Face Forward: Young African American Men in a Critical Age

Amazon.com Review:
Some years ago, an incident on a San Francisco street made Julian C. R. Okwu realize that there were white people who saw him not as a man, but as a black man who was a potential source of trouble because of the color of his skin. "I wanted to introduce the world to another idea of young African American men," he writes in his introduction, explaining the reason for this powerful and important book. In Face Forward, he presents photographs and brief autobiographies, in their own words, of 40 young black men. They are a varied lot--a former gang member, a dancer, a medical student, a politician, businessmen, and activists. What they have in common, though, is a desire to give back to the black community, and to be seen for who they are.

Illuminating!:
In a time and age when young, african-american men are not portrayed in the best light, J. Okwu provides an illuminating and insightful look into the lives of 40 of these men. Not only is his writing superb, but his artistic eye and layout design are quite impressive. I have passed along the book to a number of young, african-american men in my life. I hope Face Forward will inspire them as much as it did me.

A Great Gift!:
The personal narratives and excellent photography make this book the perfect gift for any young African American. It is truly inspiring to read the words of the next generation and learn how they are coping with success in spite of the racism and negativity that is so prevalent in the 21st century. It is a perfect companion to AS I AM. The only draw back is that Mr. Okwu didn't provide contact information for these talented, handsome young men.M-E-O-W!

great:
this book prove that all young black guys aren't how the media try to make them out to be.

Not Just for the Coffeetable:
Now, here's something we don't get everyday: a handsomely-presented portrait of several young Black men whose backgrounds vary in profession, background, region, and sexual orientation. We're treated to crisp, black-and-white photographs of these men accompanied by a few autobiographical notes. The stories they have to tell never fail to intrigue. I bought this on a whim a few years back, and it's been a nice addition to my library. Definitely recommended.

Nice pictures and stories of triumph:
This is a great book for young black males. It has short biographys of several different black males who made it in spite of their challenges in life. It was positive.