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Date
Reviewed: Feb 27, 2008
Caesar
THEM by Nathan McCall features Barlow Reed as a 40-something African-American man living in the Old Fourth Ward in Atlanta. As gentrification takes hold in his neighborhood, Barlow and his neighbors become suspicious and resentful of the new inhabitants and changes they are attempting to make.The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language list the following definition for gentrification: The restoration and upgrading of deteriorated urban property by middle-class or affluent people, often resulting in displacement of lower-income people.
Barlow is employed by a local printing press, has a troubled nephew living with him and a girlfriend, who literally does Barlow a favor by breaking things off with him. Barlow, a simple guy, works, reads, plays the lottery and hates all forms of government, thus nicknaming it "Caesar". When neighbors, Sandy and Sean, move next door and restore the old house inside and out, Barlow is forced into action of doing the same to his home, but first he must purchase it. Sandy and Sean must examine their reasons for wanting to relocate from suburban Atlanta to the Old Fourth Ward. Are they trying to send a message or is it something more innocent and noble?
At times, THEM is a dramatic read with highlights of humor. The situations of fear and fear of the unknown play well, but eventually veer off to being over-the-top and stereotypical. There are the gatherings of the locals and new inhabitants to establish neighborhood ground rules, which lead to gatherings of the black locals who try to relive the glory days of the civil rights movement. There are also confrontations both vocal and physical. The sociological and psychological messages are plenty and THEM is sure to cause much debate and discussion around the practice of gentrification.
Reviewed by Dawn Reeves
of The RAWSISTAZ™ Reviewers
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Dawn Reeves is a Program Coordinator for a public school system and is an avid sports fan. In addition to participating in on-line book clubs, she is the manager of a local book club.
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