Scan barcode
Reviews
It Was All a Dream: A New Generation Confronts the Broken Promise to Black America by Reniqua Allen
codyboteler's review
4.0
I changed my review from three to four stars after reflecting on this for some time. I am a young millennial. I will never be a Black millennial, so I will never ever know the experiences written about here.
The stories here are told well and claims are backed up by impeccable research. The book didn’t quite master the balance between academic writing and popular consumption writing, in my mind, but maybe that’s the point. Maybe the book itself is showing the balance that Black millennials have to achieve in their lives.
The stories here are told well and claims are backed up by impeccable research. The book didn’t quite master the balance between academic writing and popular consumption writing, in my mind, but maybe that’s the point. Maybe the book itself is showing the balance that Black millennials have to achieve in their lives.
beverleefernandez's review
5.0
What does the American Dream mean in 2019? Is it a universal dream for all people or does it depend on race/ethnicity, gender, and/or sexuality? Should this dream be modified if it doesn't work in the manner one expects? These are just a few of the questions I had after reading the first chapter of It Was All a Dream. There are no easy answers-the American Dream is thought to be a symbol of success, of "making it" in a world where you're expected to fail. How does the dream manifest itself? This is where one can argue that the dream has been fulfilled if one has the material goods to promote a vision of wealth. In addition to wealth (real or imaginary), there is a social representation to add-the dream includes marriage & children. The children are to be educated at the best elementary and secondary schools, moving on to attend the nation's most prestigious colleges and universities, culminating with landing a coveted position with potential for growth and acclaim. However, this is not the reality for a large number of African Americans. Reniqua Allen challenges the reader to think about how the American Dream or lack thereof has impacted their life. What does it mean to not have access to the resources that make the dream a reality? Who is to blame when one's reality doesn't mirror the dream? Should this even be a cause for concern?
I really, really admire Ms. Allen's writing and research. This is not an easy topic to tackle and it takes a lack of ego to admit their outer appearance is not all good, especially in the age of social media. This book evaluates multiple perspectives from romantic relationships, politics, education/college debt, drug addiction, sex work, and professional career/workplace. The points of view presented are varied between traditional middle class, poor working class, and blue collar. However, their concerns are fairly universal. What really stands out to me is that Allen does not interject her opinion in the text. She lets the research speak for itself loud and clear. The multitude of voices led me to conclude that the American Dream is outdated and not the vision I want for me. That doesn't mean that I or anyone else who isn't in search of a supposed dream is unworthy. It means that we, like previous generations, are fighting to live on our terms rather than under a gaze of inferiority.
One thing I didn't really think about reading-how BLM (Black Lives Matter) has faded from the national news to a large degree. An answer is given.
Quotes to think about-admittedly hard to choose, but I'll share three. "Women were fierce, independent, hard-working, and feminist(without having to announce it, display it or safety pin it). They made clear all too often that marriage and "happily ever after " was for White girls" (245).
"Maybe our mobility shouldn't always be measured like our White millenial peers. Maybe it's measured in joy and pleasure. If this country was never meant for us anyway, maybe we have to look beyond" (314).
Speaking about the Black middle class-"These are the folks who "make it." Who often find economic and political "success" in the White world, get so-called approval from larger society, but also suffer from unequal economic, social, and housing conditions. They are found in newsrooms, classrooms, and boardrooms, even the White House, yet they remain as misunderstood as ever" (178-179).
I really, really admire Ms. Allen's writing and research. This is not an easy topic to tackle and it takes a lack of ego to admit their outer appearance is not all good, especially in the age of social media. This book evaluates multiple perspectives from romantic relationships, politics, education/college debt, drug addiction, sex work, and professional career/workplace. The points of view presented are varied between traditional middle class, poor working class, and blue collar. However, their concerns are fairly universal. What really stands out to me is that Allen does not interject her opinion in the text. She lets the research speak for itself loud and clear. The multitude of voices led me to conclude that the American Dream is outdated and not the vision I want for me. That doesn't mean that I or anyone else who isn't in search of a supposed dream is unworthy. It means that we, like previous generations, are fighting to live on our terms rather than under a gaze of inferiority.
One thing I didn't really think about reading-how BLM (Black Lives Matter) has faded from the national news to a large degree. An answer is given.
Quotes to think about-admittedly hard to choose, but I'll share three. "Women were fierce, independent, hard-working, and feminist(without having to announce it, display it or safety pin it). They made clear all too often that marriage and "happily ever after " was for White girls" (245).
"Maybe our mobility shouldn't always be measured like our White millenial peers. Maybe it's measured in joy and pleasure. If this country was never meant for us anyway, maybe we have to look beyond" (314).
Speaking about the Black middle class-"These are the folks who "make it." Who often find economic and political "success" in the White world, get so-called approval from larger society, but also suffer from unequal economic, social, and housing conditions. They are found in newsrooms, classrooms, and boardrooms, even the White House, yet they remain as misunderstood as ever" (178-179).
apbryant32's review
3.0
Bahhh!! I want to love this book because I genuinely learned a lot from it, and as someone with great privilege it is important for me to learn as much as I can about the experiences of the oppressed. And I got that from the book, but I just really could not engage with Allen's writing nor the structure of it. Something about the balancing of her story with others' stories and statistics feels off to me. It's not so much a matter of it being bad, I don't think, it's just not a layout that I can easily engage with as a reader.
arisbookcorner's review
4.0
IQ "Maybe our mobility shouldn't always be measured like our White millennial peers. Maybe it's measured in joy and pleasure. If this country was never meant for us anyway, maybe we have to look beyond" (314).
