TALK TO THE DADDY

Hello. Come on in. The daddy writes about current events, literature, music and, once in a while, drops something on you from back in the day to make you pause and ponder, stop and stare, and begin to wonder. Who knows? You may start to pace the floor, shake your head from side to side, then fall down on bended knees in a praying position and cry, "Lawd, have mercy! What is this world coming to?" Check yourself! But this blog is NOT about the daddy. It's about you: your boos, your fam, your hood, your country...our hopes and dreams of a better tomorrow. So let's make a pact: the daddy will put it on the track if you'll chase it down and hit him back. Together, we can definitely take it to another level. Shall we?"

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

THE REBELLIOUS SIXTIES? YES, I REMEMBER


Listen up. As an African American, a student of American history and a person who sometimes entertains the illusion that he is a writer, The Daddy had been trying to write this book for a long time. It weaves a historic yet personal tale about the excitement and the dangers of the turbulent sixties. It shares a personal story, or stories, about this period as a learning experience which helped shape who we, the children of the sixties, are today and the values we try to inculcate in our children.

The poems in section II are personal. The heroes discussed in section III are primarily political. But the signature poem in the second part of Section III is intensely personal, involving two college student's deep, undeniable love, painful, unforgettable loss, and bitter-sweet memories that neither time,maturity, or subsequent affairs could erase from the heart. Ultimately, it was these intensely personal memories set in the midst of the civil rights, black power, and anti-war movements and my attempt to recall them honestly that took this book so long to write.

The Daddy prays that you will click on the Lulu.com logo on the sidebar and purchase the book. He hopes you will appreciate it. Those who have said that they were impressed with its honesty and its ability to take them back to the sixties and early seventies, when they were in college.

One of those who read the book was Verna Monson, one of the two editors of the book and child of the sixties herself. This is what she wrote:

"Mac Walton's The Rebellious Sixties? Yes, I Remember is part-memoir, and part-tribute to the civil rights movement that intertwines themes of racism, sexism, poverty, homelessness, violence, and war. Walton's poems span several decades -- recalling the Atlanta of his childhood, of anti-war rallies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, of the homeless in Minneapolis, and of encountering the hollow transformation of friends through the decades following the civil rights movement. Walton weaves poetry of clashing values and personal upheaval with poetic portraits in tribute to heroic men and women of the civil rights movement. The Rebellious Sixties evokes a time of hope and change, passion and loss. Walton confronts the rawness of racism, hatred, and violence faced by African Americans thrust into a society unprepared for change."

This book was written in memory of Emmitt Till, a 14 year old black manchild whose brutal and tragic death sparked increased protest and the end of apartheid in the southern part of the United States of America.

Blessings,

The Daddy

11 comments:

Daddy Squeeze Me! said...

Daddy You are so inspirational! Marry me!

Vigilante said...

Can't wait 'til my book arrives!!!!

Mac Daddy Tribute Blog said...

Vigilante: I thought it would be there by now.

Mac Daddy Tribute Blog said...

DellaReese: I'm not worthy!

Kentucky Rain said...

This was a wonderful post. I loved the 60's but not until about 20 years later when I realized how much fun I was actually having in the 60's and didn't appreciate it, minus the 3 year stint in the U.S. Army of course. Odd that...

Marinela said...

What a beautiful post!

Christopher said...

We need the 1960's 2.0 to deal with many of the troubling problems the country is facing today.

But I think it starts with the youth.

Until the military draft is reinstated, no movement like the 1960's will happen.

Somebodies Friend said...

Great post. I haven't picked up my copy of the book yet. I'll have to see about ordering one soon.

Kit (Keep It Trill) said...

Mac, Hey! You sound great. Looking forward to savoring this for the holidays.

Take care,
~Kit

Mac Daddy Tribute Blog said...

Kit: Thanks.
Sweet Tea: Welcome. And thanks for becoming a follower of daddyBstrong. Looking forward to hearing from you.

SagaciousHillbilly said...

The 60s? Uh, I know I was alive through it all, but it all seems really blurry from about 1967 till . . . well, it was blurry for a long time.