Dark Witness

by Ralph Wiley

Book Overview

Essays discuss the African American experience and explore such topics as the O.J. Simpson murder trial and the controversial book The Bell Curve. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0345409744
• ISBN13: 9780345409744
• Release Date: April 1997
• Publisher: One World
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.5" x 8.2"

Customer Reviews

RIP To a Very Talented Brother

over the years I've Agreed & Disagreed with certain things Brother Wiley said but despite where I may have come down on certain things one thing never changed: the Brother was Bad with His.He made you think & Look.you had to question things & you had to Wonder the what if's.this Book continues in that vain of making you ponder the subject matters.another Good Book.RIP He left us way to soon but his words are will always be with us.

Society through Wiley's eyes is interesting

As a white man I have found Wiley's books interesting because they allow me to see American society through another's eyes. As a high school history and political science teacher, I have used Wiley's essays to generate great discussions. I used his "Integration and desegregation" essay from "Why Black People Tend to Shout" as a different point view after viewing the "successes" of integration. I also use his essay about Arthur Ashe from "What Black People Should Do Now" after I have me students read part of "Days of Grace" for my Race and Politics unit. As far as "Dark Witness", the Twain material is interesting, but it is hard to comment on being limited in my knowledge on Twain however, the idea that "nigger" is reflected on the speaker rather than the subject and the "niggers and guvment" related to todays Congress are both interesting observations, which is why I like reading Wiley. On the O.J. essay, I find it troublesome that Wiley and other black people find Furman types as "loan officers, principals" etc. One question I would have is, unless they have been blatently racist, how does one know that they are in fact racist? The "Profuse Apology" essay is cool and one I will use with my students along with the "Why Black people are violent, on welfare..." The description of his sons basketball team is as entertaining as his description of the Lakers beating the 76ers in one of his other books. One other question, he states (I assume in jest) "What Black People Should Do Now", what would his answer be to the question "What should white people do now?" Also, no commentary of Farrakhan in Dark Witness? I'd like to see Wiley beam his powers of observation on Farrakhan. Doug Graney