Defining Moments in Black History: Reading Between the Lies

I want to preface this review by stating I'm a white woman over 70. That said, I enjoyed most of this book and added to my understanding of the black experience (which, admittedly, I can NEVER fully understand) and appreciate this work for enlightening me, particularly in the beginning of slavery and its horrific impact on a group of people who had no idea what was happening to them. For this, I am grateful.However, some of the later material made me arch my eyebrows a bit. While I have no problem believing some of his conspiratorial claims, some of them began to seem more like Qanon had written them. He brings up some valid arguments, but then some of them involve so many people who had to work in conjunction with so many other people, the possibility of carrying it off with no one speaking out becomes hard to believe.One story that I had most difficulty with is the allegations against Bill Cosby. I felt like he was uneasy in the allegations of sexual assault and rape, but he couldn't bring himself to believe it. In this case I felt he'd let down all the women who accused Cosby of what he'd done to them, and in turn all women of color who have ever been the victim of assault, sexual or otherwise. Prior to Cosby's fall from grace, I had read a report or two about Black women in entertainment clamoring for years about his behavior. I would have thought Mr. Gregory would have been aware of that.Lastly, maybe because I am white, but I can't abide the word which I relate to white hatred of black people. I remember hearing a white mom on TV back in the early 60's telling her child, "You don't want to go to school with no n*****s." I was a kid, and couldn't believe any adult could say such a thing about a child. It was said with so much hate and it's a word I came to hate. So, yeah, I would rather use the phrase N word. It is to me worse that the F word.I would recommend this book to friends since I think it gives a personal insight into the black endurance of racism in this country and one that is blunt. Too many white folk think it doesn't exist. It does.

It is a Rich history told with first hand knowledge. Most of the time we hear the negative watered down version of our black hero’s involvement in this country. Dick Gregory was there!!

I picked this work up because I wanted to broaden my reading of Black History, and this book certainly does that.Dick Gregory was a comedian, a nutritional advisor, and a friend to many prominent Black Americans, including Muhammed Ali, and others. A storyteller. But his storytelling here is meant to be from a Black man, to other Black people. When he says "we" and "our history," I know, as a white lady, that isn't meant to include me. Those of us who are white, or otherwise not Black, can gather around the fire and listen to his discourse - but don't expect it to be sugarcoated to save our sensibilities, because it isn't.I could quibble about a few things, like his defenses of Bill Cosby, for example, but I'm not taking off any stars for that. Certainly white storytellers sometimes stretch the facts or have strong opinions with which I don't always agree.I recommend this for Black folks, and for white folks who can stand NOT being centered, or treated with deference (for a change).

The late Dick Gregory, the acclaimed black comedian, author, social activist and extreme health crusader, starts out this book sounding like the guy at the end of the bar who knows the real truth about things that the media aren’t telling you.And he’s happy to reveal the truth about Black history and culture to you in his book, titled, “Defining Moments in Black History: Reading Between the Lines.”But then Gregory asserts early on that, for example, keeping dogs and cats as pets is akin to slavery, and that France’s Napoleon Bonaparte was driven from the Americas when in fact he was never in the Americas.Fortunately, I fought the urge to put the book down at that point and continued reading to see how outlandish it could be.And it gets better, as Gregory continues writing in a wink-and-a-nod, avuncular style, seeming to envision the naive reader sitting on his knee.It’s Gregory’s tribute to Black history and culture, as he knows it, in a “messed up world,” complete with flimsy connections, loosey-goosey logic, and an often-uplifted literary eyebrow. He never lets us forget how many famous people he knew, that he was almost always there at the most important events of his time, and that he played a major though heretofore unknown role in shaping some of those events.In the world of Dick Gregory, a good conspiracy theory never stood in the way of a knee-slapping story. And some of what he says is still just nonsense, such as stereotyping race and athleticism by body type.But just as the late-night barroom philosopher can be entertaining for a while, even perhaps informative at times, you could probably have a drink or two of your own and enjoy this book.

What I find I enjoy most about non-fiction in this style (largely personal narrative) is that though other works may be more ruthlessly fact-checked and free of an personal theories, none can contribute the same understand of what it was like to be alive and active in making history in the moment. The only other place you get that level of humanity is from dramatized TV series and movies that are largely outsiders and writers making up conversations whole cloth.It is fascinating and informative to follow Gregory's experience in defining moments. And while you are always aware that some inclusions seem to be exaggerated or unverifiable, it is undeniable that no one is able to capture the feeling of what it was to be involved in so many different defining moments and know so many defining people the same way as somebody who was. It is a unique and highly valuable perspective.

Very informative. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Everyone should read this brilliant book! It is honest, historical and hard hitting truth.

Well written but VERY prejudice against whites

Read it within 2 days. Couldn’t put it down. With Babba Dick Gregory, you get the Truth, the a Whole Truth and nothing but the Truth.You’ve heard the stories before but Mr Gregory has the edge.Highly recommend.

Beautifully written this book really depicts Dick Gregory, his friends, theories and memories. What a great man. Couldn't put it down