This is a particularly powerful story that stands out in the prison memoir genre. This is a story about three generations of a family, they are sort oThis is a particularly powerful story that stands out in the prison memoir genre. This is a story about three generations of a family, they are sort of a great migration success story and even become homeowners in DC....and then all hell brakes loose. Drugs and gangs erode the neighborhood, people get addicted, people witness violence, people get hurt, people lose hope, and people get a bad hand dealt to them and then make bad decisions. Wilson uses his incarceration to transform himself, which is totally inspiring. What I found illuminating is how difficult re-entry is, even for a guy like the author. There are just so many barriers, some in the system and some about societal attitudes. The book is about 100 pages too long for me to assign my undergrads, but it's totally worth reading. Pairs well with D. Watkins...more
A dense but brief book, Felber packs a lot into less than 200 pages. His thesis is basically that (1) the Nation of Islam was at the forefront of the A dense but brief book, Felber packs a lot into less than 200 pages. His thesis is basically that (1) the Nation of Islam was at the forefront of the prisoner's rights movement, (2) aggressive policing and government surveillance techniques applied to the early NOI were what triggered key riots in the long hot summers, and (3) a combination of racism and Islamophobia influenced how pretty much everyone understood the Nation. I don't agree with all of Felber's analysis, but I can say that this book is totally worth reading. It's very well researched, thought provoking, and the endnotes are very good.
Pretty good book, would be great for the YA audience. A little jargon-y at times, but one of the better "don't be a racist" books to come out in recenPretty good book, would be great for the YA audience. A little jargon-y at times, but one of the better "don't be a racist" books to come out in recent years....more
Wow. Just a wonderful book. After reading this, I don't know how anyone could dislike her. There's the expected stuff about growing up in Black ChicagWow. Just a wonderful book. After reading this, I don't know how anyone could dislike her. There's the expected stuff about growing up in Black Chicago and living in the White House, but there's also so much insight about marriage, careers, and parenting.
I've seen the author do presentations at academic conferences and I couldn't wait for this book to come out. Densely researched, this is history writtI've seen the author do presentations at academic conferences and I couldn't wait for this book to come out. Densely researched, this is history written for historians - and it's absolutely outstanding. Attica is one of the defining moments of the 1970s and its legacy still ripples throughout American society today. Thompson's meticulous sleuthing covers all sides: prison conditions, the riot, Rockefeller's cover up, and the ongoing litigation. Whether you were an inmate or a CO, the state threw you under the bus. ...more
A very important and underappreciated history, this book points towards a lot of future research to be done on minor league integration. Choppy prose A very important and underappreciated history, this book points towards a lot of future research to be done on minor league integration. Choppy prose makes this tough to read, but it's a quick book and should def be checked out by anyone researching race and baseball. Comprehensive review in the journal "Nine" forthcoming.......more
Densely written, deeply researched, and cogently argued. This is history for historians, and that is a very high compliment. Building on the legendaryDensely written, deeply researched, and cogently argued. This is history for historians, and that is a very high compliment. Building on the legendary work of Capitalism & Slavery and many others, Baptist uncovers new primary sources to convincingly argue that American capitalism thrived because slavery was so profitable. Behind this is the demolition of the argument that slavery was a pre-modern arrangement destined to die out. Instead, slavery is presented for what it truly is: tremendously profitable, horrendously violent, and utterly disgraceful. We owe the abolitionists of old a great debt for their work. These brave activists faced odds far more daunting than any challenge today...and they won.
One of the best books I've read in a long time, and that's not surprising because Bryant wrote the first good sports book I ever read Shut Out: A StorOne of the best books I've read in a long time, and that's not surprising because Bryant wrote the first good sports book I ever read Shut Out: A Story of Race and Baseball in Boston and the best sports biography I ever read The Last Hero: A Life of Henry Aaron. This is saying a lot because I'm a jaded history professor who reads for a living.
Incisive analysis of sport, race, patriotism, and society. Factual and deeply researched. Well written, and just about every page of my copy has underlining and stars all over it. I really can't say anything more positive about a book.
Thesis: The Heritage is one of protest. This has collided with an increasingly authoritarian culture and a post 9/11 world that conflates cops with soldiers and lionizes these professionals as heroes. Kaepernick and others speak truth to power in this climate, and it's explosive. ...more
Def a book for professors, but that's okay because I'm one of them. Mandatory for any graduate seminar on 19th cen US history or the Civil War, about Def a book for professors, but that's okay because I'm one of them. Mandatory for any graduate seminar on 19th cen US history or the Civil War, about a dozen essays that pretty much outline the state of the art for Reconstruction historiography an with notes that point towards further research. Every piece could stand on its own as a worthwhile journal article, and I wouldn't be surprised if most or all of these evolved into a book sometime soon. My favorites were Carole Emberton's piece about feeling emotion as a professional historian and Thavolia Glymph's essay about contrabands being America's first refugees.. A couple were overly analytical and jargon-heavy, but most were very insightful and made me think about Civil War and Reconstruction in a slightly new way - this would be a great companion piece to Eric Foner's magisterial "Reconstruction." This anthology grew out of a 2011 conference at Yale (I was there), they hold one every year that is free and open to the public. ...more
A pretty predictable piece of black radical analysis. For the most part I didn't learn much but there are some really interesting sections about how pA pretty predictable piece of black radical analysis. For the most part I didn't learn much but there are some really interesting sections about how police departments are basically dragnets for public revenue and a lot of great quotes from prominent African American writers throughout the text. Methodologically, much of the research is internet based and citations are generally linked to articles from places like Daily Beast, The Guardian, Huffington Post, and Democracy Now. The conclusion has a lot of talk about radical Marxism, Gramsci quotes, and some standard lefty jargon about the inherently racist nature of capitalism.
