world beautifully and rationally and fought for equal rights for people to be seen as equal and not just the color of their skin. Read and responded to fans with her real opinion and not some bull and that’s all you can really ask for these days is truth an kindness. I would have loved to send her any of my work to read what a beautiful soul.

srekcarc

There are a lot of lazy ignorant people in our society who believe that black people should be all accomodating and not be too complex, in other words, human. How sad for them. Hansberry was ofcourse a genius. Bless her short life and her work.

I Can Relate

I remember reading this book thinking that I could relate to the author perfectly well. Though I am not a playright, I do understand a lot of what she is saying. There should and will never be a borderline or a glass ceiling or anything else to hold me down. You are who you are regardless of what is . . . There is no turning back only that which is to be gained and won.When I think of Lorraine Hansberry I think of a woman who achieved the impossible in an impossible time. She completed her plays with such intensity and flair . . . As if she lived and researched each every act. Nevertheless, I feel that Hansberry was stating that to be "Young, gifted, and black," is clearly to be aware of who and what you are . . . and to take this knowledge of who and what you are and to run with it. Taking a chance when given a chance, or rather taking a chance and creating an opportunity with merely a bit of the gift that you had.I will always remember what Thurgood Marshall, he basically stated that "He did the best with what he had." Is that being merely good or is that being the best. I believe that the concept of this book is not to be mistaken. I believe Hansberry is saying, "Hey sister, hold your head up high. It does not matter what this world thinks of you. It only merely matters about what you can do for yourself and your fellowman. Do you know your gifts? Hey write it down. You are worth perfecting."Lorraine Hansberry did wonders in her lifetime she did so much for her community and her fellowman. My question to myself and others is . . . What about your gifts? Hey write them down. They are worth perfecting.

Poignant and inspiring

Getting inside the head of such a great thinker is a wonderful opportunity. The only negative comment I could make about this book is that a few of the passages included from Hansberry's lesser-known plays were not as powerful as the passages from speeches, journals, and A Raisin in the Sun. It is tragic that the world lost a truly gifted and spirited writer at such a young age. If you enjoyed A Raisin in the Sun, you'll also find this a rewarding read.

Universal, Accessible, and Powerful!

I thought this was an absolutely beautiful book. Hansberry had such a gift for writing about the human spirit. I hope that the students who say they got nothing from reading this book come back to it as adults and give it another try. I found it to be inspiring. It will definitely join my list of favorites!

It was amazing

I found this book really solefull. I am not black or gifted but I feel that I relate to Lorraine Hansberry in many ways. I recomend this unique format to anyone who wants deep reading that flys by!
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