Midwest Book review
It's a Shame to be a Negro
Hans Lindor
Publish America
P.O. Box 151, Frederick, Maryland 21705
ISBN 1413741835, $19.95 150 p.

Straight out of the gates Hans Lindor grabbed my attention with the title he selected for his controversial novel It's a Shame to be a Negro (Publish America). A haunting tale about the life of Carter, a promising African-American musician who has been taught to believe in the American dream of equality only to discover that it is a dream deferred, touched home in many areas for me while reading this twisted tale of one man's fate.

Carter's dream is to one day become a member of the New York Orchestra and his only obstacle is the color of his skin. Passed over and ostracized because he was born a Negro, Carter struggles with his identity and often blames himself for the injustices that he suffers along the way, "It's a shame to be a Negro when I allow myself to be treated like a Negro."

Two thumbs up for Hans Lindor. A promising writer who has taken a heated topic and turned it into an epic dialogue, Lindor is definitely one to watch in 2005.


Black Issues Book review
It's a Shame to Be a Negro
Black Issues Book Review, Nov-Dec, 2005 by Antoinette Dykes
It's a Shame to Be a Negro by Hans Lindor PublishAmerica LLC, February 2005 $19.95, ISBN 1-413-74183-5

The author begins his book with the words "It's a shame to be a Negro because society has a grudge against me"; and in 17 chapters he offers how he feels about race in America.

The main character, Carter, thinks it's a shame to be black because of his struggle in society. As he chases his dream, he holds himself responsible for his own dilemmas.

Lindor is a firm believer that one should "write about what you know," and he succeeds here by writing a narrative that is pure and poetic.

Antoinette Dykes is the food and living editor for The Harlem Times in New York City.