Walking on Water: Black American Lives at the Turn of the Twenty-First Century

by Randall Kenan

Book Overview

Walking on Wateris a profoundly moving and provocative account--both timely and enduring--of the thoughts, the feelings, the lives, of African Americans in the post-Civil Rights era of the nineties,... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0679408274
• ISBN13: 9780679408277
• Release Date: February 1999
• Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf
• Length: 668 Pages
• Weight: 1.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.6" x 9.6" x 6.6"

Customer Reviews

Kenan sees the Unseen

Randal Kenan shows us things we normally do not see. It is paticularly interesting how this man, with his own admitted biases and limitations, gets in close and is able to get people to open up. His humility and willingness to learn that comes through the book so clearly must have something to do with it. The chapter dealing with the "Black Revolutionary" middle class college students was engaging and compelling. It would be interesting to see where they are today and what they are doing. Kenan shows us some memorable characters from the multicolored portrait of the Black populace. I will be looking for more. Get it, read it and see if you see what Kenan sees?

A well-rounded look at African Americans

If anyone ever doubted that African Americans live diverse lives this book will prove otherwise. In his travels, Mr. Keenan interviewed blacks from various backgrounds. It was definitely an eye opener for myself at the great diversity. The region of birth and circumstances of environment determine how these blacks viewed themselves and their place in society. I found the chaper on blacks in Vermont and Louisiana as two examples of what the world does not see as exposed by the media. Yes, there were a few mistakes, but the people who nitpicked at this let these mistakes overshadow the purpose and revelations of this find memoir. This is a book that should be kept in all Americans libraries and in particulary African Americans. I commend the author on all the hard work and time he put into it.

"IIt isn't Black history, its American history,"

AS pbs PUT IT DURING BLACK HISTORY MONTH. RANDALL KENAN'S WRITING IS INTELLIGENT, ARTICULATE, POETIC, RYTHMIC, HUMOUROUS AND DOWN RIGHT FASCINATING! A SEARCH FOR THE MEANING OF 'BLACK,' EXPECTED TO END IN ONE OR TWO YEARS, TOOK AN ENTIRE SEVEN YEAR CYCLE OF RANDALL KENAN'S LIFE. WHAT A MARVELOUS JOURNEY IT IS. THE STORIES OF THE PEOPLE HE INTERVIEWED ACROSS THE UNITED STATES ARE RIVETING AND ENHANCE OUR LIVES AND EDUCATE US RICHLY. I DID NOT WANT TO PUT IT DOWN, SAVORING EVERY PAGE. I AM HONORED AND MOVED TO SHARE HIS EXPERIENCE. NOW I WANT TO READ EVERYTHING ELSE RANDALL KENAN HAS WRITTEN.

excellent so far

It's a great book - something I haven't seen in a long time. It really examines that pioneering spirit among black america and gives me inspiration. It was good that Kenan talked to black people, that many of us would not ordinarily meet being the urbanists that we are. I'm glad he sought many points of views rather than attempt to simplify black authentic existence to some 'boyz in the hood' apology thang. I'm inspired to go seek out the land as many of blacks have done - I think there are some key gems of knowledge than will spur on the development of black peoples. The can - do spirit!!

A Powerful Examination of Black American Culture!

I recently finished reading a novel entitled PSEUDO COOL by Joseph Green. It's a strong story about young african-americans and the struggles they encounter while attending predominately white educational institutions. As with Mr. Green's PSEUDO COOL, I was moved by this book's examination of a people's experience that continues to evolve from too many untold beginnings toward an unknown end. I highly recommend both books to others.