Customer Reviews

Healing Racism in America: A Prescription for the Disease

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In an age when the discussion of race has become mired in pointless sociological and intellectual discourse, Nathan Rutstein's "Healing Racism In America" comes as a breath of fresh air. Mr. Rutstein is on the mark when he states that the solutions are spiritual and personal, not legislative or political. Indeed, the book's most candid assertion, that racism is not relegated merely to skinheads wearing white hoods, goes directly to the heart of the matter: mainstream America, however "progressive" or "liberal" it may deem itself, continues to live in denial. However fashionable pointing an indignant and self-righteous finger at the KKK and like-minded groups may be--easy scapegoats for the masses--the average Joe is also implicated. And well-intentioned measures like Civil Rights legislation and Affirmative Action, although placating people initially, have ultimately failed to eliminate the underlying problem (even exacerbating it in some cases). As the book's title implies, the real remedy, like any good prescription, may taste bitter in the mouth at first, but ultimately leads to genuine healing. Do we have the courage to take the medicine?

In an age when the discussion of race has become mired in pointless sociological and intellectual discourse, Nathan Rutstein's "Healing Racism In America" comes as a breath of fresh air. Mr. Rutstein is on the mark when he states that the solutions are spiritual and personal, not legislative or political. Indeed, the book's most candid assertion, that racism is not relegated merely to skinheads wearing white hoods, goes directly to the heart of the matter: mainstream America, however "progressive" or "liberal" it may deem itself, continues to live in denial. However fashionable pointing an indignant and self-righteous finger at the KKK and like-minded groups may be--easy scapegoats for the masses--the average Joe is also implicated. And well-intentioned measures like Civil Rights legislation and Affirmative Action, although placating people initially, have ultimately failed to eliminate the underlying problem (even exacerbating it in some cases). As the book's title implies, the real remedy, like any good prescription, may taste bitter in the mouth at first, but ultimately leads to genuine healing. Do we have the courage to take the medicine?

Nathan Rutstein has given an accurate description of the disease of racism in America. He describes the struggles within ourselves to deny it, identify it, and utimately how we can heal ourselves from this crippling disease. I liked the book because it addressed the idea of unknown racism...rather, racism that you didn't even know was happening because of misconceptions and conditioning in all of us from our learnings and our families. It's a must read for all high school students and should be included in every persons home library.

Awesome book, a real eye-opener. This book tells it like it is. Does not sugar coat. It's in your face. Even though it was published in 1999 it still applies to today's society. If your interested in this topic this is a great book to read!

He lost me at the title of this novel. "Healing Racism?" How can you heal racism? Why would you want to heal racism? To make it better? What a dupe.