Books 3 and 4
3. Stamped from the Beginning, by Ibram X. Kendi. There's a meme going around that states that "if studying history always makes you proud and happy, you probably aren't studying history." If anyone is looking for a challenging read that might make you squirm, this is the book for you. It is uncomfortable reading at times, and I admit if I'd read this even a couple of years ago I might have dismissed it as being too extreme. But after the events of last year, Kendi's well-researched book on history we seldom if ever hear about cannot be ignored. He does a commendable job connecting the dots in the history of racial relations, dots which often get ignored or glossed over. In addition, he argues convincingly why past remedies to racist thought and policy - like uplift suasion and greater education - fail and will continue to fail. Kendi outlines the traps that even the most well-intentioned can fall into when it comes to assumptions about other people.
The chronicles of this country's long history of racism is told through several prominent Americans, including Thomas Jefferson, Cotton Mather, W.E.B. DuBois and Angela Davis. The section of W.E.B. DuBois is the most fleshed out, and it was interesting reading about how his own opinions and stands would change over time.
There are some minor flaws that, while they do not impact the overall message, stuck out. In general, the information is well-cited but I wish there had been more sources quoted about the 2000 and 2004 election issues he mentions. His reference to the late singer Michael Jackson and the "rumors" about his bleaching his skin and undergoing plastic surgery without context or explanation came off as a cheap shot. I'm not a fan of Jackson, but he had vitiligo (which at least partially explains why his skin became lighter), and he incurred serious burns while filming a commercial. There was another section where the dinner between Booker T. Washington and Theodore Roosevelt was mentioned. Roosevelt knew, at least somewhat, the implications of sending that invite. Also, more critically, not all Black people were happy about this invitation; there were close friends and family members who pleaded with Washington to turn down the invite because they feared the fallout (for more on this, I recommend Guest of Honor by Deborah Davis).
Despite these minor imperfections, I'd still recommend reading this. It shows the history of the United States from a different angle, and the book forces the reader to rethink its historic figures, both Black and white. There are no easy ways to resolve the racial divide and combating racism, especially when the most powerful benefit from the division. I was astounded and the lengths some have gone to for justifying racist thoughts and beliefs, and how those ideas have morphed over time. Moving to a true postracial society will be a Herculean effort. That Kendi makes clear. But it is possible, with a good deal of time and effort. The best antidotes, as outlined here, are removing the financial incentives and changing the structures that allow racism to flourish (such as the criminal justice system).
4. Ghosting the News, by Margaret Sullivan. The former editor of The Buffalo News and current columnist for The Washington Post packs a good deal in 95 pages, plus notes. I've read quite a few books on the depressing struggles newspapers have had to endure for the past 20 years, but the focus on this one is on the loss to the communities and the consequences to the cities that face diminishing or even no news coverage. Decreased democracy and information. Greater corruption. Higher community costs, and not just with the intangible loss of a watchdog over government and business but tangible hits to the wallet. Sullivan gives examples of the harm done, and where the local newspaper prevented greater damage. She also goes into the alternatives that are springing up, outlining the successes and the drawbacks. This is not a positive read; Sullivan paints a bleak, if honest, picture of the future of newspapers and strong local coverage. A strong point is the need to move thought away of thinking of the newspaper as a product, and thinking of it as a public service, and considering options such as government subsidies to keep the industry alive. Anyone who cares about the future of local news should read this.
Currently reading: To Live Woke, by Rupert Nacoste.