Customer Reviews

The Death of Black America

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The book, "The Death of Black America", clearly defines the "ills" plaguing Black America. In addition, the book supplies the reader with an excellent diagnosis of the challenges facing African Americans. Unfortunately, if the "cures" for these challenges are not aggressively pursued, the prognosis as stated in the aforementioned title will be accurate; at least in the figurative sense, for the "sub-culture" which exist within Black America. This book is a must read for all Black/African Americans, from the "Baby Boomers" to the "Generation X & Y's"!

This first book, by Eran Reya, is not the first out cry regarding the plight of Black America. But, the books pulls you in by letting you see the cancerous death of Black America unfold on the pages. Moving through historical references of fault and blame, the author shakes a bloody finger at the baby boomers for the current state of affairs in the Black community.

Statistics are used to shape and define "death" in the Black community by relaying the devastating numbers for abortions, the increasing number of reported cases of HIV/AIDS, out-of-wedlock births, high rate of incarcerations, etc. (I was curious as to why he failed to mention the affect of Black-on-Black crime, whose statistics and affect on the Black community are just as horrendous.)

Reya utilizes sources that are historical, yet, familiar to the reader. The book is an easy read and adaptable for high school or academic use. He attempts to stimulate discussions on the dilemma and moves to initiate an action plan (even on an individual basis) necessary to resolve the crisis engulfing Black America.

The books speaks to me, a child of a baby boomer and stands as a reminder of what we have always know, but choose to ignore. It is a depressing read. By the time, I reached page 28, I was filled with a great sadness with the portrait presented of the Black America experience. I saw myself in the definitions and mentalities and I was unhappy about the find. Reya is forcing us to come face-to-face with ourselves. It's like we are slowly participating in our own long, drawn out suicide.

The presentation is straight forward, but solutions appear to have a foundation in Mr. Reya's Christian belief system. It will take much more than a prayer to save Black America from itself.

Sonja Perdue
February 17, 2008

If you are black you need to read this book. The author is not like Cosby, Sharpton, and the other hucksters. He lays out the history and how to move forward. The part that I like most is that he is honest when it comes to laying the blame. Blacks are partly at fault for their demise, however how a human being can can expect sympathy from people who at one time in history considered us half human and half animal is beyond me. I plan to use this book to teach the children I work with. If you are black and want to know how we arrived to this point? Pick up this book. You will not be disappointed it is well written and to the point.

The Death of Black America by Eran Reya is a thoroughly thought-out and well-researched perspective of what has collectively happened in the black community. The book is well-written and engaging.

While there are many individual and familial successes in the black community, there are wide-spread individual and familial failures that warrant analysis and should be a topic of grave concern.

This book acknowledges that someone cares about those who are not flourishing in the community and that someone is trying to help them to consider the possibility of changing behaviors, attitudes and/or thought-patterns if previous patterns are not honoring their best self and others whose lives they affect.

Everyone who wants to know why African Americans are in this state of emergency should read this book. As a Black female, it has made me realize why we are plagued with so many evil vices. Oh my...this book is on time. I am ready to change me to aide to revive us AGAIN!!

This author did an excellent job outlining the ills that affects Black America. His research is very thorough and concise. He has found the hidden truths that is ailing the Black Community.

Before I reached the end of the book, his writings made me wonder what can I do to save a race...my conclusion, surprisingly was the the same as his!

It is a must read by every American, especially those higher up on the social economic ladder.

I found the book to be hard hitting, thought provoking and challenging. A real wake up call to the baby boomer generation. It shed light on what "Black America" has become in it's quest for the American Dream.

I read this book at the request of a friend - I found the beginning to be very organized and powerful - I marked up the margins of this book and folded highlighted points that hit home for me - blacks have that ability with one another - to hit home; but what to DO once we are home is another matter altogether.... Mr. Reya chronologically supplied a through history of the African American from the time of kidnaping and arriving to this new land and the cruelties blacks endured for over 400 years as well as the fallout from this blatant trauma. Mr. Reya's book does provide an easy, sensible reason as to why blacks act the way they do. I found the beginning of Mr. Reya's book to be engaging and very similar to Dr. Joy Leary's presentations on Post Traumatic Slavery Syndrome: Dr. Leary, provides a very through history of slavery that correlates to today's black behaviors - both male and female.

My contention with this book lies with Mr. Reya making several "points" that I simply don't agree with and I find outright wrong: Homosexuality is throughly explored in this book and I TOTALLY disagree with Mr. Reya's rationale that homosexuality does nothing to enhance or sustain a community - I know of too many homosexuals (some who are very close friends of mine) and they are dynamic, successful people who give everything they have in the name of truth and love. Those who are `down low' and turned out in prison in another discussion. I also disagree with Mr. Reya's statements in this book about black single mothers raising sons - according to Mr. Reya and a study done by Thomas Pettigrew which states black males raised by only their mothers will be homosexuals. This statement is totally unfounded: true homosexuals know from a very young age their sexual preference AND how can one theorize a homosexual male coming from a home where there are TWO parents present? Homosexual parents raise heterosexual children... I could go on but I do have to question Mr. Reya's religious orientation as well as how was he raised - what was his home structure like growing up?. Mr. Reya could be viewed as homophobic if he is not careful...

Blacks need to learn about the three f's: Finances, Future and Forgiveness. Mr. Reya discusses finances - a weak spot that I think needs to be further explored.

This book did serve a purpose - to stimulate dialogue and to reveal that there needs to be more scientific research done on black families and genders so that there is a better understanding with data to support statements. I am so beyond just talking - I have decided that Mr. Reya's book is fodder for my own project to empower black single moms. The blaming has to stop.

I don't want to be like Bill Cosby and viciously criticize my own people verbally - we have had enough of talking - it is time for action. As I stated above - statements in this book hit home - I am at home now and with my wisdom and education (Masters in Social Work), I plan on making some empowering renovations!