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Reviewed by: Vanessa Dora Murray Aaron Anwar Smith, a product of the Washington, DC Metropolitan area, used to be one of them. You know the kind. A young angry Black man filled with hatred, fear, and negative thinking. With a pessimistic outlook, Smith’s future looked bleak. After surviving brain cancer at the age of twenty-two, Smith’s way of thinking changed. He became conscious of the fact that success was within his grasp and that the most High God gave him gifts such as wisdom, strength, resiliency, communication, and devotion. Now, Smith’s God given gifts have been put to good use in his debut book, Living on the Up High, Not the Down Low. In Living on the Up High, Not the Down Low, Smith sheds light on widely held but sadly mistaken beliefs that plague the Black communities. He provides answers to what he calls “The Twelve Most Popular Myths about Black Men.” Included on his “Myth” list are:
“Some readers may wonder what made me decide to stand up in defense of good Black men, regarding the creation of this book, and that is fine,” Smith says in the introduction. “That is exactly what I want you to do. Please question me. I want you to be intrigued by my presence, challenge my opinions in addition to your own, because I want you to think about your individual growth, which you can use to help others. This book will make a difference in someone’s life. I know this because it is through the will of God that I began this project, and all things through Him do prosper.” In Living on the Up High, Not the Down Low, Smith expresses his viewpoints in such a way that it is unambiguous and easily understood. His debut effort is commendable. What did you like best about this book? I like the way Smith uses the African American past history, such as slavery, as the foundation so that his African American readers will understand how their past hinders them today. In chapter one, “Our African History in America”, Smith says, “Legacy, on the other hand, is something that should be embraced and kept as it is passed through the generations. No people should ever be denied their legacy. Let me remind you that Africans were the only group of people who were robbed of theirs and forced to come to America against their will. They were dehumanized, stripped of their names, robbed of their history, and left to suffer. An unimaginable amount of legacies were destroyed. Many people do not know this because history, in America, has not been taught truthfully.” The above information is invaluable. It is true; the Black man will never understand his present state unless he is made aware of his past. One more thing, the front and back covers of this book are satisfactory. I especially like the picture of the fine young brother on the back cover. Hmm hmm good! What did you dislike about this book? How can the author improve this book? In the “Our African History in America” chapter, Smith says, “I really want you to understand that I honor, promote, and cherish my heritage. My strongest desire is to bring its powerful past to the light of truth, but we must define ourselves correctly before we can successfully do that and stand in the light of our predecessors. Unfortunately, selecting a name that defines oneself along with millions of others isn’t the easiest thing to do, but it can be done with unity…We need to pick a meaningful name and stick with it. It is very important that we take the proper initiative in this effort because defining ourselves is the first step to knowing who we are and realizing our true abilities.” Incorporating an explanation to the key points will immensely improve this book. But more importantly, it will change lives. Again, the KJB has the answers to the questions the author is searching for, including who are those downtrodden Blacks? What is their name or the name that they were once known as? Why is the history of Blacks or African Americans such a big secret or hidden from them? Incorporating an explanation to the key points will immensely improve this book. But more importantly, it will change lives. In the meantime, if you don’t mind, I’d like to answer some of the author’s questions. Keep in mind, these are not my words. These Words are the most High’s found in the KJB. I am just the messenger: According to scripture, there was a select group of people chosen by the most High God. Chosen to do what, you may ask? Keep reading. A covenant between the most High and this select group was made. If this select group chose to break this covenant (God’s laws and commandments), there would be penalties, unpleasant consequences called curses. If this select group would keep this covenant, the most High promised to make them one powerful righteous nation of priests, a kingdom of priests, who would be above all nations. What is the job of a priest? Priest = minister = teach…their job would entail teaching the rest of humanity the laws of the most High, the Creator of all. [See Deuteronomy chapter 28:1-14 & Leviticus chapter 26:1-13 for a list of the blessings that would come upon this select group and verses 16-68 & 14-46 are lists of the curses.] Guess what? This select group, called Hebrew Israelites or the children of Israel, broke the covenant and was hit with all the curses found in Leviticus chapter 26 and Deuteronomy Chapter 28. In order to know who the modern Israelites are, one must first read the curses in the above bible chapters. The curses tell you that this select group of people would be at the bottom of the totem pole economically, socially, and politically; they would be reviled, cast-off, and demoralized. They shall be led away captive into all nations. What group of people do you know like that? According to scripture, this group is the true descendants of the ancient Hebrews. In order for this select group to be the head instead of the tail, they must return back to the ways of the most High God. “And yet for all that,” says the most High in Leviticus 26:44-46, KJB. “When they be in the land of their enemies, I will not cast them away, neither will I abhor them, to destroy them utterly, and to break my covenant with them: for I am YAH (the LORD) their God. But I will for their sakes remember the covenant of their ancestors, whom I brought forth out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the heathen, that I might be their God: I am YAH (the LORD). These are the statutes and judgments and laws, which YAH (the LORD) made between him and the children of Israel in mount Sinai by the hand of Moses.” The Hebrew Israelites, the children of Israel, the twelve tribes of Israel, to be a kingdom of priests, was and still is the most High’s original plan. So, there you have it, answers to some of the questions the author failed to research and/or include in this book. 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Concerning the needed answers to the questions asked by the author, it was a refreshing look into the African American's fogotten history. Many people lose vital information due to a lack of diligence ... diligence to seach deeper. How many really want to dig as deep as this review has stated?
Again, a great review and a refreshing look at history.