Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Bob Shingleton: 'Huffington Post piece which pre-dates our own posts on Philippa Schuyler by several years'


Bob Shingleton of www.OvergrownPath.com writes:

“I recently stumbled across this Huffington Post piece which pre-dates our own posts on Philippa Schuyler by several years
Regards,
Bob


“Initially, W. W. Norton editor, Kathryn Talalay's griping, The Life of Philippa Schuyler, Composition in Black and White, might be expected to belie the mulatto's traditionally accursed lot. Alas, before one has even opened the attractive cover, the subtitle tells the full story: The tragic Saga of Harlem's Biracial Prodigy.”


Comment by email:
Thanks Bill, in response to my email JMW [John McLaughlin Williams] said  "Her story always seems to hover at the fringes" which kind of sums it up.  Best wishes from a ridiculously warm England.
Bob  [Bob Shingleton]


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1 comment:

  1. Bettina Network, inc.March 31, 2012 at 11:56 AM

    I am always amazed at these characterizations of Philippa Schuyler and other African American artists who become large, well-known, acknowledged with mastery over their art, etc. They are always characterized in this way of 'tragedy'. Philippa had a pretty incredible life. Her death was a tragedy which many of us don't believe was an accident. She was an acknowledged, accomplished pianist, which was her passion and she achieved a status which few do even in the 30 plus years of her short life. Why does this negativity surround all African American artists? Why such characterizations and so consistent. I could do a language study on what is said about African American artists who are at the top of their fields and it will all read the same.

    None of us has a trouble free existence. We all have problems and all of our lives could be called tragic simply because we are human and exist. Report on her accurately and without this drama. She was an infinitely interesting, imaginative, humane, beautiful person, who reached a height with her art that few of us can even dream of reaching. and she had a freedom to practice her art which few of us ever achieve. What a blessed life she lived. And what a gift she gave to us all. I knew Philippa growing up and this exaggeration of her circumstances is not true and biased writing.

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