In his autobiography he goes into a little bit more of the sociological setting and the psychology operating--from his perspective at least--amongst and between the pimps and prostitutes. It's not what most Americans expect. A mere heavy hand and snatching women off the streets. No more than drug dealers literally snatch people off the street and force them into becoming drug addicts. Or no more than cops snatch men off the streets and force them to commit felony crimes and become career criminals.
But yes, there is a violent side to pimping. Much of the threats and violence comes from a woman most pimps put in charge of keeping the rest of the women in "line." At any rate, it comes from the pimps too. Some more violent than others. Iceberg was not known as a "gorilla pimp," so, he was not using a heavy hand most of the time. By in large he used the "gift of gab."
Perhaps the best way of trying to grasps this--and what he was communicating in his writings (partly)--is an analogy of a "lipstick lesbian" that is not into men or even "soft" women but likes "butch women." Butch women do not snatch hetero women off of the street, choke them tell their eyes pop out, and make them become lesbians. Rather, the "lipstick lesbians" sitting in a bar are open to butch women making advances on them and persuading them to follow them.
Some of this psychology is as true to the complex human experience as anything William Shakespeare wrote. In fact, it is probably to honest for most grown Americans to handle.
But there are some lessons that can be taken away even from Iceberg Slim's autobiography. For one, under the advise of a Chicago pimp mentoring him, he gets a rebellious prostitute hooked on heroin. When she passes out he hangs out a window. Then he awakens her, and he goes into thespian role pretending to have saved her as she about to kill herself. The once rebellious prostitute, now hooked on heroin, overcome by gratitude and sense of needing him to protect and saver her from herself, becomes a loyal and obedient prostitute.
Now, tell me there isn't anything "Shakespearean" in that?
Even a young woman enamored by the smooth mouths of street hustlers and street pimps can learn a valuable lesson from that. Lest they seek out and cling to these types of men too hard.
Yeah, listen here's the problem with a story about a black pimp...not everyone grew up in a ghetto and had to be a prostitute.
I'm sure there is some value in this for some people, particularly for those who can relate to it. You're right, the human experience is multi-faceted and sometimes full of uncomfortable things. I personally would not like all books to have lots of stuff like naked lunch, but maybe some people would like that to be a full-blown category.
But if I were to read this book, assuming that I would be able to tolerate it and not get offended/bored/disturbed by it, I think I'd just feel sorry for this pimp and his hookers. I'd feel bad that they were stuck in that life and were forced into depraved, sinful acts just to survive. And if the author or characters tried to justify their lifestyle, it would just be like an inmate serving time for life trying to talk about how wonderful his prison cell is--he doesn't mean it, he just says it because he's been forced into accepting his fate. I would want to try and get these people jobs and get them off the streets and tell them that they don't have to resign to this identity of being a black, promiscuous person. And yes, as offensive as it might be, I would try and talk about how my faith has given me hope and a new identity, and that I don't have to embrace a lifestyle that I really don't want.
Like karate cowboy said, I wouldn't relate since this guy, unlike Shakespeare, can only write one type of narrative and story, namely his own, while Shakespeare can write comedies, tragedies, etc. ok, yeah, they're old, but old doesn't mean bad.
I think this thing with iced lettuce or whatever is personal, isn't it? You relate on a personal level, which I totally respect and understand since a lot of the stuff I like is relatable to me on a personal level with my own life experiences. I've seen your posts, I know that you're black and...have had some sexual experiences. So of course this iced lettuce guy would resonate with you. But he's not timeless or universal, because not everyone is a black prostitute or a black pimp.
In fact, the fact that you think the most beautiful scene consists of some criminal forcing a prostitute to get addicted to drugs and then forcing her deeper into sexual slavery is this beautiful representation of gritty life is disturbing to me. Just because something is gritty doesn't make it beautiful or have educational value, even if it is "realistic". If I was a black person living in one of these inner cities and had daughters who could become potential victims, I would warn them of this sort of thing, but I'm not and am fortunate to never have to face this experience.
Maybe there is some like a Shakespearean tragedy, in that life sure does suck, but that doesn't mean that every work has the level of depth Shakespeare does. In fact, I've seen works of fiction with massive plots,loads of characters and story, and...it's little more than mindless entertainment and a jumbled smorgasbord of video game cliches, misguided secular views of sexuality, wackiness occassionally interspersed with emotional moments. It's not Shakespeare, and while it might one day be regarded as great example of storytelling of the 21st century, it will never have the timeless appeal of Shakespeare, or the wisdom of the Bible, or anything else. At best it will capture the feelings of an era and be remembered fondly by it's fandom. But little else. I'm confident it will outlast iceberg slim, though--got his name right this time!
My point is, great works should be appreciated for being relatable to people of all walks of life, not just one group. I think that's why people sometimes resent African literature or whatever--the narrative is unfamiliar to them, and to me as well. While I think certain works from minorities should definitely be singled out, not every story from the south side of wherever should be praised as a modern-day Iliad.
