Smoketown (2018) →

by Mark Whitaker

This book is dense, to say the least. With a focus on Black culture over the course of modern history, primary through the eyes of a coloured newspaper in Pittsburgh, Smoketown offers an in-depth look at everything from sports, to music, to the contributions of Black Americans in war efforts, politics, and economic development. I really enjoyed this book— for what I read of it. My only criticism is that each chapter, typically focused on one area of culture and a single individual, had so much history and so many names packed into a single chapter that the process of reading got tiring. If I were reading this to research the influence of Black culture on historical USA developments over time, this would be a great resource. However, for an entertainment read, there was far too much included in this read. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in Black history, and a perspective on how an industrial American city develops over time, but be warned— this book demands all of your attention, and stamina.