Ishmael Reed
Ishmael Reed
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Full Name and Common Aliases
Ishmael Reed is an American poet, novelist, playwright, editor, critic, and satirist. He was born on February 22, 1938, in Buffalo, New York.
Birth and Death Dates
February 22, 1938 - present
Nationality and Profession(s)
American, Poet, Novelist, Playwright, Editor, Critic, Satirist
Early Life and Background
Ishmael Reed was born to John H. Reed and Ethel (née Wilson) in Buffalo, New York. His father was a postal worker and his mother a homemaker. He grew up in the city's East Side, where he developed an early interest in jazz music and literature.
Reed attended Bennett High School before enrolling at the University of Buffalo, where he began to explore his writing skills. During this period, he became involved with the civil rights movement and the African American arts scene.
Major Accomplishments
Ishmael Reed's work has spanned multiple genres, including poetry, fiction, drama, and criticism. He is perhaps best known for his novels _Mumbo Jumbo_ (1972), _The Last Days of Louisiana Red_ (1993), and _Conjuring Rickshaw Bob_ (2003).
In addition to his writing, Reed has been a prominent figure in the literary world as an editor and critic. He co-founded the journal _Kulchur_ in 1968 with his wife, Elizabeth Lucas.
Notable Works or Actions
Novels: Reed's novels often blend elements of satire, surrealism, and magical realism to explore themes related to African American culture, history, and identity.
_Mumbo Jumbo_: A postmodern epic that explores the intersection of jazz, alchemy, and conspiracy theories in African American life.
_The Last Days of Louisiana Red_: A novel about a black radical who becomes embroiled in a conspiracy involving the Ku Klux Klan.
Playwriting: Reed has written numerous plays, including _Mother of Earth_ (1976) and _Temptation and Treachery_ (1983).
* Criticism: Reed's essays have appeared in publications such as _The New York Times_, _The Nation_, and _The Village Voice_. He is a vocal critic of racism and cultural appropriation.
Impact and Legacy
Ishmael Reed has made significant contributions to American literature, particularly in the areas of African American writing and radical politics. His work continues to be widely read and studied today due to its innovative style and thought-provoking themes.
Reed's influence can also be seen in his collaborations with other notable figures in the arts, such as jazz musicians Ornette Coleman and Cecil Taylor.
Quotes by Ishmael Reed
Ishmael Reed's insights on:
Have you ever seen people line up outside a Van Gogh exhibit? When they get inside there are so many they can’t even see the paintings, they just pass by like sheep or like mourners passing the tomb of a fallen hero, a bier, with the same solemnity. And the extent of their knowledge concerning Van Gogh is that he “cut off his ear.” Man, it’s religion they make it into.
Unfortunately, in the world today, we have dogmatic people entering into politics. I don’t think the two mix.
My novels and poems are meant to be read aloud. That’s why jazz musicians have been able to adapt my stuff.
I asked Joe Weixlmann why he would print a death threat like that in light of the fact that there are all of these armed ideological nuts wandering around loose. He said that for him, to “ice” someone means to reprimand them.
I’m not against White writers writing about Blacks as long as they are as objective as say James McPherson writing about an Irish American janitor in his brilliant short story “Gold Coast.”
He said he felt like the gut heart and lungs of Africa’s interior. He said he felt like the Kongo: “Land of the Panther.” He said he felt like “deserting his master,” as the Kongo is “prone to do.” He said he felt he could dance on a dime.
That kind of thing happens to black people every day in this country, and they don’t receive that kind of sentence he did, which was to go to prison on the weekends; I think he lectured there-an outside lecturer.
I’ve always wondered why European politicians as a group seemed brighter than American politicians as a group. Maybe it’s becausemany American politicians have the race issue to fall back on. They become lazy, suspicious of innovative ideas, and as a result American institutions atrophy.
Given all of the anti-Muslim propaganda that’s being disseminated by The American Nazi media, you have to be careful. It can stress you out.
My stuff is direct. Critics have compared my writing style with boxing all the way back to 1978 when my first book of essays appeared: it was compared to Muhammad Ali’s style.