Introduction
Dan Hill, Lawrence Hill, Halima Bashir, Zora Neale Hurston, Richard Wright, Afua Cooper, Nikki Giovanni and many more; what in the world gives, James Seymour, a white male, the right to write a book on Black heritage? This is not an invalid question; according to Dr. Seymour “I am not intending to project myself as an expert in the field of Black Studies…” (Seymour 3) From reading this book one easily sees that his perspective is more experiential or pragmatic than it is theoretical. This is certainly a breath of fresh air to the conventional non-fiction literature that one may read in this day and age, often about many “theories” and conspiracies behind these “theories”. We are living in a country where impractical projections often replace scientific and commonsense grounded ideas. So does Seymour have the right to write about Black history? Absolutely not, but he does have the privilege to write about the oppressed, targeted and often ignored people, as well their contributions to this world that have more so often gone unrecognized and their gifts unrequited. The main topic of Dr. Seymour’s narrative is to shed light on the Africans’ necessary involvement in the development of Christianity and how the continent of Africa overwhelmingly impacted the development of the Christian Church in America and throughout the world.
Point-of-view
Black History through Blue Eyes is given from the point of view from the renowned Dr. James Seymour. He is the Executive Director of Accumulated Resources of Kindred Spirits, a nonprofit organization in Raleigh, North Carolina. He is an ordained ministered and has ministerial projects in the United States and Third World countries. Seymour and his spouse have spent over 25 years as missionaries. He is also head of the Department of Religion and Philosophy at St. Augustine’s College in Raleigh, NC. He has been involved in cross cultural and interracial service and is very committed to the racial healing of the Church and humanity at large. James Seymour does a fantastic job of limiting his mention on the European influence on Africa. This would throw off the case he was making in the book on the subject of Africa’s independence and impact on the European society at large. This he had to do so he could be recognize as a creditable, unbiased author as a Caucasian male. However, if the author was of African descent, he or she might have possessed a more emotional tone simply because he or she lacked the detachment not to show their feelings toward the mistreatment of their people. The author’s remarkably impartial view allows his book to reach across the aisle to not only to the moderate Whites and Afro-centric Blacks but to even some of the White Supremacists.
The Review on Black Rage-Book Report
The pages of human history daubed in bloodshed and thickly coated with ethnic, racial conflicts ask a crying question. How to make this Planet Earth heaven -like? The answer is simple and direct. Eyes full of understanding, heart full of love and the life that refuses conflicts—these alone are enough! When an individual or a people of a particular race are constantly nagged and abused, condemned ...
Purpose
Black History through Blue Eyes by James J. Seymour has more than one purpose. Dr. James Seymour is a humanitarian, educator and a pastor. The key reason he would write this book is to inform you on the inconsistencies that deal with Africa from a biblical (and scientific) stand point. Seymour says “…I am borrowing…the research of a number of fine authors who have been studying this…topic for many years…” (Seymour 6) He also hopes to persuade the reader to view the continent of Africa, their citizens and their cascaded list of accomplishments in the development of the modern day Christian Church in a newer, brighter, perspective.
“My focus…in writing this book…is primarily…the white Christian community who are largely uniformed about the prominent role of the people of Africa…” (Seymour 6) Seymour really tries more to inform the uninformed about the African’s spread of Christianity across America.
Credibility
As head of the Department of Religion and Philosophy at St. Augustine’s College in Raleigh, North Carolina, Executive Director at Accumulated Resources, holder of the Ministry Degree and a Masters of Divinity Degree from Faith Evangelical Lutheran Seminary, a Masters Degree in Community/Agency Counseling from Fairfield University, a Bachelors Degree in Secondary Education, History from Southeastern College and a Ministerial Diploma from Zion Bible Institute, I believe Dr. James J. Seymour is more than trustworthy to give an accurate account on the events in this book. The majority of this man’s statements are based on facts that he has read from science journals and reports as well as some vital biblical references, this includes more than 50 cited sources at the end of James’ book. As stated previously James takes scriptures out the Bible in order to clear up some misconceptions. “v. 42…we and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.” (Seymour 104) The man has multiple degrees as a professor; there is an extremely slim to no chance that he will just use scripture without alluding to more concrete forms of documentation. “The Greeks gave it the simple name Aegyptcus, thus, the name Egypt is of Greek origin.” (Seymour 24) He also quotes some of the more eminent of books like the Ibis “The Nile River played a major role in the relationship of Egypt to the nations in Southeast Africa.” (Seymour 24).
The Essay on King James Bible England Throne
King James I was a devoted Christian who wanted the all common people to have their hands on the holy bible. Since King James was multi-lingual in, Greek, Latin, French, Italian, Spanish and English. He became the king of Scotland in 1556 at only thirteen months old and in 1603 acceded to the throne of England. At that point he combined Scotland and England the first to call it Great Britain. It ...
Skill
The book is well written, well put together and well organized. It is apparent that James Seymour is what many might call an exceptional, proficient writer. I say this because Dr. Seymour does a remarkable job of not being sporadic, jumping from talking point to talking point. He sticks to a topic and makes smooth transitions to where he is trying to go. “Secondly, the Bible provides extensive evidence…the earliest people were…in Africa. The Garden of Eden account, found in Genesis 2:8-14, indicates that the first two rivers of Eden were in ancient Cush, a term that the Greeks would later transpose “Athiops” or Ethiopia meaning literally burnt face people…” (Seymour 7) Conversely, his style is almost like he will layout selected information for you to take in, before going back to straighten things up. “The Bible refers to Egypt over 700 times.” (Seymour 25) The texts are well taken and understood because the author follows up any difficult text with almost a formula to deciphering his script.
