Redefining The Labyrinth

Take 4 high school students contemplating their future and place them with a professor who realizes their potential, and you have a work of non-fiction that is comparable to any academic discussion you would find in the halls of Ivy league, private and state colleges. These essays analyze the African-American situation through a call and response method. Like a hip-hop concert the emcee guides the crowd through a discussion on poverty and education and discusses how Blacks need to begin to tear down the images of negativity which contribute to misconceptions about African-Americans young and old. Professor C.D. Burns introduces each student essay and then passes the mic to each analyst to relay conscious and relevant discussions. In an attempt to bridge the gap between education and the Black student Burns utilizes the book to introduce an analysis of literature and steps away to let the students delve further into discussions that enlighten in a manner very similar to The Covenant with Black America.