Rating: 
Summary: Interesting book, however...
Review: I found the book to be too anecdotal in nature to draw any major conclusions about the causes of current racial problems. Generalizing from personnel experience to society is highly problematic. His analysis of inappropriate mythification of certain statistics seemed to head this book in the right direction. No, the majority of African-Americans are not in poverty, nor do they all live in the ghetto. And yes, the median income of black families is indeed skewed by the fact that there are many, many single income families (single black moms, basically), a social reality that drags the figure down. However, this does not really address the fact that 24 percent of African-Americans are below the poverty line compared to 8 percent for Whites (check out U.S. Census statistics online), nor does it adequately address the fact that there are too many single parent families. Furthermore, these are not the only important economic statistics. All income groups should be examined. McWhorter, by ignoring the entire statistical picture, ends up putting his own spin on the the statistics he chooses to select. In reference to those statistics, I also doubt victimology, separatism, or anti-intellectualism (the big cause of the problem according to the author) constitute the cause of single-parent families; that is to say, I doubt very much black couples say, "hmm we are victims and we believe in separatism so lets not raise this kid together." Overall, I found the concept of Victimology as nebulous a concept as Eternal Racism in explaining the causes of inequity. In fact, the concept is as much an abstraction and mythification as the Eternal Racism concept. The debunking of the "Eternal Racism" ideology with the psychology of victimology may point to nonproductive attitudes held by certain individuals, but ultimately it distracts from more important issues related to structural problems in this society. Finally, the author's perception that we gradually evolve into an egalitarian society as some sort of automatic, natural progression flies in the face of the two huge historical moments (facts) in this country's history that actually changed things: the Civil War and the Civil Rights Movement, both of which were complex and contested events.
Rating: 
Summary: A compassionate, articulate book
Review: I really enjoyed "Losing the Race." It is one of the most insightful books I've read in years. I believe that many of the calls against it are from people enshrined in the very problems that he is illustrating, and that many of the positive reviews are from people looking to back up their own conservative viewpoints with quotes from a "black author." The point of this book was not to point fingers of blame, but more to call attention to a cultural virus that is afflicting many people and holding them back from knowing true success. He is not making a case that the problems black people face they "did to themselves," but to show that these cultural problems are the natural progression from the oppression that black people faced and the unusual way that they were quickly and abruptly given their two greatest victories: The end of slavery and the Civil Rights Ammendment. The point of this book is not to say, "It's all your fault," but to say, "It is time to move on. Racism is present, but it is impotent and not a signifigant obstacle to your success. Let's make a concerted effort to quash this cultural disconnect and prove to our detractors that they are wrong about us." This may be the most important book in years, and I urge everyone, no matter your gender or race, to read this book with an open mind and take heed of its lessons.
Rating: 
Summary: Good in parts, hasty in others, discourteous throughout
Review: The author addresses himself to the following problem: after the verdict in the (criminal) OJ Simpson case, Black Americans overwhelmingly approved the not-guilty verdict while White Americans generally did not. The author is right when he insists that this difference between Black and White America deserves examination. He provides this, positing three tendencies among his fellow-Blacks: a "cult of victimology," a "cult of separation," and a "cult of anti-intellectualism." Some of what he has to say, especially about Black academics, is insightful. Some is much less than that, for instance his foolish recital of problems he has had with his Black students. But foolish or insightful, he talks with the arrogance of a young know-all. It does not seem to occur to him that other Black American academics, though they may have different perspectives on these matters, deserve the respect that he feels he himself has been too often denied. These are matters of tone and style, and they are important. But what is more important is the generally flimsy intellectual underpinning of his discussions. He does not seem to be at all interested in African-American history, so Marcus Garvey, the most memorable of all Black nationalists, is barely mentioned. McWhorter does speak interestingly about Black English, a matter on which he is an expert. But he does not see fit to mention any of the great descriptive linguists who came before him, so that his discussion on this topic also, alas, remains superficial.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Read!
Review: One can't help but notice that blacks are at the bottom of the totem pole of almost every study that is published about scholastic test scores and academic achievement. Dr. McWhorter's book is a refreshing and insightful discussion that disavows "PC" rhetoric and calls upon the black community to take responsibility for its poor performance and not place the blame on the racist "others". The "victim/race card" gets old--other ethnic and cultural groups have also suffered persecution throughout our history and have seemed to overcome their collective suffering. This book should be required reading for black parents and students.
Rating: 
Summary: To be read with an open mind
Review: This book has it's flaws. I'll admit that the generalizations about the poor performance of Black students based on several classroom encounters were a bit much (being that I also teach mostly Black undergraduates and my expereinces have been different) and the generalization of African-Americans' ibnability to think analytically vs, rank emotionalism was somewhat of a stretch. But there is enough truth in this book to make it a valid read. Let's face it, too many of our Black "leaders" and writers play on the fact that many African-Americans live in fear of White opinion and exploit a "seige mentality" that makes many of us reluctant to deal with our problems. The common belief is that open discusion of internal flaws will give aid and comfort to the David Dukes of the world (and as anyone who has read Duke's website knows, this is not an unjustified fear).This is not a healthy thing and perhaps this book is a beginning of a dialogue that will put an end to that state of affairs. This book and some of the expected reaction to it reminds me of a quote by Robert F. Kennedy, "Few men are willing to risk the disapproval of their fellows, the censure of their colleagues, and the wrath of their society." (1966). Mr. McWhorter, I may not agree with all that you say, but I respect your courage in saying it.
