Sad story but so needs to be told

I must read for all those who love humanity and want to see racial discrimination and disparities disappear. We have an opptune moment to save the soul of humanity let us grasp it work for it and encourage our children ro hope for this is bigger than all of us. Make a better heal breakwn hearts and minds. University live always. May god bless us all. Amen

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3 people found this helpful

A must-listen or read for every American.

This is history we should all know--history I sadly was never taught in my US public school education. My fellow white Americans please do not be put off by this title. It speaks to the litany of unconscionable policy and laws that have hurt and stymied Black Americans as a whole, and in turn robbed the entire nation of the accimplishments that might have been, if only we'd treated our fellow human beings as equals. We all need to know our history to understand our present and to build a good decent and just future. It's about time.

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Powerful and moving look at American Black civil rights.

This book continuously horrified and amazed. Horrified at the grotesque nature of the systematic racism. The realisation of how more mundane bigotry can be harvested to great the profit of some and immense damage to others. And amazed at the will to over come it.

As a white man unfortunately I can’t help but reflect on its relevance to the class war. And always find myself thinking if only books like this would be more explicit about the connection. But that is selfish, and I do slowly begin to understand this can undermine this cause.

One criticism of the book would be it’s chronological confusion and occasional inconsistencies. At one point we were looking at the events post civil war and then found ourselves having the atrocities illustrated with an example of a woman carrying a child being set fire to, it should have been a moment (it still was) filled horror and shame for humanity. But this was broken when the murders used gasoline from their cars. Perhaps I had zoned out and missed the segue? There after it did appear the the time line was jumping erratically.

But all in all, this was a powerful warning to all about how the body politic is a vile thing in the wrong hands. And everyone’s need to educate themselves and those around them to hold it to account.

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Stick with it for the closing chapters remarks.

I found the book a bit boring with all the legal facts used as historical evidence and records. I cannot however dismiss their importance as it lays the foundation and evidence of the racial divide and it's resulting outcome. I also love the fact that the constitution and legal proceedings are used as the basis for the book as they are more stringent evidence that stand the test of time.

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1 person found this helpful

A frank account of race relations in America.

I listened to this book in the week George Floyd was buried. George was a black man who was murdered by a white police man who put his knee on his neck for nearly 9 mins in May 2020. I questioned how a law-enforcement person felt 'secure' enough to commit such a gruesome murder when he was aware of being filmed.
The book explains how racism is embedded in the governing of America. It's particularly striking the differences in the financial investment to educate black and white people in America. Change is needed and it must start with examining government policies and re-writing the ones requiring change. Resources should be available for all citizens to use to develop themselves. All lives matter.

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1 person found this helpful

Vital

An earth shattering telling of the powers of white racism. One of the greatest tricks of the white power structure is to say racism doesn't exist. Maybe its a self delusion but here its exposed to its most malevolent extent. What a towering work of academia and exposition. Thank you Thank you Thank you Carol Anderson

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White Rage

The storyline is essentially American, but a more balanced approach could have been more useful for a wide audience

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Eye opening, shocking, saddening.

Leaves a bitter taste when you hear about the way American leaders have treated the poorest in society. If they had only treated and educated the people that they disenfranchised then America could have been great again.

Worthy inclusion to my audio collection.

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1 person found this helpful

Raw truth

I was challenged by some of the content of this book, but felt it was necessary to understand what is happening in this world today between cultural groups & communities of people. As a lecturer I've found students roll their eyes when history is mentioned. But without comprehending history, engagement with current day stories or News headlines are activities based out of context, causing reactions to be influenced by ignorance as they have no foundation. I am not attempting to say this book holds all the answers, No. Its a very good start. A worthwhile & insightful read.

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An important book for white people to read, with some problems

This book traces racial discrimination in the US. It is structured in a simple chronology starting in the 1800s and only approaching something remotely modern in the last two chapters.

Nobody can fault the meticulous research and it is certainly written in an accessible way. As a white male listener in the U.K., I found the history very interesting and easy to follow.

I would have like to have seen Anderson structure the book more around themes, rather than a chronology. I found myself asking "somewhat?" And "what does it all mean?" as Anderson moves speedily through history, giving yet another example of a discriminatory policy making or another shocking racist attack.

As another reviewer states, it is only in the last two chapters where we eventually hit modern times with an examination of the Obama legacy and brings together some of the themes. These are by far the most informative chapters.

I found the performance to be rather flat, as if the presenter was reading from a script and not particularly engaged with the book.

Those looking for a explanation of the rise of Trump will need to look elsewhere.

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