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Some of My Best Friends Are Black: The Strange Story of Integration in America by Tanner Colby
stephaniesteen73's review
3.0
This was a very interesting book. Its core hypothesis was that whites and blacks are not usually friends, and he explores why this is so: we aren't near each other in schools, homes, work or churches. He then goes back historically to show why this was the case.
Definitely a lot to think about! And although history has been bleak, there are some good trends to embrace and to continue in the right direction.
Definitely a lot to think about! And although history has been bleak, there are some good trends to embrace and to continue in the right direction.
myriadreads's review
4.0
Colby's book is well-researched and illuminating, and is absolutely readable due to the author's voice and humor. The book looks at race relations and integration policies from the point of view of the people involved, presenting personal stories and quotes nestled in with historical and cultural context. After reading this book, I understand so much more about integration, mandated busing, redlining, blockbusting, and the state of race relations today. Time well spent.
ari__s's review
3.0
Favorite line in the book: "Your average Catholic will throw an unholy temper tantrum if the priest moves the ten o'clock mass to ten thirty, never mind use the entire church as a racial experiment" (p. 249).
This was an interesting and insightful look at where our country has been and where we are now and how maybe not much has really changed in that frame of time with regard to desegregation based on race. The author's voice helped make a difficult topic accessible and engaging - I enjoy when these books that reflect on society, which is a difficult thing to do because chances are you're going to open the eyes of your readers which can piss them off, are written by people with strong voices that remind you that it's okay to be a little light hearted in tone so long as your brain understands the seriousness.
This was an interesting and insightful look at where our country has been and where we are now and how maybe not much has really changed in that frame of time with regard to desegregation based on race. The author's voice helped make a difficult topic accessible and engaging - I enjoy when these books that reflect on society, which is a difficult thing to do because chances are you're going to open the eyes of your readers which can piss them off, are written by people with strong voices that remind you that it's okay to be a little light hearted in tone so long as your brain understands the seriousness.
kimatron's review
3.0
3.5 stars
I enjoyed the “story,” but some parts were drawn out and maybe a little boring.
I found the data and points-of-view from both sides very interesting.
I enjoyed the “story,” but some parts were drawn out and maybe a little boring.
I found the data and points-of-view from both sides very interesting.
dana_in_denver's review
3.0
Parts of this book were fascinating. Parts of this book were even funny. The author and I are the same age and I appreciated seeing my academic years in the light of history... But even with all of those parts that made the book worth reading, there were still a lot of parts that just dragged on and on. I didn't look forward to reading this book after a long day...
alisse's review
4.0
The only reason I’m giving this book 4/5 stars is because in the six short years since it was published so much has changed. And so much has not changed.
That being said, this is an excellent book. Looking at four separate areas of segregation in America—schools, neighborhoods, businesses, churches—and using the author’s background, as a white man growing up in the segregationist south, makes these stories eye-opening, critical, and personal. I appreciated Colby’s candor about his whiteness, and the fact that he didn’t pull any punches. This book was clearly very well-researched, and Colby spent time and care collecting these stories.
This was not what I expected this book to be, and I’ve been surprised in the best possible way. We need more books like this—books that look at our history with a discerning eye, show where we are still lacking, but also showing what could be. This isn’t a perfect book; that book doesn’t exist. But I think the writing and style here make the topic of segregation approachable enough that perhaps people (white people) can learn from it. And not just sweep our dark history (and present) under the rug.
That being said, this is an excellent book. Looking at four separate areas of segregation in America—schools, neighborhoods, businesses, churches—and using the author’s background, as a white man growing up in the segregationist south, makes these stories eye-opening, critical, and personal. I appreciated Colby’s candor about his whiteness, and the fact that he didn’t pull any punches. This book was clearly very well-researched, and Colby spent time and care collecting these stories.
This was not what I expected this book to be, and I’ve been surprised in the best possible way. We need more books like this—books that look at our history with a discerning eye, show where we are still lacking, but also showing what could be. This isn’t a perfect book; that book doesn’t exist. But I think the writing and style here make the topic of segregation approachable enough that perhaps people (white people) can learn from it. And not just sweep our dark history (and present) under the rug.
lareinebee's review
4.0
I learned SO MUCH from this book, which offers stories and case studies in the history of integration, specifically in schools, housing, employment, and church — focusing on Alabama and Louisiana as places that exemplify and illuminate trends and events all over the country.
Though dry at times, and definitely containing some outdated race-related terms, overall it’s very engaging and enlightening to learn more loved detail about the various black experiences throughout and how all of the pieces got us where we are now, good and bad.
This book should be part of high school history courses — we all know a small section on emancipation, segregation, and Jim Crow one month out of the year is criminal. There is so much more to the process of desegregation, which can only be understood by listening to real stories about every day people from all sides.
Though dry at times, and definitely containing some outdated race-related terms, overall it’s very engaging and enlightening to learn more loved detail about the various black experiences throughout and how all of the pieces got us where we are now, good and bad.
This book should be part of high school history courses — we all know a small section on emancipation, segregation, and Jim Crow one month out of the year is criminal. There is so much more to the process of desegregation, which can only be understood by listening to real stories about every day people from all sides.
in2reading's review
3.0
I learned a lot from this book. The author writes in a very readable and slightly sarcastic tone, and what he learned from his research and talking to various black and white people in some of the most segregated areas of the country proved illuminating. I got a new understanding of how well meaning laws in education and fair housing didn't work well and why so many churches all over the country are homogeneous. I think this book contributes to a better understanding of black-white relationships in the U.S.
lessismoi's review
5.0
Looks at race relations from the perspective of four separate histories/storylines: school integration in greater Birmingham, AL; housing policy in Kansas City; equal employment opportunity in the advertising industry; and the slow process of reintegrating a Catholic church in rural Louisiana. Plenty of examples of how well-meaning public policy, in many cases, made matters worse. Plenty of examination of how integration vs. self-reliance has served black communities (the examples in the book generally come down on the side of integration, but let's face it - real and successful integration has been a long time in coming, and we're still working on it). I was familiar with some of the ideas in this book, but learned a lot.