It's hard to summarize this book to be honest I can not definitively draw any statement from Reed's writing. It's all a bunch of small parts that add up to a larger picture, take the talking android and the Idea of the quote saying Museum's are where "art goes to die". Both are statements on culture but no the exact same thing.
This is half the reason I love Reed, he doesn't feel that the complicated problems and ideas he addresses can be broken down into a simple sentence I could spout and summarize his ideas with. Mumbo Jumbo's not just about black culture, western civilization, or Jes-Grew it's a combination of the three blended together into a delicious literary smoothie, with undertones of racial commentary.
So If I were to attempt to make a thesis statement on Reed's behalf it would go something like this: Ishmael Reed in Mumbo Jumbo attempt's to break down the energy and idea of a cultural phenomenon using Jes-Grew and the tension between White and Black to gives us a picture of the defining principles behind all historical conflicts.
But I can't say I entirely agree with my made up theses, it once again makes it oversimplified which is obvious if you read Mumbo Jumbo Reed comically exaggerates everything, no he's not saying that white men cant take part in a black movement. He's showing the ridiculosness of most of the whites (or anyone in any movement that they arent really a part of) ina black movement. Making his points with his sledgehammer rather than a chisel. Which to be honest will leave a much large imprint on the reader
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