Controversial Corner: Ishmael Reed’s Attack on Western Society
Controversial Corner: Ishmael Reed’s Attack on Western Society By: Mateo Hernandez Mumbo Jumbo. A novel hyped up to be one of the most confusing books that we’ll ever read. Whether it was the writing style or just in general, the hard-to-follow plot line, Mumbo Jumbo, seemed to confuse a lot of us. But honestly, in the end, I really enjoyed it. I thought that it was one of the most controversial books that I have read in a long time, especially regarding Ishmael Reed’s critiques on Western society and culture, and taking a COMPLETELY radical view, as some might say. Reed argues that Western society is hyper-Eurocentric and closely tied to Christianity, and it’s all corrupted, with its supposed goal to stamp out Black culture in order for its Eurocentric roots to remain in power; but Reed suggests that Black culture is what society should be centered around, for true happiness and authenticity. To begin with, Reed uses the Atonists and the ...