It's only mid-February, but I'm calling this best book of the year. Theoharis has a masterpiece here (as if the Rosa Parks biography wasn't). Fresh reIt's only mid-February, but I'm calling this best book of the year. Theoharis has a masterpiece here (as if the Rosa Parks biography wasn't). Fresh research, beautiful writing, timely subject, and poignant analysis - this book is incredible. I'm a professor specializing in the Civil Rights Movement so I've read a lot of books on the subject, and this truly is a standout.
In a few words: YOUNG PEOPLE were huge in the civil rights movement and WOMEN were vital to its success but these groups often get underappreciated by the way history is presented. The STRUGGLE was ONGOING in places other than the south, and riots happened after years (decades) of neglect from city government. MLK and the movement itself was deeply UNPOPULAR for its radicalism and its tactics. Our heroes were hated in their time.
This is a BEAUTIFUL history of courage and community. This is a TERRIBLE history that shouldn't have had to happen - and it will be terrible if we misremember what happened....more
Maybe I liked this anthology more than I should, but I live in NY (not the city) and I'm a specialist in Civil Rights Movement history. The premise ofMaybe I liked this anthology more than I should, but I live in NY (not the city) and I'm a specialist in Civil Rights Movement history. The premise of this book is that NYC belongs on the mental map of the Black Freedom Struggle right along side Selma and Montgomery. This anthology is sort of a scholarly mixtape in that every chapter is either adapted from a larger work or developed into a book later on, so it's a good way to get exposed to recent historiography and pick which subjects/authors you want to read more about later.
My favorite chapters were Brian Purnell on Brooklyn CORE and their direct action to get better city services like garbage clean up. I also really liked Martha Biondi's piece on CUNY's open admissions policy and how it helped build a Black and Latino middle class in the city. Biondi shows that there's lots of ways to make a difference....more
A fast read, and totally worthwhile for anyone who wants to know about sport, celebrity, and protest. This book tells the story of Hodges' road to theA fast read, and totally worthwhile for anyone who wants to know about sport, celebrity, and protest. This book tells the story of Hodges' road to the NBA and his rapid exit from the league - the result of what he thinks was retribution for being so outspoken. Learned facts: he met Bush I at the White House rocking full traditional African garb, Hodges tried getting a boycott of the NBA finals to prove a point, and Hodges bankrolled the upstart career of R. Kelley (who proceeded to seduce his wife, scumbag).
I wish the book covered Hodges' post-NBA life better. He went on to a career in coaching, it would have been great to see how his philosophies of the game and life played out there. ...more
A comprehensively researched story of a little-known civil rights group that was a sibling organization to SNCC. Loaded with facts and details, this iA comprehensively researched story of a little-known civil rights group that was a sibling organization to SNCC. Loaded with facts and details, this is truly history for historians. I can't imagine an average (or even good) reader getting into this, but it's a must for scholars and specialists interested in religion and the civil rights movement. 5* for legit research, 2* for readability - not the author's fault at all, anytime a groundbreaking book like this comes out it's gonna be a tough one to wade through. I most recommend chapter 4 about how white volunteers continued working with Charles Sherrod and the Albany Movement in the Black Power years. ...more
A nice and quick read for this who are pretty sure racism is alive and well in America (surprise!) and want to see someone wax eloquently. Not much neA nice and quick read for this who are pretty sure racism is alive and well in America (surprise!) and want to see someone wax eloquently. Not much new or exciting here in terms of content or analysis, but applying the good old fashioned nineteenth century racial Jeremiad perfected by Frederick Douglass to the current situation is a neat novelty that makes this book a worthy contribution to the way we discuss race nowadays. ...more
Shetterly does a great job tying in the NASA workers' lives with broader developments in the space race and the civil rights movement. A nice book thaShetterly does a great job tying in the NASA workers' lives with broader developments in the space race and the civil rights movement. A nice book that fills a lacunae in our awareness of the periods. A groundbreaking stork of woman in science in the 1950s and 1960s, and an awkward place for a Black woman to be in segregated Virginia at the time. ...more
Still, this is a worthy book if you're interested in the Civil Rights Movement as it stood around 1963/4. The press describes this as akin to having a book of first hand interviews from the American or Russian Revolution, and that's not far from a stretch.
Who Speaks is a landmark that I can't believe it's taken me this long to read, especially given Warren's literary pedigree. If you're preparing to dive into this one, I highly recommend reading or audiobooking All the King's Men because it has very incisive moments that reveal how Warren things about the human condition.
The eminent historian August Meier wrote a tough review on this, saying it didn't reveal much to those who were in the know (and he was probably right), but if nothing else the last chapter is a real keeper. This is where Warren writes in his own voice. A southern voice. A voice that speaks of idealism, justice, and doing what is right. Not right in some abstract sense, but right in terms of self-interest. Pure pragmatism here, and that's the American way.
Lastly, FWIW, David Blight did a knock-up job on the intro, definatly got me in the mood to dive into this book. ...more
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