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Up: From Where We've Come
"UP" contains historical moments, where the reader will experience inserts of the author's life long before he gained his status as a musical legend. And like his music, Wrights' story is a historical account of events that could only be told in his own personal and unique style.
Wright's book, is about a young boy and his family's trials and tribulations on a cotton plantation owned by a cruel sharecropper named Edward Miles, who was born with an unfair advantage, which he uses to dominate his subjects. At the critical age of eight, the boy's father demanded he pick no less than a hundred pounds a day.
Their saga continued due to one incident after another until finally, the child's mother sought help from her oldest daughter, who'd already moved out of state. The rest is history. His story takes too many twist and turns to explain in a brief synopsis, yet in the end it has a surprisingly pleasant way of resolving itself.
Wright's book, is about a young boy and his family's trials and tribulations on a cotton plantation owned by a cruel sharecropper named Edward Miles, who was born with an unfair advantage, which he uses to dominate his subjects. At the critical age of eight, the boy's father demanded he pick no less than a hundred pounds a day.
Their saga continued due to one incident after another until finally, the child's mother sought help from her oldest daughter, who'd already moved out of state. The rest is history. His story takes too many twist and turns to explain in a brief synopsis, yet in the end it has a surprisingly pleasant way of resolving itself.
246 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2016
16 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
August 18, 2021
I must admit that I was originally disappointed that Mr Wright’s book was not about his music career, which is highlighted by his huge hit “Express Yourself,” but about his years growing up in the Jim Crow South.
However, once I started reading the book, I was most pleasantly surprised and felt fortunate to have picked it up, for I found that I could not put it down. Mr Wright knows how to tell a story and his writing is quite engaging. The book reads like a novel at times. And the fascinating account of the trials and tribulations experienced by his parents and siblings needs to be told and become widely known.
Mr Wright did his parents and the rest of his family proud by recounting their travails and by sharing with us their remarkable spirit and strength, which persisted despite all the hardships and injustices they were forced to endure.
Although he does not focus on this aspect of his story, I was impressed by how Mr Wright himself personally overcame the grave struggles of his youth and eventually established himself in the music industry. And this is why I beg him: “Please, please, express yourself further and write the story of your music career.”
However, once I started reading the book, I was most pleasantly surprised and felt fortunate to have picked it up, for I found that I could not put it down. Mr Wright knows how to tell a story and his writing is quite engaging. The book reads like a novel at times. And the fascinating account of the trials and tribulations experienced by his parents and siblings needs to be told and become widely known.
Mr Wright did his parents and the rest of his family proud by recounting their travails and by sharing with us their remarkable spirit and strength, which persisted despite all the hardships and injustices they were forced to endure.
Although he does not focus on this aspect of his story, I was impressed by how Mr Wright himself personally overcame the grave struggles of his youth and eventually established himself in the music industry. And this is why I beg him: “Please, please, express yourself further and write the story of your music career.”
March 9, 2024
Mr. Wright’s use of dialogue along with the vivid details of his childhood have proved him to be master storyteller. Having known him many years ago, I congratulate him on his accomplishment, and encourage him to continue on with his literary pursuits.
February 4, 2017
Legendary singer and musician Charles Wright shares his story of growing up in the racially-charged rural south of the 1940s in his autobiography, Up: From Where We’ve Come
Best known for the hit single Express Yourself, Charles Wright’s songs have been covered by countless artists throughout the decades. But before his rise to musical fame, Wright’s life was fraught with tribulation and tragedy.
Growing up on a cotton plantation in rural Mississippi, he was forced from a young age to harvest massive amounts of cotton each day or face a beating by his father. Though hard workers, Wright’s family lived in abject poverty and endured much hardship at the hands of the plantation owner, a ruthless sharecropper by the name of Edward Miles. Filled with the memories and events that made up Wright’s childhood during a very turbulent time in American history, UP: From Where We’ve Come is a powerful story of human struggle, and of victory in overcoming enormous adversity to achieve your dreams.
From humor and romance, to anger and moments of heart-pounding fear and tragedy, UP will take you through nearly every human emotion imaginable. As a person only two generations removed from Wright, I’m completely blown away at how much things have changed in this country in such a short span of time. The struggles, family issues, and poverty that the author fought to overcome is astonishing, while the positive and upbeat attitude he maintains through it all is truly inspirational. Taking an almost objective approach in documenting the racism and abuse he and his family endured at the hands of others, Wright sets the overlaying tone of the book from the very beginning with the following sentiment:
“We’ll all come to the logical conclusion someday that we are all God’s children and that we must ultimately learn to live together. Hopefully through an alternative train of thought, future generations will venture to make the world a better place where mankind will finally explore a better way of life.”
Readers should be warned there are a few moments of fairly graphic violence that spring up without much warning, and also some strong language is used throughout the book. Whether you are a devoted fan of Charles Wright and the 103rd Street Rhythm Band, a student of history, or just enjoy reading stories of human endurance and victory over struggle, you will certainly find something to take away from this heartfelt memoir.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Check out this review on my blog: EpicBookQuest.com
February 24, 2016
Charles Wright’s difficulties in early life helped inform his artistry and talent. He endured slave labor and overcomes the prejudices of the segregated south. His story is unique and at times chilling. It is told in a conversational style that reminded me of how my grandfather used to tell stories: with charm and authenticity. Although he and his family faced many obstacles, he managed to overcome the circumstances and beat the odds. The dialogue is razor sharp and coming from the south, I can attest the vernacular is truly spot-on. There were times when I laughed out and others when I came close to tears. This is an excellent telling which took bravery and honesty to make it as affective as it is. I highly recommend this book. Whether you’re a Wright fan or not, it shines a light on the racial injustices that continue to plague our country. Exceptionally good book!
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February 18, 2016Interesting story....at some points I expected more than was delivered,but interesting still the same. Would like to read about the family after arriving in California
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews