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Manchild
in the Promised Land
Claude Brown
By David Dodson
The autobiography, Manchild in the Promised Land, could only have been
written in New York. Claude Brown’s classic is probably absent from many African
American literature top ten lists because it's an autobiography that isn’t about a
‘historical’ figure. But the historical relevance of this book is essential to
understanding the African American experience in an urban setting and particularly in the
city of New York. A parallel could be drawn between Manchild and any book written
by Iceberg Slim or Chester Himes. It's easy to write them off as insignificant ‘pulp
fiction’ writers, but the truth is they present realistic and clear examples of what
their life was. Whether you like that life or not it's a part of African American history.
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As long as there have been African Americans in New York
City, there has been an experience unique to African Americans in New York City. Being one
of the millions, Mr. Brown not only captures that experience between the pages of Manchild
but also proves that not much has changed in the nature of that experience. Brown
illustrates the impact that Black communities have had on New York and the social
pressures the city created to deal with this part of its population. It's as though
Brown’s life is an experiment where some sociologist poses the question, “How
does an urban city like New York raise it’s poor black folk?” The answer is
funny, ironic, shocking and often times painful, but more importantly it’s honest.
Instead of that sociologist writing some scientific report that talks about how young
Claude was a victim of the economic repercussions of post-World War II New York, Claude
Brown just tells it how it was and leaves the analysis and rationalization to you.
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This is a very New York book, from its
setting to its mannerisms, and although others might argue that it’s applicable to
the Black experience in all urban settings, I’d say the full impact is lost if you
haven’t lived or at least spent some time in New York. If you live here, please read
the book twice. It’ll make you smile more when you walk around the streets of this
city. If you’ve never been here, what’s a better excuse to plan a vacation than
for some literary/historical enlightenment and what’s a better place to do that than
in New York while reading Manchild. Wherever you live please pick up Mr. Brown’s
book, you’ll thank me later. M
October 1999 |
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