An American StoryA powerfully compelling, unsparing memoir from a widely admired African-American journalist. Debra Dickerson's parents were share-croppers who migrated north after World War II. Born in 1959, Dickerson is an amalgam of her background--rural southern conservative and midwestern liberal--and at the same time a contemporary woman whose life has been shaped by the hardscrabble determination of her heritage. In this book Dickerson bears brilliant witness to her rich, tumultuous life: the crippling self-doubt of her adolescence and her belief in education as a way out; her transformation in the U.S. Air Force into a distinguished intelligence officer; her years at Harvard Law School and metamorphosis into a "neurotic attorney with a Gold Card"; and, finally, her current position as a journalist in demand for her refreshing and controversially sane views on social issues. With sharp intelligence and fierce wit, Dickerson shows us how she became what she is today--an iconoclastic American who transcends traditional notions of race and class. |
Contents
ONE Family History | 3 |
TWO Whistling Women | 56 |
THREE Airman Dickerson | 89 |
Copyright | |
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Air Force allowed asked began believe better Bobby brother called couldn't course Daddy didn't door everything eyes face father feel felt Finally flight friends gave girls give given going graduate hair hand happened hard hated he'd head heard keep kids knew laughed learned leave lived looked loved male Mama marched matter meetings military mind months mother move needed never night once passed person politics rape seemed side simply sisters soon spent standing stay stop story sure talk tell things thought told took tried trying turned waited wanted wasn't watched weeks woman women write
References to this book
The Way Literacy Lives: Rhetorical Dexterity and Basic Writing Instruction Shannon Carter Limited preview - 2009 |