Sepia Dreams: A Celebration of Black Achievement Through Words and Images

Dionne Bennett. St. Martin's Press, $29.95 (203pp) ISBN 978-0-312-27817-5

In Sepia Dreams: A Celebration of Black Achievement Through Words and Images, prominent entertainment photographer Matthew Jordan Smith's color and sepia-toned images and interviews with 50 black luminaries appear alongside Dionne Bennett's text and Vanessa Williams's introduction. Designer Karl Kani describes the clothing industry barriers for black designers and reveals the inspiration for his label: ""`Can I?' has always been my question: Can I really achieve success... ?... So I just kind of put [my first name] Karl and `Can I' together...."" Lena Horne recounts refusing to sing on MGM's WWII tour unless black soldiers were included in the audience. Iman, Samuel L. Jackson, Reggie Miller, Jackie Joyner-Kersee and Missy Elliott are among the other featured celebrities. (Nov.)

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