Rating:
Summary: This guy has alot of guts!
Review: The rather patronizing review from Amazon.com notwithstanding, this is actually a very well written and thoughtful analysis of a thorny and emotionally-charged topic (witness the personal attacks on the author in many of the previous reviews). Somebody has to say the things John McWhorter is saying or the problem of academic underachievement in the African-American community will never be adequately addressed. Several reviewers have criticized Dr. McWhorter's use of anecdotes to make some of his points, but I suspect that many of the areas he discusses have not been the subject of rigorous research, probably in part due to the political correctness that pervades the social sciences today. I found this book to be refreshingly candid and courageous. Although this man and his ideas will surely be vilified by more closed-minded members of his own ethnic group and by some whites as well, he has done all concerned a great service by shining a bright light on a subject that is usually tiptoed around (when it is acknowledged at all). Pretending that the problem doesn't exist or that it is all due to institutionalized racism helps no one and dooms another generation of students to mediocrity at best.
Rating:
Summary: A thought-provoking book
Review: This was an extremely interesting book. I didn't agree with every one of the author's many points, of course, but I also don't think the author was some anti-black masochist. Many of the arguments and examples the author mentions are powerful enough that I'm surprised they're not more mainstream. I'm giving the book 4 stars, mostly because I've heard many of these arguments before, if not in such a lucid, well organized format. In addition, there were some problems in proof-reading, and an over-reliance on anecdotal evidence, that were irritating if not deadly. However, I would defintiely recommend this book to anybody who might be interested.
Rating:
Summary: Maybe next time?
Review: Dr McWhorter is an intelligent guy who obvioulsy never got out of the house much. He only knows two african americans who took latin? My wife took it at her prep in Tennessee and I took it at catholic high school in chicago. Regardless of that point its that kind of assinine comments that a more experienced person would have left out. Using the facts of life and Hunt fromRed October to make points is the level one would NOT accept from a scholar. I wonder if Dr McWhorter would allow me to use an episode of " Homicide: Life on the Street" to illustrate a point in a thesis addressed to him for a class? I'm further off-put by his comment on a CSPAN event that he's never met nor sought out Ismael Reed. Mr. Reed is truly one of the living giants of the 20th century writing experience. Dr McWhorter has his truths in the fact that excelling academically has lost its luster in SOME black academic circles. I would argue that the brother needs to hop on a SOuthwest flight and come to the Atlanta University Complex.. and meet some brothers and sisters from Morehouse, Spelman and Clark Atlanta who are TAKING the hard classes and celebrating academic successes! Intereesting... the Atlanta University center.. where WEB DuBois began the school of sociology. Dr.McWhorter frequently quotes from DuBois.. however Dr. you should know Dr DuBois took HIS arguments to the unpopular crowds..he didn't chicken out of goin to Howard University and takinghis arguments to the people!!!
Rating:
Summary: The courage to speak the obvious
Review: Every time I read a book like this that has the courage to state the obvious, I get angry that so much time and effort is wasted treating symptoms rather than causes by black activists in America. As a black author, Mr. McWhorter shows tremendous courage by describing in painstaking detail the reasons for black failure in America with little regard paid to political correctness. I am sickened by claims of white racism and the legacy of slavery as the reason for disproportionate black crime, illegitimacy, and failure. Mr. McWhorter notes that every other persecuted race, many of which have suffered much more grievous discrimination (and in some instances extermination)have persevered in a much shorter period than the more than 200 years since slavery was abolished in America. Black Africa continues to sell her people into slavery and most would agree that African-Americans enjoy a standard of living in America that their African counterparts can only dream about. It is time for Black America to stop making excuses and make a serious effort to assume responsibility for its actions. However, as Mr. McWhorter clearly points out, these behaviors are such a part of black culture that I, for one, hold little hope that Black Americans can pull themselves out of their self-imposed tail spin. Read this book for an enlightening perspective. It did not make me optimistic for the future but helped me understand what I see and read everyday.
Rating:
Summary: Book Applies to Other Self Defeating Students
Review: Upon completing this book, I was compelled to email the author to tell him how this book has paralled with my teaching experience with students with behavior problems. I work in an alternative school with mostly white teenage students who have serious emotional/social behavior problems. I now more fully understand why I can't get over the hurdles that keep my students from becomming more accountable young adults who need to make better choices. The three target areas of explaination that McWhorter uses in his book apply in same way with many low functioning students who have behavior problems. It seems that there are so many professionals who will bend over backwards to help these kinds of students under all circumstances, and get no results. This is puzzling. It is truly difficult to break the patterns as are described in John's book. Such patterns do not just apply to African Americans. Thank you John McWhorter for your honesty. You have help this teacher to strategize differently for next fall.
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