I was initially skeptical because interviewing 75 people didn't seem like it would be enough but it is wide-ranging in perspectives. There's geographic diversity (a needed reminder that there are Black people in Appalachia!) and a variety of perspectives and experiences (a dominatrix!) portrayed. I also appreciated that Allen wove in her personal experiences since she herself is an older Black millennial and had some interesting observations drawn from her own life. And I was relieved to see that the book wasn't entirely focused on older millennials, at one point a few of those interviewed mentioned how impactful the Jena 6 was on them (vs Jesse Jackson running for president) and I literally experienced a wave of recognition and also shame because I haven't thought about that case in so long. But I do vividly remember following it as a kid. The only chapter that felt random was the one on Hollywood. I understand what Allen was trying to say about how the Black middle class experience was represented but I didn't think it needed a whole chapter especially when it started talking to people who wanted to make it in Hollywood. That part felt like it was two different books. I also wish there had been a few interviews with Black millennials who were either upper middle class or were raised that way to see how they fared and what they experienced.
IT WAS ALL A DREAM is a refreshing, reaffirming read that looks at the Black millennial experience and the many ways the American Dream is a myth. It's refreshing because it centers Black millennials who are overlooked when the mainstream media paints a broad brush of the entitled (white) millennial. It will no doubt be eye-opening to those who don't have young Black friends or do much reading but it was also reassuring to be reminded that I was not alone. I knew this from my own friends but it's nice to see your experience reflected beyond your inner circle and seeing it being taken seriously as a topic of study. The book was strongest when it focused on economic anxiety, mental health and how racism permeates every aspect of the Black experience in America. You can't talk about the millennial experience without talking about Black people especially during the covid19 pandemic as Black people of all generations are disproportionately impacted. This book is a must-read (especially for all those now trying to be anti-racist).
OTHER NOTABLE QUOTES
"Love is hard for everyone. But for young Black people in America, it seems damn near impossible. Is it that surprising when we lack the love of our society? We are raised in a society that teaches us to hate ourselves, our bodies, our features, and to hate each other. We are taught that our hair is inappropriate and our skin is too dark. And then we are condemned when we learn to experience love in other ways. Because the history of our love and marriage is different, perhaps our experiences with love are also unique." (252)
"People talk about Black Twitter all the time, but Black Twitter is Twitter. It is the biggest platform in terms of a shared communal space of people with similar interests all around the world vibing on like one big inside joke after another every day. A lot of times just me being in tune to that helps me get through my day. I've got to know what the TL is talking about. The FOMO is so real." (Jasmyn, 102)
I was initially skeptical because interviewing 75 people didn't seem like it would be enough but it is wide-ranging in perspectives. There's geographic diversity (a needed reminder that there are Black people in Appalachia!) and a variety of perspectives and experiences (a dominatrix!) portrayed. I also appreciated that Allen wove in her personal experiences since she herself is an older Black millennial and had some interesting observations drawn from her own life. And I was relieved to see that the book wasn't entirely focused on older millennials, at one point a few of those interviewed mentioned how impactful the Jena 6 was on them (vs Jesse Jackson running for president) and I literally experienced a wave of recognition and also shame because I haven't thought about that case in so long. But I do vividly remember following it as a kid. The only chapter that felt random was the one on Hollywood. I understand what Allen was trying to say about how the Black middle class experience was represented but I didn't think it needed a whole chapter especially when it started talking to people who wanted to make it in Hollywood. That part felt like it was two different books. I also wish there had been a few interviews with Black millennials who were either upper middle class or were raised that way to see how they fared and what they experienced.
IT WAS ALL A DREAM is a refreshing, reaffirming read that looks at the Black millennial experience and the many ways the American Dream is a myth. It's refreshing because it centers Black millennials who are overlooked when the mainstream media paints a broad brush of the entitled (white) millennial. It will no doubt be eye-opening to those who don't have young Black friends or do much reading but it was also reassuring to be reminded that I was not alone. I knew this from my own friends but it's nice to see your experience reflected beyond your inner circle and seeing it being taken seriously as a topic of study. The book was strongest when it focused on economic anxiety, mental health and how racism permeates every aspect of the Black experience in America. You can't talk about the millennial experience without talking about Black people especially during the covid19 pandemic as Black people of all generations are disproportionately impacted. This book is a must-read (especially for all those now trying to be anti-racist).
OTHER NOTABLE QUOTES
"Love is hard for everyone. But for young Black people in America, it seems damn near impossible. Is it that surprising when we lack the love of our society? We are raised in a society that teaches us to hate ourselves, our bodies, our features, and to hate each other. We are taught that our hair is inappropriate and our skin is too dark. And then we are condemned when we learn to experience love in other ways. Because the history of our love and marriage is different, perhaps our experiences with love are also unique." (252)
"People talk about Black Twitter all the time, but Black Twitter is Twitter. It is the biggest platform in terms of a shared communal space of people with similar interests all around the world vibing on like one big inside joke after another every day. A lot of times just me being in tune to that helps me get through my day. I've got to know what the TL is talking about. The FOMO is so real." (Jasmyn, 102)
neverwithoutabook's review against another edition
4.0
This book was so unique and powerful in so many ways. Allen gives us the stories of young Black Americans(Millennials) who are creating, working, fighting, loving, and surviving. From civil rights movement, the economy, political and racial rifts of the post-Obama era, their stories are both heartbreaking and hopeful. This is a must read.
More...