Makes Me Wanna Holler: A Young Black Man in America

by Nathan McCall

Book Overview

NATIONAL BESTSELLER - One of our most visceral and important memoirs on race in America, this is the story of Nathan McCall, who began life as a smart kid in a close, protective family in a black... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0679740708
• Release Date: January 1994
• Publisher: Vintage
• Length: 448 Pages
• Weight: 0.79 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.0" x 0.9" x 5.2"

Customer Reviews

Great sad book

Inside look at what it's like growing in a neighborhood where all everyone knows is how to give pain.

most profound book i've read

Reading the other reviews of this book, and seeing that many reviewers wondered where McCall's self-judgement or remorse came in, I don't think this book would be the same if McCall spent 400+ pages whining about what mistakes me made. He lets the errors of judgement and difficulties of life stand out glaringly clear to all of those who should choose to read them.This was one of the most profound, important books I've ever read for several reasons. One, it helped me understand the black male psyche from one point of view (mccall's) but when paired with other "prison" writings (cleaver, malcolm x) can help a non-black person understand the difficulties that black males go through in this society. Two, I teach in a poor neighborhood in NYC and this book helped me understand a lot of the mental stress and strain young children are under. When living amongst an oppressed people, where money/status/power/priviledge/mobility are slim, the tricks and games humans will play on each other to get ahead/survive may seem crazy or illogical to those of us who don't live that life. To those that do, it is real. I was better able to understand the pressures of being black, and the different masks black men wear, by reading this book. Three, this book shows how difficult it can be to turn around from past mistakes/actions, but how one must continue. McCall's life could've turned out so differently. He kept fighting and made it so he could have a "piece of the pie" and actually provide something to his children, and show his parents all their help was not totally lost, and prove to himself that he could do it. He said, after serving three years in prison, that he believed he could do anything if he made it out alive. That belief was tested at times when he went through difficulties at various workplaces, with his women, or in the transition back into society from prison. He even went so far as to think for a second that prison was an easier place to be (monastic) because there he could focus entirely on himself, and all threats were known entities. Four, this book helped me at a time in my life where i felt (feel) the walls are closing in on me. My problems are not so deep as McCall's, but i know what it feels like to feel that there are NO options, or the few you have are all bad, and you must simply do the best you can, keep thinking, keep struggling. This is a story of a spirit unwilling to throw in the towel, determined to carry out the strength that miraculously keeps it alive, striving, growing, despite all odds.I will never forget this book. For those who say it ought to be required reading, I agree. It is an amazingly honest memoir. I'm not disappointed in McCall for not showing "remorse" or appearing contrite about what he's done. He lets his words speak clearly to us, showing us that he has learned from his mistakes, otherwise he'd be unable to sit down and write a book as honest and powerful as this one.

DISTURBING TRUTH

MAKES ME WANNA HOLLER stayed with me longer than any other book I've ever read. It's the story of a life like nothing I'd ever imagined and it gave me nightmares for weeks.This book is extremely well-written, so much so that you feel the pain of the victims, moreso than that of the writer.McCall writes about his misspent youth, the drug culture, fights, robberies and gang rapes, in which he participated. He's truthful about his failure with marriage and women in general. He even discusses being arrested and his time in prison, where he worked on his writing craft. Then he questions why main stream America doesn't want to accept him with open arms.It's amazing that through all of his wrongs, this book offers no hint of shame or repentance. He's not the epitome of "a young black man in America". He's an ex lowlife who doesn't know it. He's the kind of person that's easy to hate.But because of his honesty in his subject matter and his excellent writing ability, I think this book is a masterpiece. It should be required high school and college reading. MAKES ME WANNA HOLLER is definitely an eye opener.

TRUTH

I'M A 17 YEAR OLD FEMALE AND I REALLY ENJOYED THIS BOOK. IT HAS ALOT OF TRUTH ON WHAT GOES ON IN HIS LIFE AND ANY BLACK PERSON'S LIFE. WHEN I WAS HANGING AROUND MY FRIENDS I WOULD SEE WHAT BLACK PEOPLE GO THROUGH AND WHAT WAS SAID TO THEM AND I KNOW WHAT THEY FELT. I REALLY LIKE HOW HE SAID HOW IT WAS LIKE IN PRISON. HE LEARD ALOT OF THINGS HE WOULD NEVER LEARNED BEING OUT ON THE STREETS. SO I WOULD RECOMMEND THIS BOOK TO ANYONE WHO THINKS KICKING ON THE STREETS IS COOL AND FUN AND THINK THEY WOULD EVER GET CAUGHT FOR WHAT CRIME THAY COMMIT. IT SHOWS THE REAL PROSPECTIVE OF PRISON AND WHAT ITS LIKE.

Hard hitting stuff and very frank. Brilliant.

I have this book in my "HardToPutDown" book list. Just like I said above, this book is very frank and honest. There are bits that are hard to digest, but like in the real world things are not always rosy. The book portraits McCall's journey through life growing up as "confused kid" till "Adulthood " It does not try to glorify thuggish behaviour or gangsters, but it portraits the all too-familiar road that would be in store for the people who take to that path (he admits he was lucky). It sets the reality from the fiction, and it's also a very motivational book (or deterrent) for the lot of confused Boys/Men out there. So that why this gets a five. It's absolutely brilliant.

tour de force

very very powerful and i can relate to it.i feel all races should read this book.this book details the african american male experience in america really well.the ways of looking at yourself.the theme for me in the book is loving yourself knowing who you are.it's tough being a black man in america but even tougher without your own idenity.i felt Mr. Mccall was putting his blood line on the line in this book.yes,self-hatred and loathing are found in this book as is all kinds of abuse and what have you but the book is purely a reflection of a time and the scene around a person.living in a world that tells you that you don't matter and that your skin is your sin.but in the end you have to believe in yourself or you will succomb to the hatred and maddness.i highly reccomend this book for anyone PERIOD.