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Hokum

by Paul Beatty

Selected and introduced by acclaimed novelist and poet Paul Beatty, "Hokum" is a liberating, eccentric, savagely comic collection of the funniest writing by black Americans.
This book is less a comprehensive collection of African-American humor than a mix-tape narrative dubbed by a trusted friend—a sampler of underground classics, rare grooves, and timeless summer jams, poetry and prose juxtaposed with the blues, hip-hop, political speeches, and the world's funniest radio sermon. The subtle musings of Toni Cade Bambara, Henry Dumas, and Harryette Mullen are bracketed by the profane and often loud ruminations of Langston Hughes, Darius James, Wanda Coleman, Tish Benson, Steve Cannon, and Hattie Gossett. Some of the funniest writers don't write, so included are selections from well-known yet unpublished wits Lightnin' Hopkins, Mike Tyson, and the Reverend Al Sharpton. Selections also come from public figures and authors whose humor, although incisive and profound, is often overlooked: Malcolm X, Suzan-Lori Parks, Zora Neale Hurston, Sojourner Truth, and W.E.B. Dubois. Groundbreaking, fierce, and hilarious, this is a necessary anthology for any fan or student of American writing, with a huge range and a smart, political grasp of the uses of humor.

FORMAT
Paperback
LANGUAGE
English
CONDITION
Brand New


Publisher Description

Edited by the author of The Sellout, winner of the 2016 Man Booker Prize, Hokum is a liberating, eccentric, savagely comic anthology of the funniest writing by black Americans. This book is less a comprehensive collection than it is a mix-tape narrative dubbed by a trusted friend--a sampler of underground classics, rare grooves, and timeless summer jams, poetry and prose juxtaposed with the blues, hip-hop, political speeches, and the world's funniest radio sermon. The subtle musings of Toni Cade Bambara, Henry Dumas, and Harryette Mullen are bracketed by the profane and often loud ruminations of Langston Hughes, Darius James, Wanda Coleman, Tish Benson, Steve Cannon, and Hattie Gossett. Some of the funniest writers don't write, so included are selections from well-known yet unpublished wits Lightnin' Hopkins, Mike Tyson, and the Reverend Al Sharpton. Selections also come from public figures and authors whose humor, although incisive and profound, is often overlooked: Malcolm X, Suzan-Lori Parks, Zora Neale Hurston, Sojourner Truth, and W.E.B. Dubois. Groundbreaking, fierce, and hilarious, this is a necessary anthology for any fan or student of American writing, with a huge range and a smart, political grasp of the uses of humor.

Back Cover

'I wrestled with whether a God that I couldn't see or touch would be willing to single me out from the millions of other people who wanted love, attention and help.' To women all over the country, from all walks of life, this uncomfortable uncertainty is all too familiar. Now---for inspiration, for affirmation, for a divine connection---you have a new place to turn ... to this authentic look at what it takes to pursue God with abandon, by acclaimed author Stacy Hawkins Adams. Offering insight, inspiration, and practical ideas on how to connect more often and more deeply with God, Adams helps give you and women the world over the courage to go deeper and grow deeper in God's word to hear Him more clearly. Women young and old will be empowered and renewed by Adams' reminder that---regardless of the labels placed on you by society, your family, your friends, and even yourself---your best and most important title is the one given by God ... chosen vessel.

Author Biography

Paul Beatty is author of four novels, Slumberland, Tuff, The White Boy Shuffle, and The Sellout, which won the 2016 Man Booker Prize. He has also written two books of poetry: Big Bank Take Little Bank and Joker, Joker, Deuce. He lives in New York City

