Race Matters

In this essay collection, many of which have previously appeared in journals, West, the director of Afro-American studies at Princeton & author of several books, addresses a number of issues of concern to black Americans: the LA riots after the Rodney King verdict; Malcolm X; Clarence Thomas & Anita Hill; & black street life. These topics are all timely yet timeless in that they represent the continuing struggle to include African Americans in mainstream American political, economic & social life without destroying their unique culture. The essays have the feel of a fine sermon, with thought-provoking ideas & new ways of looking at the same old problems. They can be quickly read yet take a long time to digest because of West's unique slant on life. Already well known in scholarly circles, he's increasingly becoming more visible to the general public. This book should make his essays more accessible to a greater number of people.--Library Journal
Preface
Introduction: Race matters
Nihilism in Black America
The pitfalls of racial reasoning
The crisis of Black leadership
Demystifying the new Black conservatism
Beyond affirmative action: equality and identity
On Black-Jewish relations
Black sexuality: the taboo subject
Malcolm X and Black rage
Epilogue to the Vintage edition View Less