Race Matters

Rating:
Summary: An amazing mind for our troubled times
Review: This is a must read for any person of color living in the United States.

Rating:
Summary: Eye-Opening
Review: I'm not very surprised at the contrasting reviews posted here. Considering the extraordinarily divided state of the nation, it's almost impossible to say anything serious without making half of the people angry. Furthermore, I think most people would like to pretend that everything is going alright, and ideas that shake things up or that look at reality from a different angle aren't going to be popular. At least, not right away. Cornel West's ideas are these types, revealing the reality of the African-American condition in an America that worships the market and loses sight of a humanity in need of hope and an actual opportunity to achieve those things hoped for, an America that refuses to offer love to those most in need. Cornel West's ideas admit that America is not a totally perfect place, and we need to change some things. We need to wake up. The ideas in this book are essential to read, and it is essential that we make the changes West calls for. This doesn't just effect African-Americans, this is something to save all Americans. If the views in this book irritate you, you should probably read it again. If an idea bugs you enough, it probably means there is something there you need to learn, even if you do not ultimately agree with everything. If the ideas in Race Matters strike you, you need to act. We must all act out passionately, with compassion and love, to change things so that we may save ourselves.

Rating:
Summary: It takes more than one side to fix things
Review: I think someone made a good point by referencing a Malcolm X quote: "You don't stick a knife in a man's back nine inches and then pull it out six inches and say you're making progress." However, was Malcolm X not simply holding the knife in place when he argued for separatism? Sure, his "radical transformation" at the end of his life saw him reverse his attitudes, but others continue with the belief that the white community is saddled with an enormous guilt and sole responsibility for the current state of affairs. Off the subject somewhat, there is another book regarding race in schools, where the author comments on the fact that it is good to see minorities form groups to foster identity-formation. In my and any other pragmatist's opinion, though, this merely perpetuates the fracturing of the human community.

Rating:
Summary: For Beginners Only
Review: This is my first read by Dr. West. I was surprised that it did not seem very scholarly but very opinionated with no references and no bibliography. However some of his views were on point and others were way off base. For instance, it was disappointing that he disagreed with the Afrocentrists, but at the same time used some of their ideas in other parts of the book to make his opinionated point. Anyhow a good read for beginners.

Rating:
Summary: Great Book
Review: This is a great book. I have news for Pat Wang (reviewer below)
Communism didn't claim those lives. Totalinarianism did.
Get it straight.



Rating:
Summary: A painful read
Review: I had to force myself to get through this book due to a philosophy assignment I had to write on it. The payoff was that I got to write a 6 page critique of it at the end. That's where I shined. This book is just dying to be criticised the way it was written. To put it plain and simple Race Matters is a book written by a racist. He is so anti-white and anti-American and from what I could tell he was leaning toward anti-Jew, I was thouroughly disgusted. Page after page of negativity and no solutions in sight. Not to mention errors and that absolute absence of footnotes to back up any of his statements or information. If you are going to read this book make sure you have Google handy, you are going to need it. I would like to say you should also have a dictionary handy but alot of words you won't find in the dictionary. Why, might you ask, would they not be in the dictionary? Maybe because he was making them up. That was my best guess. There has to be better material out there than this. I urge you to find it.

Rating:
Summary: Understanding the Significance of Race
Review: Cornel West's _Race Matters_ is a must read for any American who desires a subtle yet comprehensive understanding of today's racial issues. _Race Matters_ is a contemporary version of W.E.B. DuBois' seminal text, _The Souls of Black Folk_. West does a remarkable job of surveying the various issues surrounding black Americans today: from nihilism to affirmative action, from the need for leadership to "The Pitfalls of Racial Reasoning."

While West's writing is impressive in its scope, it also carefully analyzes the nuances of the issues at stake. His examination of the complicated distincitions and relationships between conservative and liberal approaches to racial issues brings to light the striking failures of both camps within today's hopeless political arena.

Throughout _Race Matters_ West situates himself between the diametrically opposed camps while illustrating the need to transcend their complementary irrationality. Although this certainly gives readers *some* sense of where West himself figures in these matters, I often found myself wanting more from West in the way of specifics regarding action plans and his own postion.

Overall, this book is an excellent introduction to race, America's most critical issue. I read the text in an African-American Literature course. It illuminated many of the problems noted in literary works since the Harlem Renaissance and casted a contemporary light on the difficulties of a long marginalized people. I would also extend a recommendation to the more advanced reader otherwise unfamiliar with West's writings.

Rating:
Summary: An insightful critique
Review: I really enjoyed this book by Dr. West. He had a lot to say, and much of what he said made complete sense. He wrote with extreme passion, and it lets me know he truly cares about the issue of democracy and his people. The only issue I had with it was for someone who had an opinion on many subjects, especially black leadership, I was waiting to read something about HIM assuming a leadership role in an area where he seems extremely passionate about, but that moment never came. Every one of us can make a difference as he said in the book, whether it is in our communities, churches, and schools. I guess he did assume his own form of leadership by addressing some issues in the book, but I was waiting to hear how he would do it specifically. I know there are plenty of issues concerning my community, but I cannot wait for some of the present national or more prominent members of the African-American community to come a long and fix them like in the 60's with Malcolm X, King, the Panthers, and all the other people or organizations of the past. Some present ones have done the best they can, and some have not done a thing, but I cannot worry about them. I have to go about it myself and hope there are others who are as passionate about it as I am and hope we can do it together. That portion was the only one that drew my ire a little bit, but I loved the book nonetheless. He brought plenty of issues to the forefront, and I respect his words and opinion.

Rating:
Summary: It takes more than one side to fix things
Review: Are they Black Militants or Black Stooges ? = The government successfully infiltrated certain radical black groups in the 1970's in California with black "moles" and common criminals. These men often talked more militantly than any other group member while secretly helping the racist white authorities set up and destroy those members who were truly loyal to the cause of black empowerment. (This reminds me of the bible verse about false people casting true Christians out of the church.) When these men attained the position of leader, the organization was effectively "hijacked" and from that moment on existed soley to help white racists "seek, locate, and destroy" those blacks who truly cared. After the hijack, these men simply used radical rhetoric to get women into their beds, to "justify" cheating, robbing & even doping up other blacks, to suck money out of any mark, and --worst of all-- to build a wall between black people and anyone who truly cared about helping us --i.e white liberals, Jews, etc. And, going by their current behavior, this is still their goal today.