For a nation that often optimistically claims to be post-racial; we are still mired in the practices of racial inequality that plays out in law; policy; and in our local communities. One of two explanations is often given for this persistent phenomenon: On the one hand; we might be hypocritical—saying one thing; and doing or believing another; on the other; it might have little to do with us individually but rather be inherent to the structure of American society.More Beautiful and More Terrible compels us to think beyond this insufficient dichotomy in order to see how racial inequality is perpetuated. Imani Perry asserts that the U.S. is in a new and distinct phase of racism that is “post-intentionalâ€: neither based on the intentional discrimination of the past; nor drawing upon biological concepts of race. Drawing upon the insights and tools of critical race theory; social policy; law; sociology and cultural studies; she demonstrates how post-intentional racism works and maintains that it cannot be addressed solely through the kinds of structural solutions of the Left or the values arguments of the Right. Rather; the author identifies a place in the middle—a space of “righteous hopeâ€â€”and articulates a notion of ethics and human agency that will allow us to expand and amplify that hope.To paraphrase James Baldwin; when talking about race; it is both more terrible than most think; but also more beautiful than most can imagine; with limitless and open-ended possibility. Perry leads readers down the path of imagining the possible and points to the way forward.
#6338348 in Books 2000-12-01 2000-12-01Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 1.06 x 5.80 x 8.98l; 1.32 #File Name: 0814722148224 pages
Review
15 of 16 people found the following review helpful. A drink of water in a parched landscapeBy BHThis is a phenomenal resource. It is the first attempt; that I know of at least; to try and catalogue the mythology of a culture that at worst was a contemporary of the ancient Greeks. I'll be honest and say that I'm biased in regards to anything Albanian (I'm from Kosova) but I got a huge kick out of this. I flipped through with my mother and was able to find entries for monsters and tales she had told me while I was growing up codified by genuine certified academic types!Much if not most Albanian folklore is handed down via an oral tradition that extends back to before Christ. It is a beautiful thing but being oral it dies if no one remembers it; that is exactly what I am afraid is going to happen. As someone who has been to the region many; many times I think it imperative that the knowledge of the oldest generations be recorded before they pass on. If not then all you'll be left with is people like myself; who have but a pale echo of that tradition of myth and legend.The only downside to this fantastic book is that it is so very limited. It is obvious that material exists for a much more in depth examination of this amazing trove. Some doctoral candidates out there have enough raw materials for 100 theses. Get hopping!
