Scan barcode
A review by rinnyssance
Black Privilege: Opportunity Comes to Those Who Create It by Charlamagne Tha God
5.0
I've been listening to Charlamange Tha God on the radio since Wendy. At first, I despised him. Then, I grew to respect him. As the years have gone by, I started to like him because he grew as a person and a radio personality I appreciated that. So when he announced he was releasing a book, I thought, "cool." Then I heard it was titled "Black Privilege" and I thought, "Oh boy." I hadn't dug into the press releases regarding the book at all. Nor did I read any other reviews before reading on my 12-hour flight. So I had no expectations before reading besides what I hear on The Breakfast Club and the few episodes of his podcast I'd heard.I have to say, I was very impressed with this book. I like to think of it in two parts, it's an autobiography and a self-help book. So I'm going to review it in these two parts.
Autobiographically, the book was very honest and relatable. I appreciated that he was honest about all of the mistakes he'd made in his childhood, and all the failures he had to overcome in the space of his career. I loved the tone of the anecdotes, which read just like Charlamange, and was humorous throughout. If you've somewhat followed Charlamange's career, this is a good look inside of what his life was like and why and how he got to where he is at this point. I liked that he didn't make any excuses for any stupid things he'd done, nor did he disrespect anybody else involved in the stories he told. I was surprised at some parts of the story, interested and fully immersed in the story, and in others, I was laughing nonstop because something was relatable or amusing.
As far as the self-help part of the book, I felt it was pretty common self-help advice you can find in any other book. Although, I don't think his target audience is a self-help audience, so I see the value in the message. That made a difference to me. I've read plenty of self-help books and I've never seen one that targets the specific audience Charlamange appeals to, and I'd say he tied all of his wisdom in well. I was especially impressed with his ability not only to use "respectable" anecdotes to moralize a lesson but ones that are less conventional as well.
For anybody put off by the title, I would say you're missing out. The book has little to nothing to do with the title at all, and in fact, the author never talks about "privilege" in the book at all. The book is more about opportunity and his unique journey toward his calling and the lessons he learned in between getting in trouble with the law, getting fired, taking a leap and moving away from everything he'd known and becoming one of the most popular radio hosts in the country. If you let the title turn you off to the book completely, you'll miss out on a real gem.
Charlamange used to seem like a huge jackass to me but after reading, I realized just how much he has grown to be a better person while preserving the essence that made him a radio star. The book is tactful and well-planned. A quick and easy read for people who are pressed for time. And I thoroughly enjoyed it. I did not think I would be giving this book five stars but here I am.
Autobiographically, the book was very honest and relatable. I appreciated that he was honest about all of the mistakes he'd made in his childhood, and all the failures he had to overcome in the space of his career. I loved the tone of the anecdotes, which read just like Charlamange, and was humorous throughout. If you've somewhat followed Charlamange's career, this is a good look inside of what his life was like and why and how he got to where he is at this point. I liked that he didn't make any excuses for any stupid things he'd done, nor did he disrespect anybody else involved in the stories he told. I was surprised at some parts of the story, interested and fully immersed in the story, and in others, I was laughing nonstop because something was relatable or amusing.
As far as the self-help part of the book, I felt it was pretty common self-help advice you can find in any other book. Although, I don't think his target audience is a self-help audience, so I see the value in the message. That made a difference to me. I've read plenty of self-help books and I've never seen one that targets the specific audience Charlamange appeals to, and I'd say he tied all of his wisdom in well. I was especially impressed with his ability not only to use "respectable" anecdotes to moralize a lesson but ones that are less conventional as well.
For anybody put off by the title, I would say you're missing out. The book has little to nothing to do with the title at all, and in fact, the author never talks about "privilege" in the book at all. The book is more about opportunity and his unique journey toward his calling and the lessons he learned in between getting in trouble with the law, getting fired, taking a leap and moving away from everything he'd known and becoming one of the most popular radio hosts in the country. If you let the title turn you off to the book completely, you'll miss out on a real gem.
Charlamange used to seem like a huge jackass to me but after reading, I realized just how much he has grown to be a better person while preserving the essence that made him a radio star. The book is tactful and well-planned. A quick and easy read for people who are pressed for time. And I thoroughly enjoyed it. I did not think I would be giving this book five stars but here I am.