Colored People

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Summary: Colored People, a College Freshman's view
Review: The book Colored People by Henry Louis Gates Jr. was an influential book, though it did not exactly catch my eye, nor did I enjoy reading it, I would recommend it to those people that enjoy reading. It has many ups and downs, a variety of scenes, a variety of language, and it shows how life in one town can be for `colored' people.

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Summary: Colored People
Review: This book is a very fascinating story of exactly how it was like to live in West Virginia during the Civil Rights Movement. It is told by a "colored boy," so segregation and the hardships of life were very common for that time. It explained exactly how it was like to be "colored" and live here. For the most part, Gate's family and friends that he met along his life long journey impacted his life in some way or another. Discrimination was a horrible thing and the Civil RIghts movement helped to banish the thought of unequalness. To this date there are always racial issues to be brought to attention but it is a alot better than it was when Gate's tells his story. This book is a great source to get a thought on how it was like to grow up being "colored" during the Civil Rights Movement. I would recommend it to anyone.

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Summary: Colored People Review by Josh Combs
Review: Colored People by Henry Louis Gates Jr. gives the reader a good view of the way the life was in West Virginia during the civil rights movement. It depicts the way things were in West Virginia, and also how different it was from the other states during this time period. I think that this book is a must read for anyone that would like to learn about how the civil rights movement affected the state of West Virginia.


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Summary: Kendra's Review
Review: Colored People is a colorful depiction of a small town during the Civil Rights Movement. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. used beautiful wording and imaginative phrases to paint the picture of his childhood. It creates a wonderful viewpoint through which I was able to better understand this time period and those who lived through it. The words seemed to be carefully chosen and mindfully placed on the page. Overall it was both a good read and a very beneficial piece.

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Summary: African American History
Review: Colored People was an insightful novel, which allows others to experience past history. Gates did a wonderful job describing his experience as a child and what it was like to grow up in Piedmont, West Virginia. Segregation was a daily experience for him and his family, and the book explains how they overcome the obstacles of racism. The book allows readers to gain a better grasp on African American history in the 1950s and 1960s that most were not aware.

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Summary: american history
Review: Coming from a predominantly "black" town, I could feel the pain in Gates's words of how he felt mostly because I see it everyday. Gates did a good job of describing how it was like to live back in the 1950's during the worst times in American history due to what African Americans had to deal with. However there were times when I felt humor in the words that were written, this help me become more interested in what he had to say.

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Summary: The Book of a Life
Review: Henry Gates is a boy thrown into a life that known would choose but fights to

make it a life that his children would choose. Colored People by Henry Louis

Gates Jr. is a fascinating book that brings you into a life of a boy struggling to be

accepted and understood by the people around him. He is growing up in a racist time and

environment that throws new obstacles at him each day.

What a story. Henry Gates went through a world of racism, hate, and violence. He

was part of a movement that would change a small town forever. The outside world was

fighting for freedom while Piedmont was doing nothing but sitting by and watching. He

saw this and tried to bring it to his town, change his town, make a difference.

I found the writing of the story to be very poor. The memories seemed to be

unconnected; they did not flow well together. The writing never captured me as a reader

but left me with an emptiness when I put the book down. His memories were exciting and

interesting but the writing left you bored and the book seemed unappealing.

This book left me with a feeling of "thank god its over" but a week later I started

to appreciate it more. I thought over each memory and I found a sense of understanding

inside of me. I understood what he was trying to say and how amazing his life was. I

understood why he went into "White only" restaurants, and why he fought so hard for his

cause. I now feel an urge to read the book again and try to understand more of what he

was saying.

Henry Gates Jr. led a life of hardship and pain. He overcame what life through at

him and excelled to become a better person. He struggled through the book to find

acceptance from his father and brother and his peers. He showed you the reader a world

that is unknown to many of us and let you see it first hand.

Rating:
Summary: Confusing, but Readable
Review: I found this book to be thoroughly readable, even though I might not have been able to relate to specific events or scenes consistently throughout. Gates does a good job of keeping the reader occupied, though sometimes things get a little jumbled after jumping from family member to family member, and names start to get confusing. Overall, though not my normal read, I would recommend.

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Summary: Humanites Assingment
Review: I thought that this book was ok. It was hard to follow all the different peole in the book. There wer eso many different characterstaht it was a little bit confusing. Some of the stories were pretty entertaining though. it was refreshing to look at someone from an entirley different culture and generation then my own. it tended to drag at time s though. All in all it was ok.

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Summary: ANOTHER PIEDMONTER'S VIEW
Review: I was fortunate enough to be born and grow up in Piedmont, WV. I was also in the same class as author Henry Louis (we called him "Skip") Gates. I was the 1968 Piedmont High Class Salutatorian and he was the Valdectorian.

Despite what Mr. Gates projects in his book, Piedmont was a "wonderful" place to grow up. I adamantly dispute his connotation of any racism in this town. In 1968, the citizens of Piedmont, although a very small town of 2,500 were very progressive. The fact that the foundation he received in Piedmont growing up which propelled him to the Director of Afro-American studies at Harvard should speak something of the childhood rearing and education he received in Piedmont.

I am not aware of any restaurant or establishment that denied service to anyone of color. I personally entered many establishments with him and never once saw him denied service of any kind.

Mr. Gates grossly misrepresents what was truly a great town to grow up in. I was very offended with his use of my name in the book without obtaining my permission and most importantly he greatly distorts a very close and loving relationship that I had with my Italian father. I felt that he mentioned several personal things about me and my family of which he had NO direct knowledge.

I was disturbed to see that Mr. Gates put such a negative spin on a great place, just to "sell" a book for personal gain and recognition of his college position at Harvard.

Buy it if you want - but buyer beware - this is a college professor who is writing because he is expected to publish or perish. Unfortunately Piedmont, WV happened to be in his sights.

John M. DiPilato (Piedmont High School Class of 1968)