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sony74 's review for:
An engaging but very frustrating read. I found it very upsetting how one-sided the author is about a subculture that contains so many different elements- both positive & negative. He has a very narrow view of hip-hop. While it is an interesting read, I really HATE the premise & message. The author's racial politics taint every account he gives. I'm not sure he can claim to be a voice for most black men, since his experience of seeking to mimick and be accepted as black are tied to his biracial heritage. This is reinforced by his continous stereotyping. He equates black culture and black people to hip-hop, which is really over simplistic & racist.
As a teaching tool about development, I feel it still has some value because it does speak to many issues faced by most young men growing up, regardless of race. However, I don't see how it could help teachers or administrators think about how to improve institutional support & policy for men of color. It thrives heavily on deficit theories for why black men struggle, & it downplays institutional racism. I think it's a dangerous book to use as a lens into the black college student experience, especially for whites who may have very low racial identity development.
As a teaching tool about development, I feel it still has some value because it does speak to many issues faced by most young men growing up, regardless of race. However, I don't see how it could help teachers or administrators think about how to improve institutional support & policy for men of color. It thrives heavily on deficit theories for why black men struggle, & it downplays institutional racism. I think it's a dangerous book to use as a lens into the black college student experience, especially for whites who may have very low racial identity development.