The Legend of the Black Mecca Critical Analysis Paper Example

"The Legend of the Black Mecca: Politics and Class in the Making of Modern Atlanta" is a book by Maurice J. Houston (2017) that delivers foregrounding information concerning the significance if socioeconomic class within the setting. It basis information on the historical setup and events concerning the modern Atlanta and its description as the Black Mecca. Within the book, Maurice Hobson seeks to deliver a precise message to the reader with a critical response concerning the tensions and current trends within the histography of the Black lives in the urban structure. The principal reason as to why Maurice Houston scripts this book is to deliver an explanation regarding the overall nature in the occurrence and existence of the Modern Atlanta. During the period, there was much to write about; however, the issue concerning the politics and class in class was one of the misunderstand occurrence.

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In the literary writing, Hobson interrogates the notion of Atlanta as Black Mecca by maintaining an employment or archival records, judicious use of various quantitative methods (such as demography), and oral historical interviews to deliver that a number of the minimal triumphs of its Black electoral political elite are in control on the Black working poor. In other extents, the book provides information concerning the involvement of the political setup especially in defining the composition of Modern Atlanta. As Maurice Houston continues to deliver his arguments concerning "Black Mecca" he argues for consideration of Atlanta as the "beacon of a black New South" that is stacked to concentrate black electoral political power dating from the early 1970s. Moreover, in the critical analysis of the book, it does not fails to mention the actual relations of its arguments with other occurrences in the history of the post-Civil War in the South. The main ideas within the book surround the occurrence in Atlanta and its relation as a "Black Mecca." Also, the book ensures a primary focus the history of Atlanta by mentioning and considering every aspect of the culture from the form of music produces as well as other activities such as the cultural activities of the individual with the location. In different extends, the author is also focusing on explaining the overall involvement of the elite personalities in the development of the Modern Atlanta as they play a significant role by portraying the significance of the socioeconomic class.

Additionally, as Maurice Hobson resumes with the details within the book, he highlights several key flashpoints on how to study intraracial socioeconomic class tensions in Atlanta due to its development and emergence as a majority black city. Within the writing, the first flashpoint revolves around a strike by sanitation workers in 1977 along with other activities and interactions by Jackson which garnered support from conservative individuals of the Black political setup (such as Martin Luther King Sr.). Correspondingly, the author outlines on another occurrence regarding the second flashpoint on Atlanta Child Murders tragedy that terrified the nation from 1979 into 1982. As the author progresses with the second section of the book, he points out the explicit occurrences and events that occur in the specified period by pointing out the involved phenomenon along with evaluating on the associated instances. For example, Maurice Houston delivers a specific statement about the involvement of Jackson in the occurrence along with other institutions sort to explain the events. It is evidence in certain statements such as, "I know it cannot be because we are black... it is because we are poor!" (104).

In other extents within the book, the author provides more information regarding the occurrences in Atlanta as he bases all the arguments around the different flashpoints. Although it is difficult to understand some of the information offered by the author, he delivers a clear description of the events especially by pointing out on the happenings in Atlanta chronologically. In similar developments, Maurice Houston ensures that he provides sufficient information regarding the most significant contribution of "The Legend of Black Mecca" by pointing out the trove of Atlanta's Black culture scenes as well as their effect to the elite persons in the setting.

Since it is easy to get out of line and fail to deliver any controversy regarding the Modern Atlanta history, the book does an excellent job in elaborating the occurrence. For example, Maurice Houston successfully illuminates the critique that individual producers and artists (such as Goodie Mob, Outkast, and Noize) provided. Through the activities of the group, they incorporated cultural elements that are still evident in the urban Black South today. By elaborating on the various occurrences that may influence culture in "Black Mecca" particularly by terming the Hip-Hop production as a place-based form of rap music, Houston depicts on his ability and understanding of the African American history. As one reads through the book, the ideas presented in the book not only picture on the actual occurrence framing the making of the current Atlanta but also defines the structure of politics and class in their involvement in creating the nation. Despite Houston's ability to also focus on the contribution of culture to the making of Atlanta, he provides more information concerning the involvement of Hip-Hop culture almost forgetting about the course of the book.

Similarly, I like the way the author presents the book especially in creating a proper conclusion of his ideas. For instance, he summarized the book by portraying on a critique regarding the working-class cultural practices by linking it to details in another book. Through this, it depicts the ability of the author to present the ideas with specific references. Moreover, it is one of the strategic practices in ensuring that information is delivered in about the demonstration of the elements in the early century and the current century. Also, the author achieves the intended goals in the script of the book. In a majority of the cases, Maurice Houston has demonstrated how nearly a century later the elements of actions such as Hip-Hop could speak truth to power and also challenge the dominance of a politics of respectability. With other aspects such as actions of Baltimore mentioned in the book, they help maintain the occurrences in our recollections.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the book "The Legend of the Black Mecca" not only does a perfect a job in describing the evolution of the modern Atlanta but functions as a timely reminder of the history covering the socioeconomic class divide. Additionally, the book opens an opportunity for future literature that would address similar themes by explaining on account of the people as well as helping the people embrace the foreground through which some of the current occurrences came to be. Also, it is a must-read book considering that it derives most of the incidents as it strives to educate on the evolution of African Americans in their specific cities.

References

Hobson, M. J. (2017). The Legend of the Black Mecca: Politics and Class in the Making of Modern Atlanta. UNC Press Books.