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The Barber's Close Cut
By Alfred P. Gladden
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Alfred
P. Gladden: A “Cut” Above the Rest
Review
by Alvin K. Brunson
A
Barber by definition is someone who uses edged instruments to
cut, trim, shave, shape or change a person's hair to make them
look a “cut” above the rest.
Alfred P. Gladden, a barber in East Baltimore for over 40
years, has written a book entitled The Barber’s
Close Cut.
I myself am an avid reader and collector of books written
by or about African Americans from Baltimore.
This book is a definitely a “cut” above some of the
other books that I have researched.
In my opinion this book is a classic, a diamond in the
ruff. So sit on the
edge of your chair and enjoy the ride.
Al
is a Barber and friend to the “Stars.”
His clients are a Who’s–Who among African American
from Baltimore. The list includes basketball legend Allen
“Skip” Wise; Ernest Graham; Tyrone “Mugsy” Bogues,
Reggie Williams, David Wingate, and Sam Cassell; and actor
Charles “Roc” Dutton. His list of friends include actors
Jada and Will Smith; actress Kim Fields; and actress Nicole Amir
Parker; fashion designer Travis Winkey; hair designer Irvin Dett;
rapper/actor Tupac; R&B singer KC and Jo-Jo and Jimmy
Briscoe and the Little Beavers; drummer and song writer James
Carter and basketball stars Dominic Wilkins. As you can see, Al is a “cut” above the rest.
In
his own words, Al openly talks about his life. He takes you from
playing marbles in the Lafayette projects; to having women at
his “beck and call.” As
you know, every man wants three things in life: good looks; good
hair, and a good woman in his stable.
Al was the chosen one.
He had it all. A player/lady's man, he was.
Outside
of being filled with good celebrity stories and pictures, this
book is a great reference guide. Al introduces you to many of
his friends before they became Big Stars.
I
totally enjoyed reading this book; it brought back a lot of good
memories. It made
me remember growing up in West Baltimore and hanging out in
front on Well’s Lounge on Popular Grove waiting to give a
“shoe-shine” to all of the well-dressed Black men before
they went inside the club.
Thanks Al, for opening up your world to me. Now your friends are my friends. You are a “cut” above
the rest.
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The Barber's Close Cut
(2002) by Alfred P. Gladden is distributed by Afrikan World
Books / 2217 Pennsylvania Avenue / Baltimore, MD 21217 or order
by money order ($18.95 + 4.25) from Close Cut / P.O. Box 13002 /
Baltimore, MD 21203
The Center for Cultural Education Inc.,
will host a “First
Fridays’ Jazz
and Heritage Hour @ Union Coffee House, located at 1201
Druid Hill Avenue beginning March 7, 2004, from 6:30 p.m. until
8:30 p.m. Come out
and enjoy an evening of good jazz; great food; in an intimate
setting.
www.culturaled.org.
For
reservations call 410-669-2975 or email me at: alvinkbrunson@aol.com
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Sex at the Margins
Migration, Labour Markets and the Rescue Industry
By Laura María Agustín
This book explodes several myths: that selling sex is completely different from any other kind of work, that migrants who sell sex are passive victims and that the multitude of people out to save them are without self-interest. Laura Agustín makes a passionate case against these stereotypes, arguing that the label 'trafficked' does not accurately describe migrants' lives and that the 'rescue industry' serves to disempower them. Based on extensive research amongst both migrants who sell sex and social helpers, Sex at the Margins provides a radically different analysis. Frequently, says Agustin, migrants make rational choices to travel and work in the sex industry, and although they are treated like a marginalised group they form part of the dynamic global economy. Both powerful and controversial, this book is essential reading for all those who want to understand the increasingly important relationship between sex markets, migration and the desire for social justice. "Sex at the Margins rips apart distinctions between migrants, service work and sexual labour and reveals the utter complexity of the contemporary sex industry. This book is set to be a trailblazer in the study of sexuality."—Lisa Adkins, University of London |
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Debt: The First 5,000 Years
By David Graeber
Before there was money, there was debt. Every economics textbook says the same thing: Money was invented to replace onerous and complicated barter systems—to relieve ancient people from having to haul their goods to market. The problem with this version of history? There’s not a shred of evidence to support it. Here anthropologist David Graeber presents a stunning reversal of conventional wisdom. He shows that for more than 5,000 years, since the beginnings of the first agrarian empires, humans have used elaborate credit systems to buy and sell goods—that is, long before the invention of coins or cash. It is in this era, Graeber argues, that we also first encounter a society divided into debtors and creditors. Graeber shows that arguments about debt and debt forgiveness have been at the center of political debates from Italy to China, as well as sparking innumerable insurrections. He also brilliantly demonstrates that the language of the ancient works of law and religion (words like “guilt,” “sin,” and “redemption”) derive in large part from ancient debates about debt, and shape even our most basic ideas of right and wrong. We are still fighting these battles today without knowing it. Debt: The First 5,000 Years is a fascinating chronicle of this little known history—as well as how it has defined human history, and what it means for the credit crisis of the present day and the future of our economy. Economist Glenn Loury /Criminalizing a Race
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The White Masters of the
World
From
The World and Africa, 1965
By W. E. B. Du Bois
W. E. B. Du Bois’
Arraignment and Indictment of White Civilization
(Fletcher)
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Ancient African Nations
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If you like this page consider making a donation
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Negro Digest /
Black World
Browse all issues
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Enjoy!
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The Death of Emmett Till by Bob Dylan
/
The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll
/
Only a Pawn in Their Game
Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson Thanks America for
Slavery /
George Jackson /
Hurricane Carter
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The Journal of Negro History issues at Project Gutenberg
The
Haitian Declaration of Independence 1804
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January 1, 1804 -- The Founding of
Haiti
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update 2 November
2011
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