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Race Matters, 25th Anniversary cover art

Race Matters, 25th Anniversary

Written by: Cornel West
Narrated by: Cornel West, JD Jackson
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Publisher's Summary

The 25th-anniversary edition of the groundbreaking classic, with a new introduction

First published in 1993, on the one-year anniversary of the Los Angeles riots, Race Matters became a national best seller that has gone on to sell more than half a million copies. This classic treatise on race contains Dr. West's most incisive essays on the issues relevant to black Americans, including the crisis in leadership in the Black community, Black conservatism, Black-Jewish relations, myths about Black sexuality, and the legacy of Malcolm X. The insights Dr. West brings to these complex problems remain relevant, provocative, creative, and compassionate.

In a new introduction for the 25th-anniversary edition, Dr. West argues that we are in the midst of a spiritual blackout characterized by imperial decline, racial animosity, and unchecked brutality and terror as seen in Baltimore, Ferguson, and Charlottesville. Calling for a moral and spiritual awakening, Dr. West finds hope in the collective and visionary resistance exemplified by the Movement for Black Lives, Standing Rock, and the Black freedom tradition.

Now more than ever, Race Matters is an essential book for all Americans, helping us to build a genuine multiracial democracy in the new millennium.

©1993, 2017 Cornel West (P)2017 Random House Audio

What the critics say

"As moving as any of the sermons of the Rev. Martin Luther King, as profound as W. E. B. Du Bois's The Souls of Black Folk, as exhilarating in their offering of liberation as James Baldwin's early essays." (David Nicholson, Washington Post Book World)
"Cornel West is one of the most authentic, brilliant, prophetic, and healing voices in America today. We ignore his truth in Race Matters at our personal and national peril." (Marian Wright Edelman)
"A compelling blend of philosophy, sociology and political commentary.... It directly takes on some of the most volatile issues facing American society today.... One can only applaud the ferocious moral vision and astute intellect on display in these pages." (Michiko Kakutani, The New York Times)

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What listeners say about Race Matters, 25th Anniversary

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Excellent insight.

In my opinion, Dr. Cornell West is a genius. In this book, he carries on the work of the civil rights activists of the mid 20th century, while respectfully and skillfully criticizing many of their ideas and beliefs. Also, mainstream American politics receives a well-deserved criticism, leaving neither Republicans nor Democrats unscathed. This book is not only a critique of white American culture and white supremacy, but also a critique of the ways in which the fight for racial equality has erred.

A great listen. Highly recommended.

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Had potential

Found it a little too intellectual and a bit wordy. But understood the spirit of the subject matter. The first couple chapters were really good though.

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Genuine critiques and proposed solutions.

I really enjoyed this book because Dr. West provides brutally honest critiques across the political and racial spectrums in what I felt was the least divisive way possible. He also provides some proposed solutions for fighting white supremacy and racial inequality. I could feel his desire for a better world and for everyone to move forward together. It was also narrated by Dr. West which was awesome.

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