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dcunitz's review against another edition
5.0
"If the streets shackled my right leg, the schools shackled my left."
wogslandwriter's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
This is one of the best books I have ever read. Coates is eloquent and visceral with his writing while also not abandoning AAVE for the King's English. The audiobook is read by the author and he does a phenomenal job. He is a great speaker and writer. It is a short book that I plan to read again because I know I will get more out of it. I am certain I missed things in the nuance and depth of his words that I just am not able to or ready to full understand right now.
I highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone.
I highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Death, Grief, Classism, Hate crime, Colonisation, Racism, Slavery, and Police brutality
Moderate: Violence and Gun violence
Minor: Cannibalism, Bullying, and Alcohol
bluemondayy's review against another edition
4.0
"Perhaps there has been, at some point in history, some great power whose elevation was exempt from the violent exploitation of other human bodies. If there has been, I have yet to discover it. But this banality of violence can never excuse America, because America makes no claim to the banal. America believes itself exceptional, the greatest and noblest nation ever to exist, a long champion standing between the white city of democracy and the terrorists, despots, barbarians, and other enemies of civilization. One cannot, at once, claim to be superhuman and then plead mortal error."
Powerful on a micro and macro level.
Powerful on a micro and macro level.
dizzyizzyy's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
fast-paced
5.0
tess98's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
4.0
vmusing's review against another edition
5.0
“Never forget that we were enslaved in this country longer than we have been free.”
dharris's review against another edition
5.0
This was a book that came across my radar, unexpectedly. I had never even heard of this book until it came across my radar. However, I'm very glad it did.
This book is raw, unfiltered, and true emotion. I feel it was passionately written from a father to a son, about what it was like and still is like, to be a black man in America. Even though I hate that this was the experience of the author, I know it's his truth, and probably many others too. This book had a way of making me feel uncomfortable, and really helped me to understand the privileges that have been granted to me, for nothing other than my skin color.
As someone who grew up with a rough background, the culture of growing up in a poor neighborhood didn't surprise me at all. Not as many differences between being poor as you may think (just my truth). What surprised me was that no matter how successful you become, or how much you remove yourself from that situation, the racism that has embedded itself into this country's founding, can still take down the most successful and affluent African American person. This is something foreign to white folks, and a key difference between poor white, and poor black. As stated in the book, " your only one act of racism away." I never thought when I was a young poor kid that there wasn't hope, because I knew if I worked hard and did well, I would be successful. The author goes to great links to vividly express that this isn't his experience, and I imagine this is true for many other minorities as well. This truth startled me, and should startle us all, but it truly has given me a better perspective. I can see why this is on the list for books every white person should read. I would highly recommend.
This book is raw, unfiltered, and true emotion. I feel it was passionately written from a father to a son, about what it was like and still is like, to be a black man in America. Even though I hate that this was the experience of the author, I know it's his truth, and probably many others too. This book had a way of making me feel uncomfortable, and really helped me to understand the privileges that have been granted to me, for nothing other than my skin color.
As someone who grew up with a rough background, the culture of growing up in a poor neighborhood didn't surprise me at all. Not as many differences between being poor as you may think (just my truth). What surprised me was that no matter how successful you become, or how much you remove yourself from that situation, the racism that has embedded itself into this country's founding, can still take down the most successful and affluent African American person. This is something foreign to white folks, and a key difference between poor white, and poor black. As stated in the book, " your only one act of racism away." I never thought when I was a young poor kid that there wasn't hope, because I knew if I worked hard and did well, I would be successful. The author goes to great links to vividly express that this isn't his experience, and I imagine this is true for many other minorities as well. This truth startled me, and should startle us all, but it truly has given me a better perspective. I can see why this is on the list for books every white person should read. I would highly recommend.