America's racial fault lines run uninterrupted from the days of slavery to those of lynchings; separate water fountains; and the contemporary Jim Crow of voter suppression; gerrymandered voting districts; and the attempt to nullify the presidency of America's first Black chief executive. In this book Cornell Belcher presents stunning new research that illuminates just how deep and jagged these racial fault lines continue to be. Cornell has surveyed battleground voters from 2008 through the 2016 primary season; tracking racial aversion and its impact over the course of the Obama presidency. Given the heightened racial aversion as a consequence of the first non-white male living in the White House; the rise of Trump was a predictable backlash. The election of the nation's first Black president does not mean that we live in a post-racial society; it means that we are now at a critical historical tipping point demographically and culturally in America and this tipping point is indeed the wolf at the door for many anxious white Americans. The panicked response of the waning white majority to what they perceive as the catastrophe of a Black president can be heard in every cry to take back our country. This panic has resulted in the elevation of an overt and unapologetic racist as the nominee of one of America's major political parties. Let's be clear; as Belcher points out: there isn't any going back. America's changing population and the continued globalization of our marketplaces won't allow it. In order to compete and win the future; America must let go of the historic tribal pecking order and a system gamed to favor the old ruling white elite. To paraphrase DuBois; 'The problem of the twenty-first century remains the color line.'
#833236 in Books Savas Beatie 2012-09-19 2012-10-03Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.27 x 1.65 x 6.39l; 2.37 #File Name: 161121114X696 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Excellent history of the Antietam fightBy BoExcellent history of the Antietam fight.The fact that it was written by someone who was actually there; and compiled it from personal knowledge; and talking to various participants not really all that long from when it happened; makes this one of the; if not the best then surely one of the best history's that will ever be written about this campaign.And Mr Clemens work to bring it all together is an amazing job. I can't imagine the amount of research and traveling that must have been involved. Not for the casual reader; it's very detailed and quite a long read; but if you are a long time Civil war nut like me then you will definitely enjoy this book. So many new things I have learned even after years of going to the battlefield and voraciously reading all I could find about this incredible time in history.3 of 6 people found the following review helpful. A great bookBy wolfenbillAll that expected and more. Volume I was just as good. And the Maps of Antietam was the best of all.4 of 4 people found the following review helpful. The Annotation of a Classic - Part 2By Matthew BartlettThe classic off The Maryland Campaign of September 1862 has long been considered a classic in military literature but something which has been missing in the document is annotations. Upon reading primary sources; there are some questionable things which have been written in these accounts; but with a good annotation; the errors are corrected and sources properly. Thomas G. Clemens has provided these annotations and are an excellent way to re-read this classic.Ezra Ayres Carman was born in Oak Tree; New Jersey and attended the Western Military Academy in Kentucky. During the Civil War; he fought with New Jersey units and faced some of the fiercest fighting throughout the war including the Battle of Antietam. After the war; he was appointed to the Antietam National Cemetery Board of Trustees and the Battlefield Board. Thomas G. Clemens has spent years studying the Maryland Campaign and gained his doctorate at George Mason University. He has written a myriad of magazine articles and has appeared in documentaries along with being a licensed tour guide at Antietam National Battlefield. Also; he is an instructor at Hagerstown Community College and also founded the Save Historic Antietam Foundation.Much of volume one deals with the Battle of South Mountain and the process of reaching the battlefield of Antietam. Without volume one; volume two does not make much sense but both works stand as classics. In order to appreciate the full context of Carman’s work; both volumes need to be read and with Clemens’ annotations aid the work in the best way possible. Thomas G. Clemens has performed a labor of love and his notes on the Battle of Antietam are quite extensive. Throughout the text; there are quite a few good historic maps and the text is also fueled with many good photographs of the field. The Battle of Antietam is one of the most terrifying experiences from the Civil War and is considered the bloodiest day in American history. In all of the works on the battle; there are few which do not mention the work done by Ezra Carmen and since he was present at the battle; the primary source can be seen as more accurate than others. Without the words of Clemens; there could be some confusion on the part of the reader not quite familiar with the battlefield of Antietam or the rest of the Maryland Campaign.The Maryland Campaign of September 1862 Volume II: Antietam; stands on its own as a great work of Civil War literature; but is more appreciated with both volumes. I highly recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in the Maryland Campaign or is just interested in the Battle of Antietam. This in depth work by a Civil War veteran brings the horror of the battlefield to the reader and the annotations of Clemens bring academia to the work. These two volumes will be hailed as the greatest edition of Carman’s work and a great addition to the annals of Civil War history.Matthew Bartlett - Gettysburg Chronicle
