Losing My Cool: How A Father's Love And 15,000 Books Beat Hip-Hop Culture (2010) - Plot & Excerpts
This was an interesting autobiography, one that offers insights on the pervasive influence of the hip-hop culture. Williams even subscribed to many of the negative ideals taught by the culture, but credits his father's early influence and insistence that Williams study hard (even in the summer he assigned his two sons homework and reading material) and go to college in making him an eventual success. Williams described his college years as an awakening for him, as he discovered new and better ways of thinking. Williams also goes into the segregation and treatment his father had to face under Jim Crow, and how he worked to give his sons chances he never had. Losing My Cool is well written, WIlliams accounts for growing up and finding his way although at times difficult for me to relate as my point of view, my experience differs vastly from the author. I love; hip-hop, books & the persistance, encouragement and love his father showed. Where Williams fails is describing himself a true fan of hip-hop and yet makes such broad observations & lack of value of such a complex culture. “black, hip-hop-driven culture” deals “strictly with the surface of things–possessions, poses, appearances, reactions.” Word? A true fan understands that hip-hop is dimensional and diverse.
What do You think about Losing My Cool: How A Father's Love And 15,000 Books Beat Hip-Hop Culture (2010)?
Excellent read, adding to my library for future reference, either by me or one of my sons.
—Dawn
Anyone who teaches or is raising a young male African American needs to read this.
—mike
A moving and thought-provoking memoir from an up-and-coming literary voice.
—marlon
Just won this through goodreads giveaway! Looking forward to it!
—SmartBlonde28
