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Book Review of OREO: A PERSPECTIVE on RACE and MARGINAL MEN and WOMEN by Roger Smith In his book, OREO: A PERSPECTIVE on RACE and MARGINAL MEN and WOMEN, author Charles V. Willie talks about a certain kind of person who is needed to help mend the relationship between black and white people. He defines this person as being marginal, as "...one who rises above two social or cultural groups, freeing the different groups to work together." Willie also states that in order for this marginal man or woman to be an effective leader, he or she must also have another important characteristic. They " '...cannot be ...anyone who grew up as a slave, nor...anyone who is not connected with the slaves; but only by one of the latter who has been brought up in the midst of the aliens and has received an education equipping him [or her] with all their wisdom and powers....' " Willie's book focuses on the powers these marginal men and women have, and how their living in, between, and beyond the races, can help to integrate all of society. The primary focus of the book is on black people and their standing in society. It states that the marginal man or woman is also known as the "oreo", after the cookie, which is black on the outside and white on the inside. Willie points out the difficulty that black people have when they try to adapt to living in a white society, whether it is a problem within their own race or with the white race. He points out that certain prominent white individuals, such as Daniel Patrick Moynihan, have implied that if blacks would act more like whites then they would be treated the same. Willie points out that because of the situation blacks have been put in they simply act accordingly. And, he states that white people have also benefited from the black lifestyle, such as the increase in white women working outside of the home, after it had been successfully been done by black women. Willie believes that, at times, the non-conforming minority may express the interests of society better than the conforming majority, or what he calls the rebel and society. In his book, Willie goes on to talk about homeostasis; the tendency for living systems to maintain a steady state, and homeokenesis; where living systems maintain a continuous rate of change, and their association with the marginal person. He tells how a homeostatic person is one who just tries to keep in touch with the mainstream and does not stray too far from it. He goes on to say that the marginal person is not characterized by homeostasis but by homeokenesis. The homeokenetic person thinks and reflects about what he sees, and he interprets it, trying to find meaning in what he encounters. Willie states that homeokenesis is not so much a concept in opposition to homeostasis as it is complimentary to it. People have both the tendency to maintain their traditions and customs, and another tendency to transcend, change, and reach out beyond their present circumstances. Willie ends his book by
stating that the future goals of the marginal man and woman will continue to be bringing people
together. He says, "...there is a need to establish a sense of community among the peoples of the world....
A sense of community ... where the weak are courageous and the mighty are humble, where the rich and
the poor give more than they are required to give and take less then they are entitled to receive.
[A] community where people acknowledge their interdependence and all participate in the governing of
the community, which is dedicated not to the glory of a tribe or clan but to the welfare of all people."
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