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glick's review against another edition
informative
reflective
medium-paced
2.5
Material presented in a way that read like a novel, which was nice.
Couldn’t keep track of who was who because of the author jumping around with people
Couldn’t keep track of who was who because of the author jumping around with people
thechanelmuse's review against another edition
3.0
Black Fortunes is about the first African American entrepreneurs who defied immense odds, becoming millionaires post-slavery. It’s an interesting and informative read…that needs an editor.
Shomari Wills’ research isn’t presented in a way that allows you to keep up with all six figures effortlessly because his writing randomly moves about. There isn’t a clear flow so you have to do the work... Unless you’re annotating or taking notes, you’ll end up forgetting things about each person as the book moves along.
Shomari Wills’ research isn’t presented in a way that allows you to keep up with all six figures effortlessly because his writing randomly moves about. There isn’t a clear flow so you have to do the work... Unless you’re annotating or taking notes, you’ll end up forgetting things about each person as the book moves along.
kaitays's review against another edition
medium-paced
3.5
I read this a while ago, so I don't have much to say about it, but I want to my list. Sadly, I don’t remember much from this book. I do remember a sense of pride reading the accomplishments of black folks but I think it was told in a dull way.
Would Purchase?: No
a_bloom's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
3.5
victoriafrost1991's review against another edition
3.0
I would give this 3.5 stars.
The six different biographies were thoroughly researched. It was not the everyday dry biographical book that reads almost like a textbook. I have heard of Annie Malone and Madame C.J. Walker, yet, the four new individuals were unknown and was a treat to read.
One major issue that seemed annoying was that all six biographies were cut and pasted together in such a way that it was sometimes hard to remember who did what. Sort of wished the editors let there be one biographical story at a time. Then try to compare these successful people to the socio-economic and racial barriers were that they faced, compare how it was to their white counter parts and their legacies (if any).
The six different biographies were thoroughly researched. It was not the everyday dry biographical book that reads almost like a textbook. I have heard of Annie Malone and Madame C.J. Walker, yet, the four new individuals were unknown and was a treat to read.
One major issue that seemed annoying was that all six biographies were cut and pasted together in such a way that it was sometimes hard to remember who did what. Sort of wished the editors let there be one biographical story at a time. Then try to compare these successful people to the socio-economic and racial barriers were that they faced, compare how it was to their white counter parts and their legacies (if any).
lacy30twin1's review against another edition
4.0
This book was very well written. I'd come into it expecting it to be very dry (if you've read public enemy #1 or devil in the white city you may know what I mean). The way he told the stories of each prominent person featured was easy to follow and kept you interested.
This book brought home what many black people already know, white American did everything possible to prevent black america from prospering. These millionaires faced so much adversity so one can only imagine what the common black many had to endure. This book makes me proud and angry but also gives me hope that we can get back to this level of determination to pick each other up and establish our own. Own what? Whatever we want.
This book brought home what many black people already know, white American did everything possible to prevent black america from prospering. These millionaires faced so much adversity so one can only imagine what the common black many had to endure. This book makes me proud and angry but also gives me hope that we can get back to this level of determination to pick each other up and establish our own. Own what? Whatever we want.
leslielu67's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting, and well-narrated. *Edit: the author missed a chance for an ending with a bigger impact. One of the storylines is that of an entreprener who built his empire in Greenwood, the Tulsa "Black Wall Street" neighborhood. The Tulsa Race Riots were given only a gloss-over: the events that lead to the conflict were described, but the true extent of the descruction, loss of life (author notes only 75), and complete annihilation of this community were not mentioned. This seems odd for a book written in 2018. Especially since one of the author's final notes was that the wealth of these millionaires did not last long after their deaths. Certainly these external events may have contributed to at least one family's lack of generational wealth.