Thinking Black: Some of the Nation's Best Black Columnists Speak Their Minds

No collection of big names like Carl Rowan and Clarence Page, this anthology presents original essays from a broad range of black newspaper columnists, few of them syndicated. While most of the essays are brief and the writing solid but not stylish, the book presents a good mix of voices on subjects personal and political. Some contributors address their own histories with parents and the complex situation of black men; others recall the legacy of the Negro Leagues or call for a crusade to rescue children. Although most contributors lean to the left, one exception, Allegra Bennett of the Washington Times, warns blacks ``to become hard-core realists.'' A section on ``The Color Line'' also includes writers wrestling with questions of identity, like the propriety of the term ``African-American'' (Michael Paul Williams of the Richmond Times-Dispatch) or the practice of intra-group segregation between light-skinned and dark-skinned people (Brenda Payton of the Oakland Tribune). Wickham is a columnist for Gannett News Service. Photos not seen by PW. (Feb.)