Order from a Major Online Bookstore
Ultimate Book Price Comparison Engine
Save Your Time And Money
| AnyBook4Less.com | Order from a Major Online Bookstore |
|
| Home | Store List | FAQ | Contact Us | | ||
| Ultimate Book Price Comparison Engine Save Your Time And Money |
||
 |
Title: Losing the Race: Self-Sabotage in Black America by John H. Mcwhorter ISBN: 0-684-83669-6 Publisher: Free Press Pub. Date: 18 August, 2000 Format: Hardcover Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $24.00 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.02 (124 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: A Much-Needed Wake-up Call for the Black Community!
Comment: This is unquestionably the best piece of factual non-fiction scholarship I have ever read. John McWhorter hits the nail right on the head in eloquently explaining the three "cults" that plague us as Black Americans - Victomology, Separatism, and particularly ANTI-INTELLECTUALISM. As a young Black man whose dearly departed mother instilled in him the value of education at an early age, who did well in school, and who was viciously ostracized and ridiculed by his Black peers for "actin' white" as a result, reading LOSING THE RACE represents the ultimate validation for me. The fact that so many Black young people see not only academic success, but a mere love of learning as something "not BLACK" is a CULTURAL problem I have witnessed my entire life. I realized in reading McWhorter's book that I am not alone.
The many anecdotes he gives poignantly and accurately explains the Black American self-induced psychological phobia of anything scholarly: how Black freshmen accepted at Berkeley after affirmative action was repealed (i.e. because of their high academic prowess and not their skin color) were looked upon as "OREOS" by the Black preference-benefitting upper-classmen; how when he was growing up one of his childhood friends had his little sister slap him for correctly spelling the word "CONCRETE"; how, while in graduate school, after engaging the professor in a discussion on the Swahili verb TO BE - a subject of dear interest to him - some other Black grad students approached him afterwards asking "whether or not he was a TRUE BROTHA." While reading, I had flashbacks of my own childhood experiences of being dissed almost daily by my own "people" for being smart and having the audacity to actually ENJOY school.
For years I have grown sick and tired of liberal "blacker than thou" pseudo-intellectuals who claim to have MY best interests at heart as a Black American. They blame all of our problems on racism, constantly making us out to be victims - even 30-plus years after the Civil Rights Movement! Yet, they are never willing to turn the microscope on us as Black Americans and how we should take responsibility for the ways in which we do ourselves in, but are quick to try to censor, berate, and/or brand as a "traitor" someone like McWhorter for doing so, all for the so-called crime of "airing our dirty laundry." If I, the youngest of six children and the product of a broken home in inner-city Cleveland, OH, can graduate high school VALEDICTORIAN, become the first college graduate in my family, earn a master's degree, and ultimately become a diplomat for the U.S. government, then what in God's name is wrong with (suburban) middle-class black students - as the author clearly points out in his discussion of Shaker Heights High School - who attend the best schools, with top-notch teachers, guidance counselors and other educational resources, have college-educated parents and therefore no excuse NOT to succeed, yet STILL choose not to apply themselves, blow off the importance of education, care more about being popular than being smart, and then later on want to turn around and blame "WHITEY" for all of the opportunities that they missed? The three "Cults"as accurately explained by the author are what's wrong.
Furthermore, for those Blacks who fear that this book will serve as "further ammunition for racist Whites to use against us," I say that such an arguement is a copout. We need to stop worrying about what white people think of us and start getting our collective house(s) in order.
This book NEEDED to be written, and I applaud Professor McWhorter for having the guts to write it as passionately and critically as he has. It serves as a much-needed wake-up call for the entire Black community.
Rating: 4
Summary: An excellent look into a troubling issue
Comment: I first heard about John McWhorter from watching him on CSPAN. I was highly intrigued about his new book "Losing the Race: Self-Sabotage in Black America." After two book stores and searching for nearly 2 hours I was finally able to find amazing read. John McWhorter is a visionary for the black community. A leader to follow. His book takes a deep, honest look into the issue of affirmative action and its negative affects on the black community as we enter the 21st century. He bravely provides an articulate, well thought out expose on the effects of 40 years of affirmative action on the black community. While he clearly demonstrates that racism is still a problem to overcome, he steps back from the normal soap box arguement and takes a long hard look inward. His book brings forth the idea that the only way the black community is to succeed in the modern age is to finally, once and for all let go of programs such as affirmative action.
