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3.9 AVERAGE
3.9 AVERAGE
Took this book on a whim. I don't know enough about black people in the south so this actually helped me with a blind spot I had. If that blind spot wasn't so huge, then I might have rates this 4 stars instead of 5, but not only am I undecided on that, but it's speculation until I learn more about black people in the south.
It is a rather rambly book, but if you doublespeed or even triple speed with the audiobook you'll get to the part about the orangeburg massacre maybe 5-10 minutes after the 6% mark. that's particularly informative & helpful. Also the charleston church massacre section basically told what the jobs/roles of leaders entail.
It was cool to know that bicycles are common in some places. It was cool to learn why people use mowers for driving.
The dude was of a family with several rental properties & was in his area relatively rich. But yeah, his mom was able to get him $1000 seed money for a campaign,and then he had a family of about 200 people, and he talked like it was standard fare for people who say they don't have money. He did say that when someone fails they let a whole bunch of people besides themselves down, so that was honest & good.
So anywho, while I do somewhat struggle to figure out whether this is radical or bourgeois, (partly because while I am educating myself on marxism, I don't quite have a solid grasp on ideology), I suspect the answer is that these distinctions are much blurrier in the south.
It is a rather rambly book, but if you doublespeed or even triple speed with the audiobook you'll get to the part about the orangeburg massacre maybe 5-10 minutes after the 6% mark. that's particularly informative & helpful. Also the charleston church massacre section basically told what the jobs/roles of leaders entail.
It was cool to know that bicycles are common in some places. It was cool to learn why people use mowers for driving.
The dude was of a family with several rental properties & was in his area relatively rich. But yeah, his mom was able to get him $1000 seed money for a campaign,and then he had a family of about 200 people, and he talked like it was standard fare for people who say they don't have money. He did say that when someone fails they let a whole bunch of people besides themselves down, so that was honest & good.
So anywho, while I do somewhat struggle to figure out whether this is radical or bourgeois, (partly because while I am educating myself on marxism, I don't quite have a solid grasp on ideology), I suspect the answer is that these distinctions are much blurrier in the south.
A really interesting glimpse into a part of the world I'm not familiar with at all. I would have loved more time spent on his childhood and family. Career progression was less interesting to me.
“When I say that Denmark is a part of the forgotten South, I mean that the simple dignities we all expect as humans, such as clean water, a community hospital, and more than one grocery store, are ignored.”
This is a must-read, especially for Americans. Throughout reading “My Vanishing Country,” I was wishing we were assigned books like this in school.
Sellers, an American attorney, political commentator, and politician, talks of the forgotten South, which is lacking in resources and opportunities. He describes his father’s significant role in Black liberation movements. Sellers brings us into his political journey, and his goals to fight for his community.
It’s one thing hearing statistics of Black maternal health disparities, but something else altogether to be with Sellers in the hospital room, seeing his first hand experiences. It hits harder.
This is a must-read, especially for Americans. Throughout reading “My Vanishing Country,” I was wishing we were assigned books like this in school.
Sellers, an American attorney, political commentator, and politician, talks of the forgotten South, which is lacking in resources and opportunities. He describes his father’s significant role in Black liberation movements. Sellers brings us into his political journey, and his goals to fight for his community.
It’s one thing hearing statistics of Black maternal health disparities, but something else altogether to be with Sellers in the hospital room, seeing his first hand experiences. It hits harder.
I cannot recommend this book enough. It is extremely powerful. I laughed, I cried and I mourned with Sellers.
I half listened and half read this memoir. Politics, activism, South Carolina are the big themes; even though terrible things happen to Sellers, the book leaves you hopeful. He's really inspiring and we need more honest leaders like him.
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Very well-done! You literally walk through the most monumental moments in this mans life — and if you’re a millennial, South Carolinian you can almost pinpoint when these stories took place. Bakari did an excellent job weaving in the unknown historical occurrences with how they impacted him and his family. He writes in a way that is full of Southern charisma. He also pays so much respect to those who influenced/supported him. I enjoyed his memoir and would recommend it to others.
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
I greatly enjoyed many parts of this book. I try to read more & more books about race, so my actions and thoughts will be more anti-racist.
The author shared many personal life events (and those of his family's) viewed through his lens, and this helps me understand the racism black men & women are facing.
He comes across as genuine and overall, a caring person.
Yet, I felt he over-simplified or just ignored the corruption of politics and other reasons people vote party lines beyond race, but overall, that was a pretty small portion of the book.
Overall, an enjoyable read about Barkari Seller's life.
The author shared many personal life events (and those of his family's) viewed through his lens, and this helps me understand the racism black men & women are facing.
He comes across as genuine and overall, a caring person.
Yet, I felt he over-simplified or just ignored the corruption of politics and other reasons people vote party lines beyond race, but overall, that was a pretty small portion of the book.
Overall, an enjoyable read about Barkari Seller's life.