I love good stories, and good writing. There is, unfortunately, so much stuff I don't know about, and now, having read this article, I'm so eager to read the works Mr. Jackson edited.
I just love it so much when journalist, writing about books or movies or theater or anything else, does the literary equivalent of pull the McDonald's hamburger out of my hand, toss it away, and say "here...let be buy you lunch. I know a restaurant that has some stuff that's going to blow your mind."
Thanks for the meal, Mr. Cunningham.
I just love it so much when journalist, writing about books or movies or theater or anything else, does the literary equivalent of pull the McDonald's hamburger out of my hand, toss it away, and say "here...let be buy you lunch. I know a restaurant that has some stuff that's going to blow your mind."
Thanks for the meal, Mr. Cunningham.
8
I interned with the Association of American Publishers minority internship program in summer 1972 and summer 1973, when I was an undergraduate literature major at Bennington College. At the time, there were three black senior editors at major publishing houses (Toni Morrison at Random House, Marie Brown at Dutton and a male editor whose name I forget--he may have been at Scribner's-- who was just leaving his NYC post to head Howard University's new press). While I'm glad to hear about Jackson, I am deeply dismayed to hear there's been so little progress in diversifying the editorial ranks of the industry at large.
13
By the way, the "...stocky man with yellow-brown skin, closely cropped hair and a heather gray goatee" has a name: Clarence V. Reynolds. He is the director at the Center for Black Literature at Medgar Evers College.
12
I'm 5'7'' and have been mistaken for Ta-Nehisi (who has to be 6'5'')
3
Bryan Stevenson's JUST MERCY is essential reading for every American. I'm glad to have learned a little bit about the editor behind that great book.
5
Love this article. For the naysayers (always trying to hide behind MLK or some odd, childish, idea of equal) it seems a case of "doth protest too much".
4
Wow. The feelings of alienation, obligation, the strained position in the middle and the unwavering drive to "go our own way with...integrity, rigour and honesty", these are all themes that I wrestle with everyday as a Mohawk involved in cultural programming through art and film. So incredibly similar. I added "Beautiful Struggle" to my "to read" list also. Excellent article.
8
After reading Mr. Jackson’s story, the words of the iconic James Baldwin seemed to fit perfectly.
In the discussing the responsibility of poets, writers, and artist, Baldwin wrote “…his responsibility, which is also his joy and his strength and his life, is to defeat all labels and complicate all battles by insisting on the human riddle, to bear witness, as long as breath is in him, to that mighty, unnamable, transfiguring force which lives in the soul of man, and to aspire to do his work so well that when the breath has left him, the people—all people!—who search in the rubble for a sign or a witness will be able to find him there.”
In the discussing the responsibility of poets, writers, and artist, Baldwin wrote “…his responsibility, which is also his joy and his strength and his life, is to defeat all labels and complicate all battles by insisting on the human riddle, to bear witness, as long as breath is in him, to that mighty, unnamable, transfiguring force which lives in the soul of man, and to aspire to do his work so well that when the breath has left him, the people—all people!—who search in the rubble for a sign or a witness will be able to find him there.”
17
The opening paragraph of the article states that Chris Jackson was at an event at Medgar Evers College in Brooklyn, with a black student body over 80%. How can that be, that a branch of the City University of New York, is so racially skewed?
Those of us who fought in the civil rights movement did so to integrate our institutions, so that races and cultures would mingle, not to self-segregate into racial cliques.
The question the NY Times should be asking when profiling African Americans like Chris Jackson is when does the scale between promoting his racial objectives and perpetuating the racial divide here in the USA dip out of balance.
Those of us who fought in the civil rights movement did so to integrate our institutions, so that races and cultures would mingle, not to self-segregate into racial cliques.
The question the NY Times should be asking when profiling African Americans like Chris Jackson is when does the scale between promoting his racial objectives and perpetuating the racial divide here in the USA dip out of balance.
11
What, so Ta-Nehisi Coates or his editor is somehow responsible for the racial balance at Medgar Evers College?
3
Is he the only black editor or one of the few?
3
In the New York Big Five publishers, he's one of the very, very few.
10
Wonderful piece! Thanks to the NY Times for publishing it.
9
I've read and loved so many books Mr. Jackson edited--but never realized there was one special editor in the middle of them. Now I'll have to keep track and rush out for his latest! Wonderful, thoughtful, thought-provoking profile.
Side note: I worked in publishing right out of college and always thought it was too bad that editors aren't usually mentioned until the last page of a book--the thank you page (which I've read ever since). I loved what Mr. Coates said... "That was what we did, Chris.’’