My only complaint about McWhorter's book is that often times he can be a little redundant. He clearly want's to present his argument and I definately get the feeling he truly want's us to understand. But, dont let this stop you reading this wonderfully insiteful book. It is a true eye opener for whites, blacks and people of all races. And though it specifically deals with issues involving black, you can see how many of the problems associated with victomology can affect people of all races.
I would highly recommend this book. It is a true eye opener and hopefully one of many to come. McWhorter is definately the future!
Rating: 4
Summary: Every black teacher should read this book
Comment: I happened to come across an interview of Mr.McWhorter on C-Span's Booknotes. He was talking about his book, and I found the topic interesting and picked it up.I am a teacher in an all black middle-class suburb in New Jersey. The Parents here are teachers,police officers,computer programers,nurses,and ex..In a privilaged crimeless community many of McWhorters claims about a rejection of learning in the black community are true.I have students in class that make all of the statements McWhorter mentioned in his book and it frustrates me.some in the black community associates being smart and having a love for learning as being white and this is a dangerous way of thinking.If to be smart is acting white then to be black is to act dumb.This is not good. McWhorters book is a hard read for a black person because he is speaking the truth and sometimes the truth hurts I struggeled over these pages. This book is not what I would consider racist and can not be compared to The Bell Curve.McWhorter says the problem is not biological but it is culturally, which means the black community can unlearn its bad habit of anti-intellectualism. He actually traces the problem to white racism of the past...slaves not being allowed to read, Jim Crow laws of the South, where it could be dangerous for blacks to try to learn. McWhorter says the black community is not innocent either because now that we have the opportunity to recover a love for education and learning we do not.The only flaw I see in book is that sometimes McWhorter gives his opinions on subjects he did not master. He is a linguist, but feels he is qualified to attack Afrocentricity as some type of quack study, with out really touching on the issue aside from a few paragraphs.I suggest he read Richard Poe's book Black Spark White Fire the arguments are strong especially on the race of the Egyptians who phenotypically look closer to East Africans than to West Africans or Europeans.He ask whether Saddat was a brother, and I had to laugh because one could argue that Saddat is darker and phenotypically looks more African than Mr.McWhorter.He also at times seems a bit sarcastic and insensitive when making his points.Though I believe McWhorters general thesis to be true he would get many more black converts if he would use less harsh language...which I know he will have no problem doing because he is a linguist.I do feel as though any teacher working in a majority black school system should have this book.It is essential to solving the problem.
 |
Title: Authentically Black: Essays for the Black Silent Majority by John H. McWhorter ISBN: 1592400019 Publisher: Gotham Books Pub. Date: 27 January, 2003 List Price(USD): $25.00 |
 |
Title: No Excuses: Closing the Racial Gap in Learning by Stephan Thernstrom, Abigail Thernstrom ISBN: 0743204468 Publisher: Simon & Schuster Pub. Date: 14 October, 2003 List Price(USD): $26.00 |
 |
Title: Doing Our Own Thing: The Degradation of Language and Music and Why We Should, Like, Care by John H. McWhorter ISBN: 1592400167 Publisher: Gotham Books Pub. Date: 09 October, 2003 List Price(USD): $26.00 |
 |
Title: The Content of Our Character : A New Vision of Race In America by Shelby Steele ISBN: 006097415X Publisher: Perennial Pub. Date: 01 September, 1991 List Price(USD): $12.95 |
 |
Title: AMERICA IN BLACK AND WHITE: One Nation, Indivisible by Stephan Thernstrom, Abigail Thernstrom ISBN: 0684844974 Publisher: Simon & Schuster Pub. Date: 02 February, 1999 List Price(USD): $30.95 |
Thank you for visiting www.AnyBook4Less.com and enjoy your savings!
Copyright� 2001-2021 Send your comments
