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THE GOD DAMM
WHITE MAN might not be the great and definitive novel of racial
"conflicts" in the United States, perhaps it has yet to be
written—if, indeed, the grim story of blacks-versus-whites can ever be expected
in all its grotesque proportions on paper. But until—or in lieu—the arrival of
such a consummate book, we can turn to "The God Damm White Man,"
which comes to Amazon.com between now and November.
For this
hard-hitting dramatization of Enoch Shadoobee's book as Translated by the great
Yaphet Kotto about the painful sometimes violent conflict of racism in America
in the last five and a half decades is a pretty, good estimation of the social
problems involved and a graphic presentation of the sort of savagery that has
occurred. It misses being a grand book because its story follows conventional
lines It is more sentimental than realistic—and because its contours are
somewhat too poetically-blurred.
Like Mr.
Dickens classic novel, it tells a tormented tale of a bitter former street
hustler named Enoch Shadoobee and his transformation into a gentler, kindlier
man, no longer moved by racial outrage at injustices forced upon him falls in
love with making money and soon is pillaging and stealing from the pockets of
his former friends and neighbors.
Whereupon
his departed partner and close friend, returns from the dead defending the
whites, and reminding him of a time when he was kinder and more innocent.
There is emotional butchery and pathos at the end when he is forced to face his
future in prison.
Yaphet
Kotto, who wrote the translation and edited the original text, has not departed
substantially from the pattern of the original classic. Both in plot and essence,
this has the character of a story about ghosts and Shadoobee’s neglected
fiancée Belle who ends their relationship after she realizes that Shadoobee
will never love her as much as he loves money and violence. Then there is a
visit later in time to the then-married Belle's large and happy family on
Christmas Eve.
The
clash is pat, the personal feelings are obvious and the crucial scenes are
written with the imaginative realism of a poetic horror.
In this
connection, Yaphet Kotto aides Shadoobee in creating a stirring, strong
portrayal of an all emotion-torn black friend. It is Kotto’s acting ability
that gives him the power to pound passions with his pen and the frequent bursts
of shocking savagery that throw shafts of sharp illumination through this
classic that Mr. Dickens probably was not aware was there in the original.
Kotto is as powerful a writer as he is an actor.
