Scan barcode
susanbrooks's review against another edition
4.0
Sung to the tune of “This Land is Your Land”….
The Second Amendment was made for you and me… except if you’re black.
From slave patrols to Breonna Taylor and no-knock warrants, here’s the brutal history.
The Second Amendment was made for you and me… except if you’re black.
From slave patrols to Breonna Taylor and no-knock warrants, here’s the brutal history.
theshadowplay's review against another edition
5.0
Very eye-opening history of why the second amendment exists and it's role in the continuous subjugation of Black people.
nicholslaw's review against another edition
4.0
Dr. Anderson delivers a clear, fascinating, and horrifying overview of why the Second Amendment is only for white people. Knowing that our laws are applied in an unequal manner, this was an eye-opening look at the hypocrisy of gun-living America in determining who can actually own, carry, and use their guns, whether they are legal gun owners (Philando Castile) and/or standing their ground (Kathryn Johnston, Breonna Taylor), or if they are children who are perceived to be a threat merely because of their skin color (Trayvon Martin, Tamir Rice). This book is important but it left me feeling empty, angry, and sad. It left me wanting a little more but I don’t know if Dr. Anderson would be able to give me what I was looking for, which is a way to make this all better.
Also fuck the NRA and defund the police. ✌️
Also fuck the NRA and defund the police. ✌️
alexisgarcia's review against another edition
dark
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.0
this is a really hard read. this is a very very important book but it is incredibly difficult to stomach.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Violence, Death of parent, Blood, Gun violence, Hate crime, Rape, Murder, Grief, Child death, Classism, Death, Police brutality, Racial slurs, and Slavery
marireadstoomuch's review against another edition
5.0
Really effective shift in focus: by articulating the purpose and historical context of the Second Amendment (how and why it came to be, how it has been used through different eras), Anderson allows us to see how discussions about modern-day disparities in the “right to bear arms” are not new issues; instead, these disparities are ingrained in the purpose and repeated application of the Amendment itself.
A shorter read than I anticipated (the research and thus notes are substantial), it is nonetheless covers centuries of law and events. It’s accessible, though aided by a general understanding of US history and systemic racism.
Obviously not a part of my review, but notable that the binding on my copy was quite irritating: the pages consistently stuck together at the spine, which was a bit annoying. Perhaps should have waited for the paperback!
A shorter read than I anticipated (the research and thus notes are substantial), it is nonetheless covers centuries of law and events. It’s accessible, though aided by a general understanding of US history and systemic racism.
Obviously not a part of my review, but notable that the binding on my copy was quite irritating: the pages consistently stuck together at the spine, which was a bit annoying. Perhaps should have waited for the paperback!
charlieb1092's review against another edition
5.0
This was one of my favorite books of 2022 so far. This book takes an unabashed look at the racist history of the Second Amendment and gun rights in America. This should be a required reading for any person who advocates for gun rights in the US. Whether you want stricter or less stringent gun laws, you should know the full history of what you are arguing for or against.
tracithomas's review against another edition
4.0
Carol Anderson is so gifted at taking the racist history of The United States and using it to explain the modern day practices we all live with (and many have experienced first hand). She does this so well in THE SECOND. I really enjoyed reading this book and learned so much. The book is short (only about 165 pages without notes) and so there are huge chunks of time that is missing that I would've appreciated. The book is also very dense at times and moves slowly. What is in the book is great and the ways she leads the reader to draw connections between the creation of the 2nd amendment and the murder of Trayvon Martin is nothing short of extraordinary.
I reread this book on audio with its new paperback epilogue. It is still great.
I reread this book on audio with its new paperback epilogue. It is still great.