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transportedlfl's review
4.0
I have long admired Color of Change, where Brandi Collins-Dexter used to be a senior campaign director. So I was pleased to be able to read this book.
The book begins almost like a memoir or biography, telling her father's story. In doing so, it underlines the point that politics are personal. And as the author herself says, they are cultural as well.
This book is trying to do a lot. It is an examination of disillusionment with the Black American Dream. It is unflinching in its critique of the Obama White House and of the Democratic party. It draws on popular culture and equally on the author's experiences. I found the overall ideas included quite powerful.
However, I was not impressed by the execution. The arguments made weren't well organized. Interspersed between the chapters were Interludes. They seemed to hold content that didn't differ much from the chapters, and neither followed chronology or other clear structure. I think a stronger Introduction and flow could have improved the book greatly.
Likewise, I kept waiting for more on the interviews she had conducted of people from a variety of political identities. But they were a much less prominent part of the book than early chapters suggested. When they picked up again at the end of the book, she listened deeply and empathized even with those she didn't agree with. And she was able to portray their views in a way that encouraged me to do the same.
So I am left struggling to sum up my review. The book brings together many different ideas in ways I haven't seen before. Throughout, it made me think. But I felt like another round of editing could have made the book much more persuasive and powerful. And we need a book on this topic.
3.5 stars rounded up
The book begins almost like a memoir or biography, telling her father's story. In doing so, it underlines the point that politics are personal. And as the author herself says, they are cultural as well.
This book is trying to do a lot. It is an examination of disillusionment with the Black American Dream. It is unflinching in its critique of the Obama White House and of the Democratic party. It draws on popular culture and equally on the author's experiences. I found the overall ideas included quite powerful.
However, I was not impressed by the execution. The arguments made weren't well organized. Interspersed between the chapters were Interludes. They seemed to hold content that didn't differ much from the chapters, and neither followed chronology or other clear structure. I think a stronger Introduction and flow could have improved the book greatly.
Likewise, I kept waiting for more on the interviews she had conducted of people from a variety of political identities. But they were a much less prominent part of the book than early chapters suggested. When they picked up again at the end of the book, she listened deeply and empathized even with those she didn't agree with. And she was able to portray their views in a way that encouraged me to do the same.
So I am left struggling to sum up my review. The book brings together many different ideas in ways I haven't seen before. Throughout, it made me think. But I felt like another round of editing could have made the book much more persuasive and powerful. And we need a book on this topic.
3.5 stars rounded up
readswithnatalieb's review
4.0
This is one of those books that’ll stick with me for quite sometime. There were so many informative chapters that introduced me to new perspectives that I, as a white woman, will never fully comprehend. I know I’ll be reflecting on this information for a while, especially with midterms right around the corner.
After reading the synopsis, I was ready for a political book. But when I started, the first part is about Collins-Dexter’s dad, and ultimately, how this story came about. Her dad, Jimmy Collins, was a NCAA basketball star, NBA player, and long-time coach for University of Illinois at Chicago. He influenced this book so if anything, it felt like an ode to him with politics and history mixed in.
For the remainder of the book, the structure didn’t flow too well in my opinion. There were some memoir tidbits, followed up with interviews, historical context, and personal dialogue. It felt a bit all over the place and sort of repetitive in some chapters. Some information is needed multiple times for it to be digested, but at times I felt I was reading the same sentence over and over again.
But the content of the book was extremely eye-opening. From Kanye West, to how Black voters view themselves during elections, how Black voters are not all Democrats (nor should they be categorized that way), to sex workers, to MAGA supporters and so much more. It gave me so much to think about in a whole new perspective that I think everyone should be willing to try.
Given the information of this book and the topics that are covered, I know my review won’t do this justice. However, I will say it’s worth reading ahead of November.
Big thank you to Celadon books for the gifted copy! This is available September 20.
Content warnings: racism, death
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