Breaking Bread

Hooks and West share roots in the black church, and have a commitment to the life of the mind and feminism. This book takes the form of a dialog that explores diverse aspects of modern African American culture: the spiritual crisis in the black community; conservatism among the black middle class; the new black nationalism; depictions of African Americans in popular culture; and uses of black icons by modern political leaders. Of particular interest are their discussions of gender and politics; and their hope that their own intellectual engagement can serve as a model for new kinds of relationships between black men and women. ISBN 0-89608-415-9: $25.00.