A review by bobbo49
Kill 'Em and Leave: Searching for James Brown and the American Soul by James McBride

4.0

A deep look into the life and times of the Godfather of Soul, and the harsh realities of life for black Americans, even famous and high-flying entertainers - in the Southern states (and elsewhere in this country) in the 1940s-1990s. Brown's personal frailties only exacerbated his hardships. The only reason I didn't give this book 5 stars is that the reality of McBride's strongly stated conclusions about James Brown's estate battle, based on personal interviews with many of Brown's associates and family, isn't yet clear; if McBride is right, Brown's effort to leave over $100 million to charities to educate poor children in Georgia and South Carolina has been hijacked by Brown's children, wives, and a greedy series of lawyers and accountants. McBride's writing, and Brown's story, are, nonetheless, compelling reading, particularly for fans of music or students of American history.