Hokum: An Anthology of African-American Humor

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Author: Paul Beatty

ISBN-10: 1596911484

ISBN-13: 9781596911482

Category: American Literature Anthologies

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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 Some of the funniest writers don't write, so included are selections from well-known yet unpublished wits Lightnin' Hopkins, Mike Tyson, and the Reverend Al Sharpton.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.Publishers WeeklyAcclaimed novelist Beatty (Tuff; White Boy Shuffle) models this controversial anthology on a "mix-tape narrative dubbed by a trusted... friend." Like a mix-tape, the collection is intensely personal: its encompassing feature is the bright, plaintive, scathingly ironic voice that introduces the volume and its various sections. Beatty, who "was the butt of the first joke [he'd] ever heard," mines two centuries of African-American culture for speeches, poems, fiction, comics and screenplays that mirror his own glass-cutting wit and satisfy, in places, his taste for "unintentional comedy." (To wit, "The Wit and Wisdom of Mike Tyson.") Apart from usual suspects like Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston, a Norton anthology this is not. Selections from Fran Ross and Prophet Omega dizzy readers in their logical funhouses. Hattie Gossett's "80s Version of the Dozens" leads them through sewer pipes of lyrical imagination. The volume's general tenor is wild, winking and explosive. As such, it picks up where Chappelle's Show left off-gouging the government, lampooning cultures black and white, leaving no sacred cow unslaughtered. Even the smiling watermelon on the book's front cover has been retained despite sniffs by national media outlets. "This is black humor," Beatty writes, "and I don't mean African-American black." Indeed, at times-as when John Farris's schoolchildren blithely gun down pedestrians-you may need night-vision goggles to find the joke. (Jan.) Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.

And a'n't I a woman?17On being crazy19Possum or pig?22Let me at the enemy - an' George Brown24Message to the grass roots37Pose-outs40Cadillac blues43From Die, Nigger, die!47From The spook who sat by the door60April 15th 198571Identifying marks72On that stuff that ain't nevah been long enuff for no damn body74Yo daddy : an 80s version of the dozens76Wise 182The cab driver who ripped me off83Fifth-ward e-mail86Presidential campaign speech delivered to the San Francisco Commonwealth Club92The wit and wisdom of Mike Tyson98When de co'n pone's hot107How fried?109Assorted jokes compiled by Alex Rogers111The city of refuge115The bone of contention130From Black no more140Brer Rabbit, you's de cutes' of 'em all156Slim in Atlanta158Slim lands a job?160Crispus Attucks McKoy162At the hairdresser's166One reason cats ...167A song in the front yard168Adventure169Clay comes out to meet Liston171Double Nigger173From Yellow back radio broke-down184The lesson191Dark prophecy : I sing of shine199Memo #9201Rehabilitation & treatment in the prisons of America202Sands of blood203From Do the right thing224Boy sneezes, head explodes240Lil' black Zambo242Return of the funky man247The only one251In the park after school with the girl & the boy262Talk radio, D.C.283From Good fences284From Erasure287From John Henry days289Should old shit be forgot295Book of Harlem301Dirty deceivers306From Invisible man310From The wig315Abomunist manifesto321Heavy water blues323From The life and loves of Mr. Jiveass Nigger326From Groove, bang and jive around332From Oreo360Be black, brother, be black378Disneyland high379From Platitudes382Any lit395Jinglejangle397Kamasutra Sutra404Souvenir from anywhere405Devotees in the garden of love406Nigger-Reecan blues427The Mulatto millennium429How to be a street poet440From Froggie chocolates' Christmas Eve443I am what I am453Swollen feets455