MEDIA & METHODS

To: English Chairman

From: Principal

Re: "Soul of Ice"

Will you kindly respond to the following questions relative to the book "Soul of Ice" which is currently being used by Mr. ____________.

1. Was this book approved by the chairman?

2. Were students requested to purchase this book from personal funds?

3. Did Mr. ______________ consider other books on "black power" before this particular book was selected?

4. Do you personally feel that the objectionable parts destroy the literary value of the book?

The utilization of this book has caused a great amount of concern among many parents. I must have your answers to the above questions as I feel quite sure that this matter will probably go to the Board of Education. Thank you.

                                            —The Principal

To: Principal

From: English Chmn. HS

Re: "Soul of Ice" (sic)

In response to your letter of April 17:

1. We are not teaching "Soul of Ice" in Mr. ______________'s class. The book he is using is called "Soul on Ice." I approved the use of that book in a discussion with Mr. ______________.

2. If you recall, we were at the point of discovering that a large sum of money ticketed, or rather, budgeted, for books for the English Dept. was not available…. I told Mr. _______________ that the sum was no longer available. He then said that he thought that students would be willing to purchase the book from personal funds. I consented to this arrangement.

3. Yes, there was discussion about other books on "black power," but because the book has been hailed by many sources, because Cleaver has been and is in the news, we decided on "Soul on Ice." However, it is absolutely unfair to label this a black power book. You will understand this after you read it.

4. The psychiatrist Robert Coles wrote in "Atlantic Monthly," "He [Cleaver] is full of Christian care, Christian grief and disappointment, Christian resignation, Christian messianic toughness, and hope" [see excerpt above].

In some ways, "Soul on Ice" reminds me of a book of confessions; in particular, sections of it recall to my mind "The Confessions of Saint Augustine."

No, the objectionable parts do not destroy the literary value of the book, in my opinion. If you read the book, you will find much, much more that is objectionable that has nothing to do with sex. "Soul on Ice" is a book full of pain, Cleaver's pain—and it is that pain that is objectionable. Taken all together, this book is a black man's spiritual odyssey away from hate and crime towards understanding, and 'convalescence,' Cleaver's own term….

All in all, a dramatic and troubled book, written by a tormented black man in search of sanity.