Energy Never Dies

Afro-Optimism and Creativity in Chicago

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Pub Date Dec 14 2021 | Archive Date Feb 09 2022
Multicultural Interest | Nonfiction (Adult) | OwnVoices

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Description

From Afro Sheen to Theaster Gates and from Soul Train to Chance the Rapper, Black Chicago draws sustenance from a culture rooted in self-determination, aspiration, and hustle. In Energy Never Dies, Ayana Contreras embarks on a journey to share the implausible success stories and breathtaking achievements of Black Chicago's artists and entrepreneurs. Past and present generations speak with one another, maintaining a vital connection to a beautiful narrative of Black triumph and empowerment that still inspires creativity and pride. Contreras weaves a hidden history from these true stories and the magic released by undervalued cultural artifacts. As she does, the idea that the improbable is always possible emerges as an indestructible Afro-Optimism that binds a people together.

Passionate and enlightening, Energy Never Dies uses the power of storytelling to show how optimism and courage fuel the dreams of Black Chicago.

From Afro Sheen to Theaster Gates and from Soul Train to Chance the Rapper, Black Chicago draws sustenance from a culture rooted in self-determination, aspiration, and hustle. In Energy Never Dies...

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Advance Praise

"Contreras puts virtually every aspect of Black Chicago culture, music, business breakthroughs, and more on the table, then shows exactly how they are all interconnected. She writes the book as the Black experience is actually lived--this guy knows that guy, but the other guy used to work for the two of them. And none of it would’ve happened were it not for a certain audacious manner of hope and optimism found in Black Chicago."--Lee Bey, author of Southern Exposure: The Overlooked Architecture of Chicago's South Side

"In Energy Never Dies, Ayana Contreras crafts an intensely intimate and loving portrait of Black Chicago that will illuminate, even to lifelong South and West Siders, the distinctiveness of our cultural history and worldview. This book offers urgently needed blueprints for extending the work and actualizing the dreams of the Great Migrants."--Jacqueline Najuma Stewart, coeditor of L.A. Rebellion: Creating a New Black Cinema

"Contreras puts virtually every aspect of Black Chicago culture, music, business breakthroughs, and more on the table, then shows exactly how they are all interconnected. She writes the book as the...

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Available Editions

EDITION Other Format
ISBN 9780252086113
PRICE $19.95 (USD)
PAGES 192

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Additional Information

Average rating from 4 members

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Featured Reviews

One of the best book on Black Chicago !

The book portrays incidents happened in history of Chicago related to culture, society, politics, power through shared economics and space for black community.

Theme of the book associates with struggle of Black Chicago rooted in belief. There are stories of faith, hope, anger and grief.

Author talks about
• Black lives
• Necessity of expressions in blackness
• Memories with her grandmother of the place.
• Great Migration of black people.
• Struggle stories of both black & south side of Chicago.
• Stories behind origin of Cinema, music, business in beloved black community.
• Aspirational images of blackness.
• Black Chicago's mark on mass media landscape.
• Gifts given by Chicago to the world. One of them is Chicago Soul Music.
• Events like Black Christmas.
And many more.

Book reminds struggle of Martin Luther King as leader giving voice to black community and his assassination in that process.

One of the remarkable feature of the book is there are song lyrics mentioned and recommended by author that inspires young generation to keep on pushing. And that makes the book compendium.

'Energy Never Dies' is a high quality book for readers with broad interest.

Thank you NetGalley for providing the book for reading before the release.

#EnergyNeverDies #NetGalley

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