Damn Rare: Memoirs of an African-American Bibliophile
by Charles L. Blockson

The subtitle of the The Memoirs of an African-American Bibliophile is like a sign that warns to be prepared for the unexpected. The three hundred and fifty-two pages book is more than a memoir. It is an authoritative panoramic story of an African-American man growing up in America. Nearly every aspect of African-American life is covered, including "the numbers" and superstition. "…everybody played the numbers including some ministers…The numbers racket was as popular in many communities as lotteries are today, and it was more profitable for black people."

Those who buy the book will also meet and come to know major personalities such as W.E.B. DuBois, Paul Robeson, Marian Anderson, Lessing J. Rosenwald, Jackie Robinson, Malcolm X, Alex Haley, Alice Walker, and many other known and unknown personalities. The dynamics of Mr. Blockson’s story hinges on an uncommon look into an African-American bibliophile’s life.