Side note: I worked in publishing right out of college and always thought it was too bad that editors aren't usually mentioned until the last page of a book--the thank you page (which I've read ever since). I loved what Mr. Coates said... "That was what we did, Chris.’’
15
Yesterday, I was referencing an article in the paper about bringing up creative children to my daughter, the mother of two. The conversation slipped into the past, and an education at Hunter, and whether any of her classmates became "stars."
Today, she forwarded this article and said, "Well I think this counts as hunter rock star status."
Today, she forwarded this article and said, "Well I think this counts as hunter rock star status."
9
Well, that's three MORE books I have purchased and am now waiting to receive and read. Thank you, Mr. Jackson, for the work you're doing and sharing.
16
"Decoded: a book-length exegesis of Jay Z’s lyrics"? Really? This is literature? Or are we striving to elevate it just because it's written by a black man? Is there no end to this "self esteem for blacks" movement?
13
"Is there no end to this 'self-esteem for blacks' movement?"
You make it sound as though black people having self-esteem is a bad thing.
You make it sound as though black people having self-esteem is a bad thing.
8
It's a memoir. Very good and well worth reading.
6
What country are YOU living in? The "self esteem for blacks" movement has barely begun after two hundred years. That is a very ungenerous comment.
4
‘‘Maybe it fuels your desire to not just do good work,’’ he wrote, ‘‘but to beat them in a way that changes the game, that uproots some of that stupidity and blindness.’’
Wow. I suppose "them" refers to white people. This language really helps the struggle toward equality.
Wow. I suppose "them" refers to white people. This language really helps the struggle toward equality.
13
Way to go Chris!
6
Wonderful to see this piece. Have been interested in knowing more about Mr. Jackson since listening to a recording of Coates at Schomberg,Center, during which he spoke so well of their collaboration. And while the sub-headline may sound like opinion, it's true that mainstream readers can benefit from learning about things they don't experience and ideas that haven't occurred to them.
22
Great read. It's wonderful to read the thoughts and ideas behind works that have been important to me, as an African American woman, as well as a writer. The Beautiful Struggle was an important book for me on many level. Now I know the literary mind that helped birth it into being. Can't wait to see what Chris Jackson will do next....
7
I am honestly staggered by this writing, this introduction to Chris Jackson and the author of this article, Vinson Cunningham. Reading your essay out loud for the added emphasis and ring of truth, for the additional flavor of the sound of honor, I feel inspired and enriched as well as extremely grateful to have read this contemporary resource that says so much about black culture and the point of history, the forward moving platform of advancement we stand on. Thank you for writing this essay, and thank you New York Times for publishing it. It will serve as a source of enlightenment and inspiration to so many people, those who are white and those who are of color, and to also to myself. You have said so much and with so much eloquence. The history, development and evolution of your topic here is tremendous, graphic, vivid, eloquent, insightful; it speaks so truthfully about the black literary movement from those who are in the know, and who are willing to reveal the pain as well as progress of our writers and black culture as it evolves and moves forward. Thank you for this, your essay is a literary treasure itself!
14
Great profile. I'd love to see Jackson publish a book on race and inequality. The economists I've read on inequality know little of American racial issues. And, thinkers on race don't often possess the right tools to examine economic issues in a rigorous manner.
2
"yellow-brown skin" Really NY Times?
15
Yeah, and what's your problem with that? Do you get upset when a white person's skin is described as orange-tinted or yellowish, or when a black or brown person is described as pale or light in complexion? You act like he compared his skin to the color of food. Enough of the misguided outrage.
1
"Yellow-brown skin" is a little odd. Do you often read about nuances of Caucasian skin tones? I don't. Sometimes I see "olive" generally to indicate Mediterranean background... But I rarely don't read that. It's so sad how differently various ethnicities experience the world.
When "mainstream readers who need to hear them" is part of the headline, I'll be moving on without reading the article. This belongs on the opinion page.
13
I notice you didn't move on without stopping to comment first, though.
17
It's a profile of a very successful and culturally influential black man and you think it belongs on the opinion page?
11
Since when are articles in the Magazine not allowed to have an "opinion"? It is a well-written piece that belongs right where it was published.
15
What a piece. Public and personal at the same time. As I wrote when I shared this piece on social media, achievement takes: time, effort, energy. We know that. This piece sheds welcome light on the other things it takes. And takes. And takes. Which means individuals like Mr. Jackson willingly, patiently give those things, pay those hidden, insidious costs so that writers like Mr. Coates are free to give less of that, and more of what we need in our culture: themselves, their voices, and their art.
29
All readers, especially white readers, should know that Mr Jackson is senior editor of Siegel and Grau, an imprint of Doubleday. Everyone should remember this publisher when making purchasing decisions.