[In "Song of Jubilee" Forman] seems to be saying that a literate slave can remain loyal to his masters, no matter the provocation. Jim Chase is the personification of Malcolm X's "house nigger" as described in his "Message to the Grass Roots" speech. He talks a good game; but the fact is that Jim Chase is plain scared of freedom and, even while the Civil War rages around his head, he remains faithful. His constant apologies and rationalizations for remaining loyal throughout the war are sickening.

"Song of Jubilee" can only add fuel to the argument that white men cannot, indeed should not, write about black people. James Forman, a usually compelling writer, has used turgid prose to present young readers with a pompous, self-righteous, often profane slave whose actions are not justified by the author-provided motivations.