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bcohen13's review against another edition
5.0
Quite an education. I knew there was a Pittsburgh black renaissance in a general sense, but hearing all the names and accomplishments across music, sports, and perhaps most impressively journalism, really put things into perspective. Then, while the renaissance had already begun to wane, the city decided to demolish the community that created it to build an arena.
melbotics's review
informative
4.75
Informative, engaging & descriptive narrative, feels well researched. A look at Black history through the lens of the Pittsburgh Courier. The newspaper is the primary throughline, but since it covered national news, the scope of the book is quite broad at times - but it narrows back to the individuals running and working for the Courier, and the residents of the Hill District.
There are a few categories of topics. Sports, culture, politics. Sports are generally less interesting to me, but the stories were still compelling.
There are a few categories of topics. Sports, culture, politics. Sports are generally less interesting to me, but the stories were still compelling.
armedaphrodite's review
informative
slow-paced
3.75
I appreciate the great effort that went into this book, and the variety of perspectives it gives. However, it felt as though the focus of the book was as much on events happening outside of Pittsburgh as events in them, which took me a while to get the hang of, considering the purported focus of the book.
nancf's review against another edition
3.0
3.5, not quite a 4, because some parts went slowly for me.
Smoketown ( a nickname for Pittsburgh) is a well-researched, well-written book about "The Other Great Black Renainssance." I learned much reading it, though there were some familiar names and places.
I was struck by the overt discrimination in the 1940's, 1950's, 1960's and beyond, surprised, but perhaps not surprised, with things that happened in my lifetime.
The book covered music, sports, journalism and a bit of politics and while all were interesting the music parts were of most interest to me.
"...Hoover [J.Edgar] complained that his efforts to crack down on the press were being thwarted by FDR's attorney general, Francis Biddle. Biddle, a Philadelphia patrician and disciple of Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, believed that the press had a constitutional right to criticize the government, as long as it did not directly assist the enemy." (174)
Smoketown ( a nickname for Pittsburgh) is a well-researched, well-written book about "The Other Great Black Renainssance." I learned much reading it, though there were some familiar names and places.
I was struck by the overt discrimination in the 1940's, 1950's, 1960's and beyond, surprised, but perhaps not surprised, with things that happened in my lifetime.
The book covered music, sports, journalism and a bit of politics and while all were interesting the music parts were of most interest to me.
"...Hoover [J.Edgar] complained that his efforts to crack down on the press were being thwarted by FDR's attorney general, Francis Biddle. Biddle, a Philadelphia patrician and disciple of Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, believed that the press had a constitutional right to criticize the government, as long as it did not directly assist the enemy." (174)
lisaschamess's review against another edition
5.0
An incredible commitment of a book — both for author Mark Whitaker and for the reader. Thoroughly researched and meticulously reported, this book brings Black Pittsburgh and the Hill District of the 20th century back to exuberant life. Anchored by the history and adventurous newspeople of the Black-owned Pittsburgh Courier, the book delves into the lives of the city’s Black elite, the golden era of the Negro Baseball Leagues, the outsize number of musical and artistic celebrities who are from or closely tied to Pittsburgh (Lena Horne, Billy Strayhorn, Billy Eckstine, Errol Garner, Romare Bearden, to name a few) and the considerable engagement of the Pittsburgh Courier with building the careers of sports figures such as Joe Louis and Jackie Robinson. The life of the Hill District, and the irreparable and racist damage done to it by urban “renewal” is an important turning point toward the end of the book, presaged by the rise and failure of the “double VV” campaign during World War II, when Black servicemen campaigned for a victory over racism at home while they fought for American values overseas.
One chapter is devoted to the Civil Rights era as seen through the eyes of elegant reporter Evelyn Cunningham, who covered Thurgood Marshall’s fight to desegregate schools and Martin Luther King Jr.’s rising leadership in Montgomery as she kept up with her weekly advice column for women as well.
The final chapter culminates with the life and career of playwright August Wilson, who barely lived long enough to complete his ambitious 10-cycle play, one for each decade, about his native city.
This is a terrifically engaging book.
One chapter is devoted to the Civil Rights era as seen through the eyes of elegant reporter Evelyn Cunningham, who covered Thurgood Marshall’s fight to desegregate schools and Martin Luther King Jr.’s rising leadership in Montgomery as she kept up with her weekly advice column for women as well.
The final chapter culminates with the life and career of playwright August Wilson, who barely lived long enough to complete his ambitious 10-cycle play, one for each decade, about his native city.
