A passionate, uplifting credo from one of America's fastest rising social critics. In a series of letters to a young black man who is trying hard to turn his life around, radio talk-show host and columnist Armstrong Williams presents his uncompromising views on the problems facing African Americans today, particularly those of black males.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Booklist
Through his listener participation radio talk program, African American host Williams meets a listener called Brad, described as a young street hustler, drug dealer, murderer, and womanizer who comes from a two-parent middle-class home (shades of Nathan McCall). Williams uses this meeting with Brad as a catalyst for expressing his opinion on a wide variety of reasons why young African American males become the failures Brad represents. He criticizes the school system from which he states "you got an attitude adjustment rather than an education through programs that fostered a false sense of self-esteem" ; makes broad generalizations about the failure of African American elders, particularly the females for being overprotective; compares to a scale out of balance the detrimental effect of social programs allegedly designed for good, but being proved harmful by fostering dependency on a system of handouts; and scoffs at youth who wear the Malcolm X symbol with no knowledge of who the man really was. In a final coup de gra{ƒ}ce, Williams puts the burden for the misguided life of many African American youth on the "shoulders of the leaders of the nations" who send the double message of what should be and then what little we expect of you because of who you are! Polemics as entertainment. Henrietta Smith
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
18 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The honest truth,
By
This review is from: Beyond Blame (Hardcover)
At first when I read this book I thought I would differ with the author due to our different political beliefs. However, I could not have been so wrong, Mr. Williams just explains that so many of todays youth want the easy way out and get rich quick by any means necessary. I agree with Armstrong that you have to understand the value of hard work in order to succeed legitimately in America, and just because we grew up poor and black is no excuse. The liberals of this country really hurt our community more than helping us by saying we as black turn to crime, because there are no alternatives. I grew up in a small city in Illinois, but I saw so many opportunities for myself to succeed and it did not come from wearing Tommy, Polo, DKNY or other top designer clothing. My success came from my knowledge through education, because education creates options not a life of fast living sell drugs.
16 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great advice, now how do you get young black men to read it?,
By A Customer
This review is from: Beyond Blame (Hardcover)
Williams describes a "bad" young black man in Washington DC, who asked for help, and Armstrong wrote him insightful letters, giving ideal advice that, if followed, would "save" the young man and his posterity. I now greatly admire Williams and hope he can communicate his beliefs to many more "Brads" who need this help, who will change their lives for the better.
6 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Book... now where's my check?,
By
This review is from: Beyond Blame (Hardcover)
I love this book. It's good to see people like Mr. Williams who stand up for integrity and decency while Janet Jackson's nipple devours freedom.
Now where's my check?
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