A powerful polemic on the state of black America that savages the idea of a post-racial society. America’s great promise of equality has always rung hollow in the ears of African Americans. But today the situation has grown even more dire. From the murders of black youth by the police; to the dismantling of the Voting Rights Act; to the disaster visited upon poor and middle-class black families by the Great Recession; it is clear that black America faces an emergency—at the very moment the election of the first black president has prompted many to believe we’ve solved America’s race problem. Democracy in Black is Eddie S. Glaude Jr.'s impassioned response. Part manifesto; part history; part memoir; it argues that we live in a country founded on a “value gapâ€â€”with white lives valued more than others—that still distorts our politics today. Whether discussing why all Americans have racial habits that reinforce inequality; why black politics based on the civil-rights era have reached a dead end; or why only remaking democracy from the ground up can bring real change; Glaude crystallizes the untenable position of black America--and offers thoughts on a better way forward. Forceful in ideas and unsettling in its candor; Democracy In Black is a landmark book on race in America; one that promises to spark wide discussion as we move toward the end of our first black presidency.
#1471882 in Books Douglas M Branson 2016-04-01Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.19 x 1.12 x 6.45l; .0 #File Name: 0803285523336 pagesGreatness in the Shadows Larry Doby and the Integration of the American League
Review
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful. You Can't Judge A Book By Its Cover.By Bill EmblomThis book has a great cover; doesn't it. You may think this is a biography of Larry Doby; but it is not. Be that as it may there are several other reasons I don't like this book. I would rate it one star but that indicates "I hate it." and I don't like the word hate. I got approximately half way through the book and then skimmed the rest. Here's why. The author states on page 5 that Larry Doby was his hero growing up yet it wasn't until he saw the movie on Jackie Robinson in 2013 that he realized Larry Doby was a pioneer in the beginning of integrating the American League. The first half of the book I found to be riddled with mistakes. Here are a few that I caught:1. Page 29 mentions the midget that Bill Veeck sent up to bat in 1951. The author calls him Eddie Pagael. The correct name is Eddie Gaedel.2. Page 66 the author refers to Jim Busby and Chico Carrasquel as "unmemorable players." His opinion but a casual fan of this time period would not consider them to be "unmemorable players."3. Page 70 Walt Dropo is misspelled as Walt Droppo.4. Page 75 includes an inexcusable error. The author states that "One black player from that era is now in the Hall of Fame; Cap Anson; who played for the Chicago White Stockings." My stars! Not only was Cap Anson not an African-American; but he was a bigot largely responsible for African-Americans being excluded from professional baseball.Much of the book contains chapters on Satchel Paige; Mickey Mantle; and Willie Mays; True; the author does point out Hank Greenberg who disrespectfully treated players when he was a general manager. The author also points out the racist attitudes of the Yankees who required a certain image in their players and the bigotry of the Detroit Tigers and especially Tom Yawkey of the Boston Red Sox. Not mentioned is the bigotry of their manager Mike "Pinky" Higgins.Oh yes; one final error I found on the back cover attributed to Bill Brink; a baseball writer for the Pittsburgh Post Gazette: He mentions "From Bill Veeck to Reggie Mantle and Willie Mays..." Who; may I ask is "Reggie Mantle"?I will donate this book to our public library. It will not retain a permanent place in my library.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Errors in the lightBy paulmasIf you are interested in the era of baseball in which the book takes place; or in the process of the integration of the sport; you'll get what you came for in Douglas M. Branson's Greatness in the Shadows: Larry Doby and the Integration of the American League. (I'd love to italicize the title; not an option.) But with all due respect to George F. Will's review blurb; the story is not "wonderfully told" by Branson. In fact; the book reads like scholarly research paper; including the excessive repetition of information to hammer home a point. But this is not; for me; the most egregious fault with Branson's book. Perhaps it is a less-than-professional staff (college student manned?) of the University of Nebraska Press; perhaps it is his editor; perhaps it is Branson's own lack of knowledge of his subject's history; probably it is a combination of all. I won't cite every misspelling; typo; or other grammatical inconsistency; but two errors stand out like Doby's skin color on an all-white baseball field: Eddie Gaedel was the "dwarf" Bill Veeck employed as a novelty batter; not "Eddie Pagael" as noted in text and footnote. And most conspicuous; considering the topic; is the reference to Cap Anson as "one black player from that era who is now in the Hall of Fame..." Anson's negro-ness; perhaps arrived at by viewing his bronze likeness in Cooperstown; will no doubt come as a surprise to the rest of his caucasian ancestry.Perhaps I'm being knit-picky; but I expect a book; especially one so scholarly researched; to be free of content errors that go beyond simple typos.Perhaps a fact checker or proofreader with a passing knowledge of baseball history should have been considered. Also; the first copy of the book sent to me (new) was missing the first 13 pages. Thankfully; replaced it quickly.I've not read any of Mr. Branson's other 19 books; but I hope for the reader's sake; more care was placed in the book's production than in this one. Sorry; Mr. Will; but I'd be embarrassed.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. I have to wonder if anyone was ever elected to ...By Tom BradleyI have to wonder if anyone was ever elected to edit this junk. I thus far have somehow made it through 50 pages loaded with baseball history mistakes. Not sure I have the energy to continue. Warning; save your dollars and don't purchase this mess of a book. Larry Doby wouldn't have favored it.
