LINES OF THE DAY

". . . But the past does not exist independently from the present. Indeed, the past is only past because there is a present, just as I can point to something over there only because I am here. But nothing is inherently over there or here. In that sense, the past has no content. The past -- or more accurately, pastness -- is a position. Thus, in no way can we identify the past as past." p. 15

". . . But we may want to keep in mind that deeds and words are not as distinguishable as often we presume. History does not belong only to its narrators, professional or amateur. While some of us debate what history is or was, others take it into their own hands." p. 153

Silencing the Past: Power and the Production of History (1995) by Michel-Rolph Trouillot

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Whew! No Lynch Mob Waiting at the Louis Armstrong Intl. Airport

Instead, a greeting in the Times-Picyune, a review by the paper's book editor, Susan Larson.

There will be a follow-up interview run later in the week, by NO's leading African American writer.

It's almost impossible to describe the mingled pleasure and relief this review provided.

It's interesting to see both New Orleans's white reviewers (Berry and Larsen) dismiss the idea that the slaves and free POC's had their own network for transmitting news and information, and did so.

As well there's a live interview on WWOZ in an hour.

http://www.wwoz.org/listen.php

5 comments:

Graeme said...

why is the idea that slaves could communicate from place to place so difficult to believe?

anyway, the book sounds great. where do you recommend buying it? Is it best to buy directly from the publisher? i don't really want to give amazon any more of my money unless i have to.

Foxessa said...

Supposedly Borders ordered a 1000 copies of the book last week.

Otherwise, it's online baby, unless you buy it directly from Vaquero at a reading or something.

The chains haven't liked our books much. Refused to carry the Cuba book at all, until it went into trade edition -- that after two hardcover printings. For one thing the publisher doesn't bribe, er pay, stocking fees, to have the book in the store. So Borders ordering it, w/o the payola is kind of a triumph -- though that also leaves everything wide open for returns.

Especially since the chains make their money out of selling coffee to people who are reading the stock, and then they can return the stock to the publishers and never pay anybody for anything.

Love, C.

Foxessa said...

P.S. I'm truly un-crazy about amazon myself, and don't buy from them. Nothing has ever gone right in my experience with them.

Love, C.

Graeme said...

Thanks. I get all my books online. I try and stay away from the big box book stores. We don't have much for independent book stores here i believe, my brother knows more I'll ask him.

Foxessa said...

There may then be some other venue online that you can get the book. I think you'll find it interesting, if you do, and worth reading.

The publisher just said it's going back to print another 3000 copies.

Eeeeeek.

Love, C.