Conversate Is Not a Word

Conversate Is Not a Word
Conversate Is Not a Word

Conversate Is Not a Word

Getting Away from Ghetto
By Jam Donaldson

SOCIAL SCIENCE

208 Pages, 6 x 9

Formats: EPUB, Mobipocket, PDF, Trade Paper

EPUB, $9.99 (US $9.99) (CA $12.99)

ISBN 9781569765524

Rights: WOR

Chicago Review Press (Jan 2010)
Lawrence Hill Books

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Overview

A Gen-X black female speaks out with wit, self-deprecating humor, and insight

Funny, sad, and refreshingly honest, this provocative commentary based on the author's award-winning blog explores what is wrong with black culture and what needs to be done to fix neighborhoods and improve lives. The fresh, female voice presents a new perspective—differing from so many other treatises on the subject  written primarily by older men—and takes into account hip-hop and the internet without assuming a condescending tone. Continually reviewing the ongoing struggle between her own conflicting identities, she asks such questions as How can African Americans speak out about the aspects of their culture that need improvement without risking mockery and the reinforcement of negative stereotypes? and How can you improve a situation when simply calling it out is fraught with the risk of undermining your own race? By weaving her own warring viewpoints into the discussion, the author provides a window into the complex, contradictory perspectives that exist within every member of the black community while also offering comic anecdotes, making this call to action accessible as well as poignant.

Reviews

"Will allow fans of Jam to enjoy her fresh worldview. And for those who don't know or don't understand, this book will serve as a proper introduction to a great voice in the Black American Culture Wars. Let's conversate."  —Reginald Hudlin, producer/writer/director, House Party, Boomerang, and Black Panther



"One of the few voices with the courage to call it as most of us see it. . . . Directing her pointed social commentary at condescending white liberals and black leaders alike, Donaldson demonstrates that the modern manifestation of racism is the vicious cycle of low expectations."  —Alexei Tsybine Jendayi, Fly Gypsy

"[Donaldson's] intelligence, sense of humor, mastery of language and storytelling ability . . . make Conversate Is Not a Word both entertaining and enlightening. Her message is clear and quite simple: We Have Got to Do Better . . . It's Imperative!"  —Jim Smith, president, Kinetic Potential

Author Biography

Jam Donaldson is an author and attorney who is best known for writing and producing the TV series We Got to Do Better and creating the popular website www.hotghettomess.com. Her blog, www.conversateisnotaword.com, was nominated for Best Culture Blog of the Year by the Black Weblog awards, and she most recently worked as a legal-aid attorney representing low-income residents in civil matters, receiving the Frederick Abramson Award for Public Service. She is the CEO of the popular news website www.blackpower.com. She lives in Washington, DC.