This is a terrifically engaging book.
hardhatscott's review against another edition
4.0
I learned a lot from this book about the history of my hometown. It is a great compliment to the coffee table book I remember "Pittsburgh: The Story of an American City" by Stefan Lorant which essentially ignores the history of blacks in the city. This book shows the rich history of jazz musicians, journalists and sports figures from Pittsburgh and the central role they played in integrating Baseball, the Civil Rights movement, and the history of Jazz. Greats like Billy Eckstine, Billy Strayhorn, Earl Hines, Ahmad Jamal, and many others, as well as writers like August Wilson. The book is a bit disjointed but a fascinating history that his been ignored for too long.
lauramcgaha's review against another edition
5.0
Not being a fan of ANY sports, I had my doubts when the book started off with a boxing story. But the writing and narrative compelled me to have a computer close by so that I could Google all of the places and people mentioned. While the book is about Pittsburgh, specifically, having a black renaissance that rivaled Harlem's, the take-a-way is that cities all over the country experienced the same: creative genius fighting both the remnant of Jim Crow and a majority population that thought they were inferior. EVEN IN THE NORTH (or as Pittsburgh, shamefully, was called -- Up South).
vcarr1093's review against another edition
5.0
This book offered a glimpse into the world of Black Pittsburgh- a world of culture, class, music, entrepreneurship, sports, and a cast of characters that you will never forget. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and each chapter left me in wanting to learn more. I eagerly researched all the different figures that were connected to Pittsburgh in one way or another- Lena Horne, Billy Strayhorn, Billy Eckstine, Gus Greenlee, the Negro Leagues, and of course, playwright August Wilson.
oliviakt07's review against another edition
4.0
Once my partner and I found ourselves Pittsburgh bound, I began to search for a summer read that would offer me a glimpse into my soon-to-be home. Out of the tens of thousands of books I could have chosen about the 'City of Bridges', I am profoundly grateful that Mark Whitaker's "Smoketown: The Untold Story of the Other Great Black Renaissance" not only crossed my path but also lead me down an unforgettable one too.
I grew up about 30 minutes southwest of Cleveland, OH, and for anyone who knows of the rivalry between the cities you would think I am committing a cardinal sin for what I am about to say: Why are we not talking more about Pittsburgh's historical and international influence, or about the black renaissance that greatly shaped twentieth century America?
The answer is all too clear before readers immerse themselves within the pages of Whitaker's book: micro and macro forms of systematic racism, ignorance, and greed. Readers will feel unease, down right anger, and those feelings are absolutely validated. Take those feelings, accept and learn from them, and then go out there and do something so these atrocities do not happen again.
By reading this book I found new heroes from those who were pivotal to social justice movements (journalists Evelyn Cunningham and Wendell Smith), to those who were revolutionary to theater orchestra pits and the medium of music (composer and lyricist Billy Strayhorn, and jazz pianist Erroll Garner), to those whose athletic talents still echo throughout the stadiums they played in (baseball player Josh Gibson). While most differ in their roots, they all came through (and at one time or another fell in love with) Pittsburgh and gave the city its due.
My hope is that my partner and I will be able to do the same, and honor those who came before us.
I implore that readers take their time with this piece, not only for the historical dates, times, and details, but to truly learn from the material that Whitaker has gathered. While my memory will hold onto so much from "Smoketown" after my initial read, I know that I will be finding my own print copy to savor more trips down this book's informative path.
I grew up about 30 minutes southwest of Cleveland, OH, and for anyone who knows of the rivalry between the cities you would think I am committing a cardinal sin for what I am about to say: Why are we not talking more about Pittsburgh's historical and international influence, or about the black renaissance that greatly shaped twentieth century America?
The answer is all too clear before readers immerse themselves within the pages of Whitaker's book: micro and macro forms of systematic racism, ignorance, and greed. Readers will feel unease, down right anger, and those feelings are absolutely validated. Take those feelings, accept and learn from them, and then go out there and do something so these atrocities do not happen again.
By reading this book I found new heroes from those who were pivotal to social justice movements (journalists Evelyn Cunningham and Wendell Smith), to those who were revolutionary to theater orchestra pits and the medium of music (composer and lyricist Billy Strayhorn, and jazz pianist Erroll Garner), to those whose athletic talents still echo throughout the stadiums they played in (baseball player Josh Gibson). While most differ in their roots, they all came through (and at one time or another fell in love with) Pittsburgh and gave the city its due.
My hope is that my partner and I will be able to do the same, and honor those who came before us.
I implore that readers take their time with this piece, not only for the historical dates, times, and details, but to truly learn from the material that Whitaker has gathered. While my memory will hold onto so much from "Smoketown" after my initial read, I know that I will be finding my own print copy to savor more trips down this book's informative path.
mrtramuel's review against another edition
5.0
Reading to learn, reading to smile... I learned & smiled a lot ;) Almost embarrassed to write that I had no knowledge of this rich (double entendre don't even ask me how) Philadelphia history. Looking for more information on Cumberland “Cap” Posey and the Pittsburgh Courier. That be' the learning part.
Shout out to Lisa for the recommendation.
Shout out to Lisa for the recommendation.