Of all of Ishmael Reed's Mumbo Jumbo characters, the most fascinating one is probably Abdul Hamid. Abdul Hamid is remarkable because he insists on having high standards of morality and requires order in a novel that celebrates freedom and disorder. The novel is set against the background of Jes Grew, a supernatural "disease" that passes through dance, music, and excess — a euphemism for cultural thriving and expression. Abdul, however, sees this as a sign of weakness and chaos. Abdul is a devout Muslim and sincere believer in reason and restraint, once even cane-whipping flappers for having short dresses. He believes that the Black people should climb up through dint of hard labor, not excesses. In saying, "cut out this dancing and carry on… we need factories, schools, guns" (Reed 33 (I think, I’m using the kindle so I can’t really tell)), it shows how he sees pleasure as a vice, and not goodness. Abdul's personal morality unofficially places him on the sid...