Defining Moments in Black History: Reading Between the Lies Hardcover – September 5, 2017

As a black man who grew up admiring brother Gregory, I had to check out his book, and it didn't disappoint. Funny at times, entertaining, and most of all, informative and inspiring, I want to share this book with my loved ones. Dick Gregory is a hero to our people.

It's okay at points but many times it felt more like storytelling and opinions than real Black history. There are valid points made for sure but much of the speculation about many of the events and people are what I used to hear at the barbershop or other get-togethers. That's how we used to pass on "history" back in the day so I wouldn't call this book "Defining". Many of the moments shared, especially near the end of the book, are personal recollections so basically it has the flavor of a book that rambled on and on and was just thrown together at the last minute. Also the title should have included the words ".. As I See it." It could have been better especially with his great talent and heart. Maybe the next time.

I like the idea that Dick Gregory introduced so many subjects and covered them in few words. It is a great review of our history with civil and human rights.He made it clear that Black history is such an important part of America's history. Everything is written in such words as "my grandmother would understand them" as he always said.

Love the way ,He told a story about real experience's and at the same time teaching the reader how to handle the same problem today.A very good teacher of Our History.Also loved the way his wife showed her love for her husband.The way his children respected him and listened to the man in the household.i could say so many positive things about this Brother and Book. It's a must read!!!

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).

This book was wayyyyy better than I was expecting. Soooo much history put all together so beautifully and the think out the box “theories” he gives on all aspects of history do in fact make since. He started with the slave trade and worked his way all the way up to recent history. And the way he did it was was soooo smooth. I felt like i was sitting in the living room hearing stories from my grandpa and his friends. I highly recommend this book to read.

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.

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.

Brought this book for my sons birthday. Beautiful read as I have read the book myself

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

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.

Very informative. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Well written but VERY prejudice against whites