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jsisco's review
4.0
I understand that Cohen is writing a political science text and not a history or sociology text, so the non-stop studies and subsequent findings are par for the course. That said, it certainly bogged down the analysis and context when every other page involved a question to urban youth. I love the content of this book and was moved by several of Cohen's chapters, but I certainly think she could have worked on the actual execution of conveying this information to make it a more lively text overall.
natbaldino's review against another edition
5.0
This book felt very important to read amidst all the talk about who is and isn't voting next week. Cohen, always a nuanced writer, uses qualitative and quantitative analysis from BYP100 to look at the complexities of the cultural and political efficacy of black youth in the years following Obama's election. What she finds shouldn't be surprising, but probably is to most readers because of the binary-d ways neoliberalism has casted personal responsibility and agency: you can be both oppressed by systems and make bad decisions! One does not negate the other. In fact, you can be very well aware of both occurring in your lives simultaneously.
Besides that, it was a good look at how feelings of efficacy and citizenship affect the sort of politics one does or does not engage in. Of course white liberals are more outwardly likely to vote, and people from marginalized identity and class-statuses often don't feel the efficacy of voting (because...duh), but undertake community-based "politics" that don't get counted as political.
The last thing to say is that, as always, Cohen's writing is so clear and accessible, even while being packed with data and chart after chart. It is the only sociological book that has felt easy for me to read.
Besides that, it was a good look at how feelings of efficacy and citizenship affect the sort of politics one does or does not engage in. Of course white liberals are more outwardly likely to vote, and people from marginalized identity and class-statuses often don't feel the efficacy of voting (because...duh), but undertake community-based "politics" that don't get counted as political.
The last thing to say is that, as always, Cohen's writing is so clear and accessible, even while being packed with data and chart after chart. It is the only sociological book that has felt easy for me to read.
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