Table of Contents

Introduction Pissed Off to the Highest Degree of Pissitivity Sojourner Truth "And a''n''t I a Woman?" (1851) W.E.B. Du Bois "On Being Crazy" (1923) Zora Neale Hurston "''Possum or Pig?" (1926) Chester Himes "Let Me at the Enemy-an'' George Brown" (1944) Malcolm X "Message to the Grass Roots" (1963) Langston Hughes "Pose-Outs" (1965) Lightnin'' Hopkins "Cadillac Blues" (performed 1968) H. Rap Brown from Die, Nigger, Die! (1969) Sam Greenlee from The Spook Who Sat by the Door (1969) Wanda Coleman "April 15th 1985," "Identifying Marks," "On that Stuff That Ain''t Nevah Been Long Enough for No Damn Body" (c.1985) Hattie Gossett "yo daddy: an 80s version of the dozens" (1988) Amiri Baraka "Wise 1" (1995) Cornelius Eady "The Cab Driver Who Ripped Me Off" (1997) Tish Benson "Fifth-Ward E-Mail" (2003) Al Sharpton Presidential campaign speech delivered to the San Francisco Commonwealth Club (2003) Mike Tyson The Wit and Wisdom of Mike Tyson (1987-2004) (Nothing Serious) Just Buggin'' Paul Laurence Dunbar "When De Co''n Pone''s Hot" (1895) Bert Williams "How Fried?" (1913), and assorted jokes compiled by Alex Rogers (1918) Rudolph Fisher "The City of Refuge" (1925) Zora Neale Hurston "The Bone of Contention" (c.1929). George Schuyler from Black No More (1931) James Weldon Johnson "B''rer Rabbit, You''s de Cutes'' of ''Em All" (1935) Sterling Brown "Slim in Atlanta" and "Slim Lands a Job," (1932) and "Crispus Attucks McKoy" (1965) Gwendolyn Brooks "at the hairdresser''s" (1945), "One reason cats . . ." (1968), "A Song in the Front Yard" (1945) Louis Jordan/Lawrence Ellis Walsh "Saturday Night Fish Fry" (1949) Langston Hughes "Adventure" (c.1962) Gary Belkin (writing as Muhammad Ali) "Clay Comes Out to Meet Liston" (1963) Henry Dumas "Double Nigger" (1965) Ishmael Reed from Yellow Back Radio Broke-Down (1969) Toni Cade Bambara "The Lesson" (1972). Etheridge Knight "Dark Prophecy: I Sing of Shine" "Memo #9," "Rehabilitation and Treatment in the Prisons of America" (1973) Kyle Baker "Sands of Blood," from The Cowboy Wally Show (1988) Spike Lee from Do the Right Thing (1989) Patricia Smith "Boy Sneezes, Head Explodes" (1991) Darius James "Lil'' Black Zambo," from Negrophobia (1992) Lord Finesse "Return of the Funky Man" (1992) Hilton Als "The Only One" (1994) John Farris In the Park After School with the Girl & the Boy (1994) Elizabeth Alexander "Talk Radio, D.C." (1996) Erika Ellis from Good Fences (1999) Percival Everett from Erasure (2001) Colson Whitehead from John Henry Days (2001) Willie Perdomo "Should Old Shit Be Forgot" (2003) Black Absurdity Zora Neale Hurston "Book of Harlem" (c.1921) Chester Himes "Dirty Deceivers" (1948) Ralph Ellison from Invisible Man (1952) Charles Wright from The Wig (1966) Bob Kaufman "Abomunist Manifesto" (1965), "Heavy Water Blues" (1967) Cecil Brown from The Life and Loves of Mr . Jiveass Nigger (1969) Steve Cannon from Groove, Bang and Jive Around (1969) Fran Ross from Oreo (1974) Franklyn Ajaye "Be Black, Brother, Be Black" and "Disneyland High" (1977) Trey Ellis from Platitudes (1988) Harriet Mullen "Any Lit," "Jinglejangle," "Kamasutra Sutra," "Souvenir from Anywhere" (1991) Suzan-Lori Parks Devotees in the Garden of Love (1991) Willie Perdomo "Nigger-Reecan Blues" (1996) Danzy Senna "The Mulatto Millennium" (1998) John Rodriguez "How to Be a Street Poet" (1999) Darius James from "Froggie Chocolate''s Christmas Eve" (2003) Prophet Omega "I Am What I Am" and "Swollen Feets" (dates unknown)

Details

ISBN1596911484
Short Title HOKUM
Language English
ISBN-10 1596911484
ISBN-13 9781596911482
Media Book
Format Paperback
Year 2006
Author Paul Beatty
Subtitle An Anthology of African-American Humor
DOI 10.1604/9781596911482
Imprint Bloomsbury USA
Country of Publication United States
AU Release Date 2006-01-17
NZ Release Date 2006-01-17
US Release Date 2006-01-17
UK Release Date 2006-01-17
Pages 480
Publisher Bloomsbury USA
Publication Date 2006-01-17
DEWEY 817.00808960
Illustrations Illustrations, black and white
Audience General

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