Various (Johnson, John H. (Editor); Baraka, Amiri (Jones, LeRoi); Burrell, Walter; Greenlee, Sam; Smith, Edward C. et al.)

Black World Vol. XX No. 9 (July 1971)

Chicago, IL: Johnson Publishing Company, Inc., 1971. First Printing. Softcover. This vintage number of the African American literary, cultural & political journal edited & published by John H. Johnson (1918-2005), the pioneering & much-honored American entrepreneur, is exemplary of the radical Black Power-era cultural & political stance in the immediate wake of the civil rights protests, assassinations & insurrectionary rioting of the turbulent 1960s decade. The cover article in this issue is "The Ban on Black Music" by "Imamu" Amiri Baraka (b. LeRoi Jones, 1934-2014). While we grudgingly acknowledge Baraka/Jones' important place in the Beat Generation canon, especially as a publisher (see for example our item No. 7041), & usually are removed from broader commentary outside literary matters, we feel obligated to mention that this article is a grim exemplar of the utterly divisive, incendiary, proudly ignorant polemicism to which Baraka/Jones had descended by this 60s-hangover period (that would get only worse as the decades progressed...). Without directly quoting the slurs and conspiracies flippantly spewn in his writing, he suggests the Jewish leaders in power aim to control the Black community and are overly dismissive of “radical” rhetoric, calling it “sickening,” (pg. 8). The truly sickening matter is his blatant disregard for the humanity of not just other communities but also his own, casually using the n-word to refer to the entirety of the Black population. An editorial note by managing editor Hoyt W. Fuller justifies the inclusion of divisive perspectives as a matter of policy: “The editors of Black World do not always agree with the thrust of the articles in the magazine, and sometimes our own positions are diametrically opposed to those of our contributors. However, the point is that Black World is open to all Black opinions, even those opinions and positions which we otherwise attack editorially. We do not necessarily endorse opinions expressed in the magazine, but we do feel it important that the varieties of opinions and viewpoints held by Black people be exposed for consideration and debate. This is our policy. We will continue it,” (pg. 49). Also in this issue: psychologist William E. Cross Jr. (1940-2024) discusses the development of a psychological understanding of human behavior in the context of Black America; an in-depth interview with Sam Greenlee (b. Samuel Eldred Greenlee Jr., 1930-2014), the noted novelist & poet who had recently published his provocative novel The Spook Who Sat by the Door & later was appointed Poet Laureate of Chicago (where Johnson & his businesses were headquartered), conducted by Walter Burrell; Randall Robinson, Herb Ottley, and Edward C. Smith discuss various aspects of Pan-Africanism, analyzing the efforts of unifying against oppression while also progressing integration and equality; short stories by Eugenia W. Collier and Arthenia J. Bates; reviews of Black literature, art, and music; & "Humor in Hue" cartoons, etc. Booklet-format journal with stapled sheets in wrappers, presumed first-&-only printing. From the collection of Albert Glover (b. 1942), the acclaimed American poet, publisher, scholar & academician who remains the foremost living authority on Charles Olson (1910-1970), the Great (in all senses) Black Mountain-&-Beyond poet's-poet & mentor- our favorite Maximus Obscurantist. A most-collectible relic of Black pride & militancy, alas notably including a particularly cautionary contribution, with distinguished provenance. In relatively quite near-fine condition with mild rubbing, faint scratching & some instances of moderate age-toning/spotting to front, back covers & spine; slight wear & some tiny bumps, creases at/from edges & corners of same; mild-to-moderate age-toning & light rubbing to edges of text block. Interior near-fine-to-fine with sparse age-toned spotting to inner covers & first few page leaves (the latter from side-edges); mild-to-moderate age-toning throughout all leaves; tiny bumps at corners of some leaves. Near Fine. [Item #8177]

Price: $50.00