One by One from the Inside Out: Race and Responsibility in America [Hardcover]

Glenn C. Loury (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 1995

Loury calls for a fundamental reconsideration of the problem of racial inequality. He rejects the stereotyped liberal-conservative dichotomy as an obstacle to real progress on racial problems which, he says, requires a greater willingness for people to hold themselves responsible for what they make of their lives. Urging blacks to be more willing to compete on their very real merits - and whites to overcome their obsession with colour-blind and colour-conscious policies - Loury makes an argument that, thus far, few effective means of developing black equality of opportunity have found real encouragement and support. "One By One From The Inside Out" is a call for all Americans to rethink their attitudes towards race, and presents a clear proposal for how to heal this division in America.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Loury, a prominent black neoconservative, is at his best in this collection as a critic, ably confronting authors such as Cornel West ("sloganeering"), Andrew Hacker ("conspiracy theory") and Derrick Bell ("opinion in the guise of a morality tale.") His more substantive essays make a few worthwhile, if not new, points: blacks should avoid one-note politics, and they too often embrace victimhood. Though Loury shows concern for the black poor, his vague solution of self-help?"religious, civic, and voluntary efforts of all sorts"?is sloganeering that should be fleshed out by reportage and analysis. In an epilogue Loury recounts?somewhat gingerly, given his professorial emphasis on personal morality?his "born again" spiritual journey, which rescued him from his own descent into drug and alcohol dependence. He now teaches economics at Boston University.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Loury is said to be a black neoconservative, but the 26 articles in this collection disclose no hardline free marketeer hell-bent on abolishing welfare, affirmative action, and other so-called liberal sacred cows. Rather, they show us a man of reason, conscience, common sense, and love. Whether addressing his professional peers (academic economists) with scholarly scrupulousness, speaking frankly to social activists, or recounting his own experiences of racial oppression and Christian rebirth, Loury affirms only what he has found by research, action, or careful reflection to be true. Writing on black-Jewish relations, black victimization as a social identity, economic inequities, modern liberalism and racism, and his other primary topics in this book, he is cogent because of his analytic ability (best displayed in a theoretical article on political correctness), compelling because of the intelligence with which he argues for acknowledging religion as a force in public affairs and personal behavior in order to successfully deal with the problems of racism and poverty. Loury's work expresses some of the very best thinking about race in the U.S. Ray Olson

Product Details

• Hardcover: 332 pages
• Publisher: Free Press; First edition (May 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0029194415
• ISBN-13: 978-0029194416
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,352,790 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A moderate's view on race relations in the 90's, March 8, 1999

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Brian Christison (San Diego, CA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: One by One from the Inside Out: Race and Responsibility in America (Hardcover)

A contrast to Cornel West's "Race Matters," Loury takes a bold step into the middle of the intellectual arena. While refusing to spout purely conservative or progressive rhetoric, Loury puts forth compelling arguments for a shift from W.E.B DuBois' liberal ideals to a Booker Washington-like self-help gospel. A very thorough examination of the problems created by political correctness is also included. Overall, well written, but not going to change the world.