Being a Black Man: At the Corner of Progress and Peril

Tackling the thorny subject of America's black men and their place in the national experience with balanced analysis and superb writing, Washington Post staff writers don't miss a beat. Pulitzer Prize–winning writer Edward P. Jones sets the tone with an astute introduction about growing up without a father in D.C. and the emotional complications of lacking mentoring. Excellent journalistic features include Michael A. Fletcher's title piece, “At the Corner of Progress and Peril,” examining the many missed opportunities of these besieged men; Stephen A. Holmes and Richard Morin's insightful exploration of how black men perceive themselves, “A Portrait Shaded with Promise and Doubt”; and Robert E. Pierre's “The Young Apprentice,” which reveals a college-educated couple's preparation of their son to enter the world. Kissah Williams offers a candid meditation on eligible black men in “Singled Out,” while David Finkel writes powerfully on “The Meaning of Work.” Covering sociological, psychological and spiritual topics, the book provides a comprehensive view of the African-American man in contemporary America. (Sept.)