Michael Eric Dyson Book order (chronological)

Leben und Tod einer Legende Er war der beste Rapper der Welt. Hat Millionen von Platten verkauft. Mit Drogen gehandelt. Im Gefängnis gesessen. Und wurde Opfer eines Attentats, dessen Hintergründe bis heute ungeklärt sind. Die Faszination von Tupac Shakur, der als 2pac Musikgeschichte geschrieben hat, ist auch Jahrzehnte nach seiner Ermordung ungebrochen. Seine posthum veröffentlichten Alben, Gedichte und Filme haben ihn zu einer Legende werden lassen. In seiner Biografie begibt sich Michael Eric Dyson, einer der wichtigsten schwarzen Stimmen in den USA, auf Spurensuche. Lässt ehemalige Weggefährten wie Snoop Dogg ebenso zu Wort kommen wie Tupacs geliebte Mutter, die Black-Panther-Aktivistin Afeni Shakur. Dieses Buch ist mehr als eine Musikerbiografie. Es zeigt, wie Tupac Shakur unsere Gesellschaft verändert hat.

De bekende hiphopster wordt bestudeerd als iconisch hoogtepunt in de lange strijd van de Afro-Amerikanen voor een betere en rechtvaardiger positie.

‘Without free speech there is no true thought.’ –Jordan Peterson‘You’re telling me I’m being sensitive, and students looking for safe spaces that they’re being hypersensitive. If you’re white, this country is one giant safe space.’–Michael Eric DysonIs political correctness an enemy of free speech, open debate and the free exchange of ideas? Or is it a progressive force, eroding the dominant power relationships and social norms that exclude marginalised groups from society?

Now in paperback, “one of the most acutely observed accounts of what it is like to be young, Black, and middle-class in contemporary America…told in a distinctive voice that is often humorous…but always intensely engaging” (Orlando Patterson, The New York Times ). In this provocative book, writer and cultural critic Touré explores the concept of Post-Blackness: the ability for someone to be rooted in but not restricted by their race. Drawing on his own experiences and those of 105 luminaries, he argues that racial identity should be understood as fluid, complex, and self-determined.

Whether along race, class or generational lines, hip-hop music has been a source of controversy since the beats got too big and the voices too loud for the block parties that spawned them. America has condemned and commended this music and the culture that inspires it. Dubbed “the Hip-Hop Intellectual” by critics and fans for his pioneering explorations of rap music in the academy and beyond, Michael Eric Dyson is uniquely situated to probe the most compelling and controversial dimensions of hip-hop culture. Know What I Mean? addresses salient issues within hip hop: the creative expression of degraded youth that has garnered them global exposure; the vexed gender relations that have made rap music a lightning rod for pundits; the commercial explosion that has made an art form a victim of its success; the political elements that have been submerged in the most popular form of hip hop; and the intellectual engagement with some of hip hop’s most influential figures. In spite of changing trends, both in the music industry and among the intelligentsia, Dyson has always supported and interpreted this art that bloomed unwatered, and in many cases, unwanted from our inner cities. For those who wondered what all the fuss is about in hip hop, Dyson’s bracing and brilliant book breaks it all down.

Focusing on the complexity and radical nature of Martin Luther King, Jr., this examination reveals his profound impact on society and the misunderstandings surrounding his legacy. Michael Eric Dyson delves into King's multifaceted character, urging readers to acknowledge and embrace the contradictions that contribute to his relevance in contemporary discussions on justice and equality. Through this insightful analysis, Dyson revitalizes King's message and challenges us to reflect on its significance today.