5/27/03 FOR YOUNG MINDS: 2 OFFERINGS Years ago, at the urging of the late activist, Susan Burnett, this writer periodically released a booklist, which Susan promptly put up on the Web, and readers, especially young people, frequently wrote and commented about various books, some of which had a deep impression on their growth and development. Over time, that process ceased, for various reasons, among them, the passing of Susan. Sometimes a book, or booklet, comes along which makes this writer think about young persons, or even folks who aren't so young, because they are well-written, offer insights into contested arenas of history or politics, or offer a radical view of these areas. I especially think of young folks when the texts are relatively brief (probably because I remember my own phobias about big, thick books when I was a youngster). If the books are illustrated, or made in comic form, so much the better! Instead of a booklist, I want to discuss two relatively recent works, in the hope that young readers will acquire them, and hopefully learn from them, and maybe--just maybe-- discuss them with their friends and peers. 1.) Addicted to War: Why the U.S. Can't Kick Militarism , by Joel Andreas (illustrator & writer): As America has recently embraced the path to what appears to be global war, in the face of mass protests against such wars, it is important to expose young folks to alternative views of the roots and reasons for war. Addicted to War is funny, brilliant, skillfully drawn in black ink, and even footnoted with pages full of references. If you are a young person who suspects everything you've heard on the news, or read in the newspaper isn't on the up and up, Addicted is for you. It'll explain, not just recent wars (Gulf War I, Vietnam, etc.) but will reveal the economic and military forces that advocated war, and the weak excuses they utilized to get into foreign countries. It also illustrates the impact of war on average American people, from housewives, to schoolkids, and, of course, to those almost uncountable poor souls who bore the brunt of American war fever: the peoples of the world (mostly the so-called Third World!). Youngsters (and some older folks) will never look at war in quite the same way after reading this 69-page book. Addicted to War is now available in Japanese, and will soon come out in Korean, Spanish, and other languages. 2.) The Black Holocaust for Beginners , by Sam E. Anderson: Unlike Addicted to War , Anderson's The Black Holocaust is not a comic book. It is heavily, and expertly illustrated, yet what drives the book is the text, as raw as new wounds on the skin of the psyche. It is a brilliant telling of, not just the trans-Atlantic slave trade, but the equally monstrous Arab slave trade along the eastern shores of Africa, which lasted some 600 years longer, and lasts up until our age. It is written in matter-of-fact style, straight forward; a chilling portrayal of foreign rapes and exploitation of Africa. It shows that the trade in hum an bondage was a global process, which involved and impacted millions of people. It uses both classical texts (like Cheikh Anta Diop's Civilization or Barbarism ) and numerous records from the period to give the speech, and flavor of the times to illustrate how economic, political, and social forces converged to justify slavery, and exploit the labor of millions. It's not 'fun' (it's not supposed to be), but it is informative. It really is the roots of America and much of the West. I recommend both of these works to young readers in the spirit of learning why things are the way they are (which I consider the very essence of history). Enjoy! ( Addicted to War is published by AK Press (US), 674-A 23rd St., Oakland, CA 94612-1163. It's available from fdorrel@addictedtowar.com. The Black Holocaust for Beginners is published by Writers and Readers Publishing, Inc., P.O. Box 461, Village Stn., New York, NY 10014. It is part of the For Beginners Documentary Comic Book series, which produces books on a variety of complex subjects. They may be reached at (212) 982-3158) Copyright 2024 Mumia Abu-Jamal ======================================= MUMIA'S COLUMNS NEED TO BE PUBLISHED AS BROADLY AS POSSIBLE TO INSPIRE PROGRESSIVE MOVEMENT AND HELP CALL ATTENTION TO HIS CASE. The campaign to kill Mumia is in full swing and we need you to **please** contact as many publications and information outlets as you possibly can to run Mumia's commentaries (on-line and **especially off-line**)!! The only requirements are that you run them *unedited*, with every word including copyright information intact, and send a copy of the publication to Mumia and/or ICFFMAJ. THANK YOU!!! These are VERY SERIOUS TIMES for political activists in this country and around the world. Get full details and keep updated by reading ACTION ALERTS!! at www.mumia.org and its links. ======================================== To download Mp3's of Mumia's commentaries visit www.prisonradio.org or www.fsrn.org ==============================================> The Power of Truth is Final -- Free Mumia! PLEASE CONTACT: International Concerned Family & Friends of MAJ P.O. Box 19709 Philadelphia, PA 19143 Phone - 215-476-8812/ Fax - 215-476-6180 E-mail - icffmaj-owner@yahoogroups.com AND OFFER YOUR SERVICES! Send our brotha some LOVE and LIGHT at: Mumia Abu-Jamal AM 8335 SCI-Greene 175 Progress Drive Waynesburg, PA 15370 WE WHO BELIEVE IN FREEDOM CAN *NOT* REST!! FOR YOUNG MINDS: 2 OFFERINGS =========================== [Col. Writ. 5/27/03] Copyright 2024 Mumia Abu-Jamal ======================================== To download Mp3's of Mumia's commentaries visit www.prisonradio.org The Power of Truth is Final -- Free Mumia! PLEASE CONTACT: International Concerned Family & Friends of MAJ P.O. Box 19709 Philadelphia, PA 19143 Phone - 215-476-8812/ Fax - 215-476-6180 E-mail - icffmaj-owner@yahoogroups.com AND OFFER YOUR SERVICES! Send our brotha some LOVE and LIGHT at: Mumia Abu-Jamal AM 8335 SCI-Greene 175 Progress Drive Waynesburg, PA 15370 WE WHO BELIEVE IN FREEDOM CAN *NOT* REST!! Submitted by: Sis. Marpessa Copyright 2024 Mumia Abu-Jamal To download Mp3's of Mumia's commentaries visit www.prisonradio.org MUMIA'S COLUMNS NEED TO BE PUBLISHED AS BROADLY AS POSSIBLE TO INSPIRE PROGRESSIVE MOVEMENT AND HELP CALL ATTENTION TO HIS CASE. The campaign to kill Mumia is in full swing and we need you to **please** contact as many publications and information outlets as you possibly can to run Mumia's commentaries (on-line and **especially off-line**)!! The only requirements are that you run them *unedited*, with every word including copyright information intact, and send a copy of the publication to Mumia and/or ICFFMAJ. THANK YOU!!! These are VERY SERIOUS TIMES for political activists in this country and around the world. Get full details and keep updated by reading ACTION ALERTS!! at www.mumia.org and its links. ======================================== The Power of Truth is Final -- Free Mumia! PLEASE CONTACT: International Concerned Family & Friends of MAJ P.O. Box 19709 Philadelphia, PA 19143 Phone - 215-476-8812/ Fax - 215-476-6180 E-mail - icffmaj-owner@yahoogroups.com AND OFFER YOUR SERVICES! Send our brotha some LOVE and LIGHT at: Mumia Abu-Jamal AM 8335 SCI-Greene 175 Progress Drive Waynesburg, PA 15370 WE WHO BELIEVE IN FREEDOM CAN *NOT* REST!! Mumia Abu-Jamal is the author of three books: 'Live from Death Row', 'Death Blossoms', and 'All Things Censored'.