William Raspberry 
Major Works
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William Raspberry: A Biography
By Watress Harris (SHS)
William Raspberry is well-known for his point-of-view about education, criminal justice, family, and racial matters in America. William Raspberry was born in Okolona, Mississippi, on October 12, 1935. When he graduated from the University of Indianapolis in 1958 with a B.S. in History, he became associate managing editor for the Washington Post, in Washington DC. 
Raspberry dictates strong opinions about the problems in America society. Raspberry says that he can thank his parents that he is s able to have his own point-of-view about life." As the mouth of south, he has the words for America's problems.
William Raspberry has won many awards. Raspberry was named Journalist of the Year by Capital Press Club in 1965. He also was nominated for an Pulitzer Prize. Raspberry has honorary degrees from Georgetown, University of Maryland, and University of Indianapolis, in 1982.
During his career Raspberry has been a member of the National Association of Black Journalists, Pulitzer Prize board, Capital Press Club, and Kappa Alpha Psi. Raspberry now lives in Washington, DC, where he gives his opinion everyday in weekly columns for the Washington Post.
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A Review
of Looking Backward at Us
by Watress Harris (SHS)
The book Looking Backward at Us by William Raspberry is filled with his opinions about education, family and racial matters. Raspberry feels that education is a goal everyone needs to succeed in. One of the topics under education that caught my attention was "Black Kids needs Standard English." Raspberry explains the importance of English. Raspberry thinks the best thing that a teacher can do for black students is to teach them as early as possible to speak English well. He feels that blacks think that speaking correct English is talking "white." And often times black peers pick on each other for using correct English. Raspberry tries to encourage blacks and other Americans to use correct English because without proper use of English people will consider the person ignorant.
Raspberry also has a strong point of view about family problems in America. He feels parents should have control over their child. Don't let a child have control over the parent. . As a parent Raspberry feels it is his duty (and every parent's duty) to teach the child about the obstacles he or she may force in life. He thinks some of the problems we face in America can be prevented if we start at our own front door. He also feels that parents must represent themselves as parents because in many cases a child often imitates the parent's action.
Raspberry also focuses on racial matters in America. One of the topics under racial matters that took the breath right out of my body was "Embarrassing Question." Raspberry explains how the media focuses on black Americans dealing and using drugs more than any other race. One day his friend's son asked, "Do white people use and deal drugs?" Of course, this was a shocking question for Raspberry and his friend. Raspberry explained to his friend's son that black people are more open then white people. The moral of this topic is that many people think blacks are the only drug dealer and users in America. This is because the media and news report the drug use of blacks more than any other race in America.
The book is written in first person point of view. The narrator is Raspberry himself. Raspberry sets a mood that the problems America faces can be solved if we start with ourselves. The theme of the book is that despite all the problems in American, if a person has an education and home training and doesn't see things in black and white but as right and wrong, he will succeed in America.
In conclusion, I enjoyed the book very much because it told me what is going on in America; it also told me how to be successful in America. However, I think the book needs to break down the big words Raspberry uses was so students like me can understand it better.
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Related Websites
This site lists brief info on Raspberry as syndicated columnist for Washington Post.
Raspberry is on faculty of Duke University as Knight Professor of the Practice of Journalism
Raspberry says, " Treat Drug Abuse, Alcohol Abuse the Same."
Raspberry to provide columnist insight.
Raspberry Stresses Need To Build Bridges at Rhodes College.
William Raspberry, a syndicated columnist who regularly appears in the Washington Post, Seattle Times and other daily newspapers across the nation, talks about "Disposable Fathers."
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