Customer Reviews

Conversate Is Not a Word: Getting Away from Ghetto

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
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"Conversate is not a Word" is a brave and necessary book. Donaldson deconstructs conventional thinking on race matters, hitting both the white liberals and self-appointed Black leaders hard for perpetuating the status quo with consistently low expectations and apologetics. In a spin on DuBois' duality, Donaldson introduces an alter-ego who presents the opposing of view -- a Black "fight the power" revolutionary type, if you may. Using the alter ego, Donaldson makes clear that she understands the complexities, causes, and context of the current issues in the Black community. She differs from the mainstream Black commentariat, however, in offering solutions rather than merely pointing out causes. Her solutions are more Obama than Jesse Jackson: handle your business, work hard, exceed expectations. And as forcefully and persuasively as she advances these common-sense solutions, you will be hard pressed to find a point you disagree with after seriously considering it, save for perhaps her too-frequent-for-comfort agreement with David Brooks, but that's another story . . . (related to her "Conversate Is Not a Word" blog)

The author does a good job of identifying those things that plague our community. She also brings up the discussion of the duality in the black community and how some of us are falsely labeled as "Republicans" because we just think our people should be doing better. Sometimes she rants and that can get a little annoying, but overall it was an entertaining read and it made me laugh a lot.

Jam Donaldson writes a very open and honest piece about the issues that are prevalent in the African American community today. It is humorous, to the point, but also a challenge to everyone to take action to improve our society today. A must read!!

Jam doesn't dissapoint with this book. It's pure common sense for the common man. A good read.