Ishmael Reed

Ishmael Reed

5 quotes

Biography

Ishmael Scott Reed is an American poet, novelist, essayist, songwriter, composer, playwright, editor and publisher known for his satirical works challenging American political culture. Perhaps his best-known work is Mumbo Jumbo (1972), a sprawling and unorthodox novel set in 1920s New York.

Books by Ishmael Reed
Flight to CanadaFlight to Canada
Mumbo JumboMumbo Jumbo
Ishmael ReedIshmael Reed
Yellow Back Radio Broke-DownYellow Back Radio Broke-Down
The Haunting of Lin-Manuel MirandaThe Haunting of Lin-Manuel Miranda
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Quotes by Ishmael Reed

"No one says a novel has to be one thing. It can be anything it wants to be, a vaudeville show, the six o’clock news, the mumblings of wild men saddled by demons."

Ishmael Reed

"Writing poetry is the hard manual labor of the imagination."

Ishmael Reed

"Writing poetry is the hard manual labor of the imagination."

Ishmael Reed

"I used to be a discipline problem, which caused me embarrassment until I realized that being a discipline problem in a racist society is sometimes an honor."

Ishmael Reed

"What is the American fetish about highways?They want to get somewhere, LaBas offers.Because something is after them, Black Herman adds.But what is after them?They are after themselves. They call it destiny. Progress."

Ishmael Reed