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A review by aebrossbooks
The South: Jim Crow and Its Afterlives by Adolph L. Reed Jr.
informative
fast-paced
5.0
One of the most powerful tools we have at our disposal is the ability to listen to the voices who have lived through the history of the world. And while the people who share them cannot always be here, the records they leave behind are valuable Windows into those periods that have come before.
Adolf L. Reed, Jr. shares his experience of the Jim Crow South as a Black person growing up in it. He paints a picture of a social structure that wasn't always overt, but was always present and threatened the lives of the Black individuals who were surrounded by it. He is also careful to explain that while there has been progress, there is still a social order that undergirds much of the South and the United States in its entirety that very much sees BIPOC individuals as lesser than.
However, and perhaps more importantly, the author takes the time to highlight how weak white supremacy truly is. It is perpetuated by the myths that it can sell to people. The author illustrates that while horrendous and dangerous, the Jim Crow era and the white people holding power during it fell to pieces fairly quickly. White supremacy can only be perpetuated as much as people believe the lies that it tells.
I definitely recommend this read. It's important to educate ourselves by listening to the voices of those who have experienced far more than we have.
Adolf L. Reed, Jr. shares his experience of the Jim Crow South as a Black person growing up in it. He paints a picture of a social structure that wasn't always overt, but was always present and threatened the lives of the Black individuals who were surrounded by it. He is also careful to explain that while there has been progress, there is still a social order that undergirds much of the South and the United States in its entirety that very much sees BIPOC individuals as lesser than.
However, and perhaps more importantly, the author takes the time to highlight how weak white supremacy truly is. It is perpetuated by the myths that it can sell to people. The author illustrates that while horrendous and dangerous, the Jim Crow era and the white people holding power during it fell to pieces fairly quickly. White supremacy can only be perpetuated as much as people believe the lies that it tells.
I definitely recommend this read. It's important to educate ourselves by listening to the voices of those who have experienced far more than we have.