Bias
For a Caucasian male, who I assumed dealt with pressure from his fellow Caucasian colleagues, he did a great job of exhibiting little or no bias. James Seymour ingeniously wrote this narrative so that no logically speaking person, man or women, White, Black etc. can sincerely say that Black History through Blue Eyes leans this way or that. By avoiding making this narrative Eurocentric, Dr. Seymour only asserts his true credibility as a writer and author.
The Essay on The Invisible Man Book Society Black
The reason I chose,' THE INVISIBLE MAN, 'is because the black man in this story symbolizes the black the black man in society which is set up to fail. He is used, humiliated, and discriminated against through the whole book. He feels that he is invisible to society because society does not view him as a real person. Reading this book was very difficult, because the book was written in first person ...
“Racial prejudice actually is the result of self-doubt. The individual, who exemplifies and expresses any form of racial prejudice, is only demonstrating his or her own racial doubts, insecurities, and fears. This racial confusion manifests itself in the response whereby some have feelings of racial superiority and others feelings of racial inferiority. Both feelings are equally unscriptural.” (Seymour 17) This passage shows that Seymour’s linguistic capabilities allow him to make a forceful line of reasoning without necessarily aiming at one particular people; he is a bi-partisan individual due to his trade. This piece additionally reveals Dr. James’ ministerial side, showing that he if truth be told, is a “bible thumper” as some might refer to him; in the professional world, he is known as a well-versed Reverend who understands the Bible inside and out. Though it might seem partial that Seymour refers to the Bible like a crutch to make a point, the cynics may fail to realize that in an effort to appeal to non-Believers, he uses science to make his stand for Africa as well.
“A valid question would be how can we believe that Noah and his wife went into the ark as a white couple shown in art and films portraying them, and came out with white, Black and Asian children. It does not make sense logically or scientifically that within the ten generations from Adam to Noah, a genetic change took place, which allowed two people of the same race to produce offspring of three different races…medical research indicates that it is possible to have children that are very different, especially if one or both are dark complexioned. However, it is impossible for two bright or fair complexioned persons to produce a dark complexioned child. For Noah to have fathered a dark complexioned son, he or his wife had to have had dark skin.” (Seymour 21) Seymour’s clarity and stick-to-itiveness to the “middle way” of getting along with others is that to an extent I never heard from a White author of a Black history book, if I did not know any better or even shake hands with the man, I could and would probably just about swear he was of African descent.
Runnin Down Some Lines Book Review
Deprived of opportunities for advancement in mainstream society, [black ghetto] teenagers elevate their personal style into a philosophy of life. Their exemplars are pimps and gangsters.... Gangs develop to bolster self-identity through psychological control of the streets; hip "threads" and "freaked out" cars also serve as outward signs of inner creativity. Both sexes consider coitus ("doin' the ...
Tone
I believe that Seymour’s tone is tame, easy-going, lucid, frank and celebratory, for he is celebrating the heritage of Africa and their impact on the church. His tone is not that of a Sean Hannity or a Bill O’Reilly, James Seymour only uses the most positive of words in his lexis when referring to African Americans. This is evident when Dr. Seymour says “Before moving on, let me finally dispel the evil and destructive myth that the Bible says that God has cursed the Black race.” (Seymour 21) His rare, assertive, tone almost flushes out endemic, anemic voice of this generation. He almost speaks as a voice of hope, a voice of aspiration that says that yes “Tragically…growth has yet to take place in the lives of many…” (Seymour 18) But if we are willingly working together to tear down “…the wall of separation between people of different races and ethnic backgrounds…” (Seymour 19), there is that strong possibility that we might reach Martin Luther King’s mountain top. Dr. Seymour’s tone is phenomenal; it does not confer subtle or blatant hateful energy when you read it.
Recommendation
I highly recommend this book to readers of any demographic, young and older. However, I make it clear that the book is best understood from a Christian point-of-view. This book I would not recommend for anyone who is either of a separate religion, or has different beliefs or just is not well verse in the scriptures of the Holy Bible. Conversely, I asked that those who are moderate to weak Christians read this book as a great education tool and talking piece (not for debating, the book is otherwise insipid in that respect) amongst other Believers. I loved this book for is simplicity, straightforwardness, topic transitions and overall stick-to-itiveness. Black History through Blue Eyes is definitely a book for a casual reader or the business man who has no time to do anything but peruse. This is a must have in any educator’s library. Though, there are some misspellings and a couple of grammar inconsistencies, it should not affect one’s general interest and enjoyment of this engaging narrative. Black History through Blue Eyes is most emphatically a breath of fresh air to the conformist approach to writing historical literature. Anyone who wants to learn about Africa’s necessary involvement in the development of Christianity and how the continent of Africa overwhelmingly impacted the development of the Christian Church in America and throughout the world, finds this book as a must read.
The Term Paper on The Book Of Daniel The Prophet
The bible is a collection of books some of which are narratives and others are poetic. The New Testament is a continuation of the Old Testament is a historical collection, which talks about the life of our Lord Jesus Christ, His teachings and that of the apostles. Most of these books are historical narratives while some are epistles filled with the knowledge of God. They are narratives, which ...
