Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The skanner. (Portland, Or.) 1975-2014 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 21, 2015)
Arts & Entertainment Book Review: Memoir ‘Felon-Attorney’ Beats the Odds By Kam Williams Special to Th e Skanner News Felon-Attorney by TheArthur Duncan II, Esquire Mascot Books Paperback, $19.95 244 pages ISBN: 978-1-63177-187-3 “From hustling crack on a corner to practicing law in a courtroom... this is my sto- ry! I am living proof that de- spite your past, your dreams can still come true... My story begins as I es- cape the violence of the Crips and Bloods street gangs in South Central LA and the abuse of a co- caine-addicted stepfather, only to go back to Buffalo, New York and perpetuate both ills by becoming a drug dealer myself. Ironically, I became a part of what vic- timized my family and me in Los Angeles... I wound up in prison and had to put my life back to- gether. While incarcerated, I found the God in me that I had long buried. After 3 years, I was released back into society and tempted by my old lifestyle, but... I suc- ceeded.” -- Excerpted from the Bookjacket P robably the most pop- ular genre of non-fi c- tion being written by Black folks nowadays is the overcoming-the-odds au- tobiography. I mostly pass politely when asked to re- view these titles because, hey, just about everybody has faced their share of ad- versity. However, I made an exception for TheArthur Duncan’s mem- oir, Felon-Attor- ney. This opus is special, given how low he sank before bottom- ing out, and how high he has risen since turning his life around. The brother’s story starts in Los Angeles, where he was born in 1969, though he was raised in Buffalo, New York by his maternal grand- parents, Mary Jane and the Reverend James Smith. After graduating from the 8th grade, TheArthur went back to L.A. to spend his summer vacation with his mother. However, he decided to stay, which on the surface seemed to make sense since both his parents resided there. However, in the pro- cess, he had to leave behind in Buffalo his grandparenrts, friends and a tight-knit com- munity. And, unfortunately, he would have a tough time making the adjustment to We honor the many accomplishments of African Americans. It is our primary goal as a labor union to better the lives of all people working in the building trades through advocacy, civil demonstration, and the long-held belief that work- ers deserve a "family wage" - fair pay for an honest day's work. A family wage, and the benefits that go with it, not only strength- ens families, but also allows our communities to become stronger, more cohesive, and more responsive to their citizens' needs. Our family wage agenda reflects our commitment to people work- ing in the building trades, and to workers everywhere. In this small way, we are doing our part to help people achieve the American Dream. This dream that workers can hold dear regard- less of race, color, national origin, gender, creed, or religious be- liefs. The Pacific Northwest Regional Council of Carpenters Representing more than 5.000 construction workers in Oregon State. Do you want to know more about becoming a Union carpenter? Page 8 October 21, 2015 The Portland and Seattle Skanner the heart of the ‘hood. Of course, it didn’t help that TheArthur didn’t live with his dad but with his drug-addicted stepfather. In the absence of a solid male role model to emulate, he ended up dropping out of school to pursue a trio of du- bious pipe dreams: pro bas- ketball, rap music and drug dealing, which eventually landed him in prison. TheArthur was born again behind bars, where he be- gan to turn his life around. He has made the most of that second chance, not only graduating from college, but law school to boot. He’s also married the love of his life, Latisha, and the two are raising their fi ve children back in Buffalo. Further- more, he currently serves as a Deacon at First Calvary Missionary Baptist Church where he mentors at-risk kids and counsels married couples in crisis. In Felon-Attorney, TheArthur recounts in very compelling fashion how he lifted himself from the so- cietal scrap heap to morph into a pillar of the commu- nity. An uplifting, modern par- able about a real-life Prod- igal Son proving that any- thing is possible with faith in the Lord. Book/CD Review: ‘Dreams Are Made for Children’ A Delightful, Jazzy Tome For Tired Tots By Kam Williams Special to Th e Skanner News Dreams Are Made for Children: Classic Jazz Lullabies Compiled by Misja Fitzgerald Mi- chel Illustrated by Ilya Green with a CD featuring a dozen songs performed by Ella Fitzgerald, Judy Garland, Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra and others The Secret Mountain Hardcover, $16.95 36 pages, Illustrated ISBN: 978-1-937269-50-0 “Sometimes, a little jazz is all you need for a good night’s rest! Dreams Are Made for Children features... a selection of timeless... popular standards from the golden age of jazz... that will lull babies into a sweet, blissful sleep. Lyrics and brief explanatory notes with whimsical, dream-like illustrations accom- pany each song... The music was selected by Misja Fitzgerald Michel, a Paris-based jazz musician, and noted children’s illustrator Ilya Green created the colorful images in the 36-page hardcover book.” -- Excerpted from the Bookjacket A s a child of the '50s who was weaned on jazz, I often worry whether or not the music I most identify with my formative years might one day disappear. After all, only a handful of the legendary players are still alive, and fewer and fewer nightclubs seem to cater to devotees of the once-dominant medium. For this reason, it is a blessing to fi nd Dreams Are Made for Children, a bedtime picture book which comes with a CD fea- turing a dozen performances of classic lul- labies by a variety of jazz greats. There’s “God Bless the Child” by Billie Holiday; “Over the Rainbow” by Judy Gar- land and “My Funny Valentine” by Chet Baker, to name a few. Each of these sleep-inducing serenades is accompanied by lyrics printed against an appropriately-themed backdrop. For example, “Over the Rainbow” in- cludes a rainbow, Dorothy and the Coward- ly Lion. It also explains that Garland originally sang the tune in The Wizard of Oz, and that the fi lm was based on a children’s novel published by L. Frank Baum in 1900. In the entry for “My Sleepy Head” we learn that Nat King Cole “had a wonderfully gentle, deep voice” and that he “played the piano with a subtle nervous swing.” The title track, “Dreams Are Made for Children,” is performed by Ella Fitzgerald, one of the greatest jazz singers of all time, who was blessed with a three-octave range and a rare talent for improvisation. A delightful tome for tired tots designed to introduce the next generation to jazz, Amer- ica’s classical music.
