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newfylady's review against another edition
5.0
This book is amazing. I recommend it to anyone & everyone. We don't talk about race openly or honestly very often. This book can help us all move in the right direction
nikkinana's review against another edition
4.0
Great book on race relations and the cultural differences that contribute to the gap between cultures in America. Particularly the relationship of blacks and whites.
nicholasgrantgarcia's review against another edition
2.0
It was good. Not worth reading. Didn't like the popcorn style with which she explored topics. Could've been reading something more informative about the same topic.
exmish's review against another edition
4.0
I agree with what another reviewer said - there were some pretty broad generalizations made that I don't find to be true for me or most white Americans I know (e.g. that we don't look black people in the eyes because we feel guilt over historical injustices).
One part really had me shaking my head, though it was a quote of Camille Cosby - where she said that her son's murderer, an immigrant from Ukraine, must have learned his hatred of black people from America because he couldn't possibly have learned it in Ukraine. Having worked with exchange students from Ukraine and Russia for 6 years, I can say that there was plenty of prejudice that came with some of them that had nothing to do with their experiences here (as well as one lovely young lady that lived with us that didn't see color as anything negative, only something interesting :) ).
BUT, I did learn a lot of things from this book that I never would have known (hair flipping as an offense? Seriously?) and I'm grateful for the insights.
One part really had me shaking my head, though it was a quote of Camille Cosby - where she said that her son's murderer, an immigrant from Ukraine, must have learned his hatred of black people from America because he couldn't possibly have learned it in Ukraine. Having worked with exchange students from Ukraine and Russia for 6 years, I can say that there was plenty of prejudice that came with some of them that had nothing to do with their experiences here (as well as one lovely young lady that lived with us that didn't see color as anything negative, only something interesting :) ).
BUT, I did learn a lot of things from this book that I never would have known (hair flipping as an offense? Seriously?) and I'm grateful for the insights.
wealhtheow's review against another edition
4.0
After decades of reporting for the Times, Lena Williams has written an insightful, broad, and personal book about the interactions between white Americans and black Americans that seem minor but stem from larger current issues or bloodier past events. Told largely through anecdotes, with the occasional history lesson or sweeping generalization.
This book is fascinating, not least because it makes it cleaer that there is no One Right Answer to any race-related problem. Williams rightly bemoans the relegation of black teachers to black neighborhoods--but then, if they teach elsewhere and non-black teachers teach the black neighborhoods, you get crazy books like [book: Black students/Middle Class Teachers] and a railing against a lack of suitable role models. There is a disproportionate number of black children in the foster care or adoption systems, and they are permanently adopted at a disproportionately low rate--but should non-black people be allowed to adopt them? To some, it feels disturbingly similar to assimilationist or even culturally genocidal practices of old. Or white people in black establishments--on the one hand, they (unfairly) legitimize it, integrate it, show appreciation for black culture. On the other hand, there's also the history of white people taking and invading black people's spaces and ideas. Williams provides no answers, only the questions.
I wish there were more books like this (I'd love recommendations!), particularly because this one has such a narrow focus and specific time period.
This book is fascinating, not least because it makes it cleaer that there is no One Right Answer to any race-related problem. Williams rightly bemoans the relegation of black teachers to black neighborhoods--but then, if they teach elsewhere and non-black teachers teach the black neighborhoods, you get crazy books like [book: Black students/Middle Class Teachers] and a railing against a lack of suitable role models. There is a disproportionate number of black children in the foster care or adoption systems, and they are permanently adopted at a disproportionately low rate--but should non-black people be allowed to adopt them? To some, it feels disturbingly similar to assimilationist or even culturally genocidal practices of old. Or white people in black establishments--on the one hand, they (unfairly) legitimize it, integrate it, show appreciation for black culture. On the other hand, there's also the history of white people taking and invading black people's spaces and ideas. Williams provides no answers, only the questions.
I wish there were more books like this (I'd love recommendations!), particularly because this one has such a narrow focus and specific time period.
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