No matter where you are sitting or standing, regardless of whether you are black, white or Other, before you read more than a page of Dr. Anthony Asadullah Samad’s latest book, you will be scootching around, trying to find a comfortable landing while digesting the cultural fireworks he ignites, paragraph by paragraph.
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Dr. Samad
Agree or not, and there is a hefty crowd on both sides, Dr. Samad, one of the best read thinkers in black America, is deliciously provocative.
“Real Eyez: Race, Reality and Politics in the 21st Century Popular Culture” is a fresh read that may change your mind or harden your views – but best of all, it will make your blood race fast enough to qualify for next May’s Kentucky Derby.
At his book launch party last evening at the brightly lighted Regency West, Leimert Park Village, Dr. Samad talked about Real Eyez.
His words more than his soft, disciplined tone of voice muscularly deliver his messages.
“My book is basically an examination of how the world has changed right before our eyes,” the well-dressed tall, rangy middle-aged scholar said.
“While most of us still look at the world through a 20th century prism in the 21st century, things we thought we once knew, we don’t know anymore.
“This is an examination of American institutions, largely intellectualism or education, politics, religion. We look at those things we hold dear and important, and we find out they have changed right in front of our eyes.”
When and why did the change begin?
“The change began in the last two decades of the 20th century. Generally, we attributed them to generational changes. Every generation of young people sees the world differently. But as we found out, as the Republican Party found out, in last month’s election, the world has changed. Immigration has had an impact on American society. Popular blackness has had an impact on American society. Greed has had an impact on American society.
“Then you have two new generations that really were not a part of the 1960s’civil rights struggle. They were born in the post-‘60s, and some in the post-’80s.
“They were unacquainted with the battles that have taken place in our society. Now they see the world through fresh eyes, what I call Real Eyez.
“My book looks at American cultural practices, racism. I look at sexuality. We have become a hyper-sexualized society, largely because the mediums we consume the most, music and television, have become highly sexualized.
“I look at cultural identity, which has shifted, and many people don’t understand it.
“I look at sport. The attitudes of sports and sportsmanship have changed.”
(To be continued)
