Soul on Ice by Eldridge Cleaver Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Soul on Ice
Book Review: A lot has changed and a lot has stayed the same
Summary: 4 Stars
If there is another book out there that more effectively excavates the subterranean foundation of American race relations in a mere 200 pages, I'm not aware of it. Barack Obama's presidency has demonstrated both how far we've come as a nation and how far we have yet to go. While it could be argued that visible, public evidence of racism seemed to steadily decrease prior to his nomination, we have now seen the miscreants smoked from their dens and they're running around, coughing and organizing, wiping the tears from their eyes and wondering what the heck happened. Read "Soul on Ice" and you'll understand much of what we see in the news today. While some of Cleaver's views are naïve, outdated or just plain wrong; his sexism, idolization of Mao, demonization of homosexuality, and blanket condemnation of law enforcement and the military, for example; most of this book is as applicable to 2010 as it was to 1968. The book is not without troubling contradictions. Cleaver's letters to Beverly Axelrod capture the essence of new love's manic infatuation but the absence of any kind of empathy for the women he raped leaves us wondering. His enlightened embrace of Malcom X's acceptance of all races clashes with his surprisingly hateful attacks on gay people. The truth he utters, however, far outweighs the lies; and the light he sheds on the taboo dynamics of race in America is still needed today. The breadth of his knowledge and his masterful illumination of the interplay between historical, social, psychological and physical forces responsible for our daily on-the-ground realities makes "Soul on Ice" compelling. The fact that most of his assertions make sense but are rarely discussed makes it required reading.Only Shot At A Good TombstoneBook Review: A turning point
Summary: 5 Stars
This book, which is pure genius, is an insight to what it meant to be a black man in turbulent times. It speaks truly on all matters. I do not believe in everything said in the novel, put is a perfect snapshot of an era. A MUST READ!Book Review: An encounter with history
Summary: 3 Stars
I first encountered this tall white haired man standing curbside along 5th street in San Bernardino awaiting the west bound city bus. His complexion was a grayed out brown and his skin looked warn yet he stood tall and erect and desplaying an air of confidence. I passed him day after day and had no ideal that the man awaiting the morning bus was Leroy Eldridge Cleaver. At some point it was pointed out to me that "he'd once been somebody important," but that was obviously along time ago. I pondered stopping for quite sometime but decided against it. At this stage in my life, Cleaver was a relic from the distant past. A man whose importance I was faintly aware of yet had no ideal of how I should feel about him and his contribution to black history. Once I'd learned of his activities first as a writer and activist, my impression of him changed. I found him not only shameful but contemptible as well. I continued to pass him by casting clear and purposeful glances tinged with emotion. I wanted my contempt to be obvious. Day after day this continued and I began to wonder if he was ashamed of what he'd allowed himself to become. For the manner in which he'd allowed himself to be used in the war against his own people. I was equally angered by his duplicitous dealings with prison authorities, the FBI, CIA and ultimately right-wing Evangelical Christian zealots and the GOP.
F--- that fool I thought, look at him now. All that scheming and scamming and he's catching the city bus? He'd once been a celebrated author, respected community activist and Presidential candidate. He was beloved and respected but he'd traded it all away and for what? As I glanced upon this broken down shell of a revolutionary I couldn't imagine the depth of his fall. He now occupied a place in society that was no better than my own. I made absolutely no since and so I picked up for the first time "Soul on Ice" and then I began to understand. The faults and frailties were always there plain as the snow white goatee on his aged face. I read line after line and kept running into ideals that seemed completely disingenuous for someone in his position. We are often damned by our own words and deep within the pages of Soul on Ice, the author opens up in a confessional manner that should have served as a warning for all those who allowed him into their inner-circle and placed trust in him.
"I mislead...I pretend...I...sham to deceive...I sucker my fellow men in and seduce them of their trust. And...if it suits my advantage, I lower the boom-mercilously..." In this letter to attorney Beverley Axelrod, the man formerly known as Leroy E. Cleaver Jr., Eldridge X., and ultimately Eldrige Cleaver went on to say "my vanity is vast...my heart is that of a tyrant, my arm is the arm of the Executioner. It is only the failure of my plots that I fear..." I often wonder at what point did that decrepit old man feel the fear rise from his failures? I wonder what role did the arm of the Executioner play in the death of little Bobby Hutton? There were so many things to regreat in the life of Eldridge Cleaver none more so than the granting of his wish to be the "voice of doom," for the black panther party. I suppose it fitting that the quisling should end his life disdained and forgotten. However there is something sad and disappointing with the story of Eldridge Cleaver and the disingenuous penning of Soul on Ice.
Book Review: Being Honest
Summary: 2 Stars
One must remember, this man is a convict, sent to prison for attempted murder. If you understand the mind of the incarcerated then you know it is all a front for parole.
Once Cleaver was released from prison he proceed to get involved with more criminal activity both in the United States and abroad. In France he is suspected of the murder of a man that had an affair with his wife. In Algeria he ran a auto theft ring. Does this sounds like the re-incarnation of Malcolm X. Or does it sound like the a street thug. The fact that he became a crack addicted whore towards the end of his life renouncing the Black Panther attest to the fact that Eldridge Cleaver was a phoney only hustling the system to get out of jail.
I read his book and essentially was bored. I had no desire to experience life behind bars as white critics and so-call academics do.
Book Review: Best realistic inside look into the black male experience
Summary: 5 Stars
This book was the best inside look at the black male experience since Ellison's "Invisible Man" Cleaver cuts no corners, spares not feelings, and takes no prisoners. The book should be required reading for every African-Americans studies program in America, and every African-American Literature course in America. Cleaver is an excellent writer that proves that you don't have a PhD. to be an intelligent, articulate, person. Cleaver has knowledge he gained from school of hard knocks and the school of life. Like Malcolm X, Cleaver had to fall in order to get up and become a man!!!!!