Customer Reviews

Sellout: The Politics of Racial Betrayal

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Comprehensive and illuminating survey about the historical and contemporary meanings of "selling out" in the black community. Kennedy's analysis is wide-ranging and accessible, giving the reader a number of examples of black sellouts from slave rebellion informers to Clarence Thomas.

The book's notable virtue is that it approaches its topic judiciously, taking claims of selling out seriously and thinking philosophically about their meaning for community-formation. Kennedy is also even-handed when approaching especially controversial figures like Thomas. His analysis of Thomas's jurisprudence and politics is the most incisive yet sensitive one I've encountered recently -- appropriately critical of the Justice's flaws in legal thinking yet not entirely dismissive of Thomas's right to hold conservative views WITHOUT being deemed a sellout to the black community.

In sum, Kennedy's book is one of the more thoughtful ones on contemporary race relations I've read. His measured tone is inviting, and the abundance and diversity of his archival sources (from law, literature, social and cultural history) make reading *Sellout* endlessly fascinating. I strongly recommend this book.

Kennedy has, once again, addressed the issues facing African-Americans. While reading this book, one can't help but wonder to whom blacks should be true - black America? - their country? - their family? - themselves? - do they have to be loyal to their own race?
It is especially interesting to read Kennedy's views regarding just what it is that makes someone black (i.e., the one drop theory). And, if one is called a sellout, does that mean he/she is a sellout? The easy answer is no but it isn't that simple.
This is a fascinating read - a real page-turner.

I was surprised to see a full-page opinion editorial in a large Atlanta, Ga newspaper regarding law professor Randall Kennedy's book, "Sellout". The general idea of the book suggests that there is an unspoken rule within the African-American community to maintain the "negro" character at all times or risk being labeled a traitor (sellout). Of course, I bought the book so I could get a better understanding of the other issues. After reading about ¾ of the book, I came away with a few points to remember and perhaps discuss with some of my friends.

First, there seems to be an implication that there are self-appointed "super delegates" who set the rules for claiming African-American identity. For those who set aside or fail to accept the "blackness" label, they are ridiculed, ousted, or undermined at every opportunity. Second, obvious black role models are scrutinized to the point of unacceptability regardless of their real success. Third, is it not ironic that lawyers, journalists, and educators dominate the discussion about behavior when this is an area more suitable for psychologists and scientists? Lastly, the book cites some everyday situations during the slavery period. A critical look at some behavior patterns of today may reveal a connection to that time. Some would even argue that the replication is required to perpetuate "victimhood."

I've never read anything by Professor Kennedy before, which was my loss. Sellout is a terrific book. Calmly and rationally, Kennedy tries to explain how one determines whether a person, e.g. Clarence Thomas, is disloyal to his race. His chapter on Thomas was the best of the book. While no fan of Thomas' jurisprudence, Kennedy concludes that many of the left-wing attacks on him are unfair. Kennedy himself recounts the vicious attacks made on him by racial demagogues for dissenting from racial orthodoxy. There's an especially funny story where this woman hysterically accuses him of being married to a white woman. (Kennedy had written a book defending interracial marriage). A black man next to her says no, Professor Kennedy's wife is black. The hysterical woman said no way. Finally, the black man says "Look, my daughter is his wife." End of argument, I would say.

One small complaint: I did not agree with him on the subject of affirmative action. Notwithstanding this, I highly recommend Sellout, for liberals and conservatives alike.

I was once part of an extended interracial partnership and thought I understood many of the dynamics of the African-American community, but Dr Randall showed me how little I knew about the fundamental and insurmountable bias of those defining themselves as the rightful members of this community. I found myself concluding Dr Randall's book re-enforced the divisions of black vs. white by clearly defining Black's who were not Black enough. If anybody wants to know why Colin Powell endorsed Senator Obama read this book. I would recommend reading the "epilogue" first ... it will allow for better understanding of the author's perspective.

Randall Kennedy is one of the country's more interesting thinkers. This book is very thought provoking even though it is a quick read. I actually found myself it went a bit longer so Kennedy could further address the questions he poses in these pages.

Once again, Mr. Kennedy has been willing to examine a racial topic in which he'll probably be vilified by some for even having the "audacity" to broach the subject. Staying true to form, the author avoids angry or sarcastic polemics in an effort to present a thoughtful and informative book. Pressures to conform to a specific mindset are inherent in any social group. Insecure individuals will invariably gravitate to superficiality and demonizing people that disagree with them (Race, religion, political ideology, whatever.) The author's chapter on the dynamics revolving around the controversial Supreme Court Justice, Clarence Thomas, was especially illuminating. As a middle-aged Caucasian male parenting two young African-American boys, I have found all four of Mr. Kennedy's works to be indispensable. You'll be a better person for reading this book.

This is a great book that provides an insightful and even-handed look at the use of the word "sellout" by some African-Americans against other blacks.

Kennedy is personally qualified, as he notes near the end of the book. Besides being a professor at Harvard Law and the author of previous black sociology/studies type books, he has himself been a target of the "sellout" moniker more than once.

At the beginning, Kennedy explains that the word is used as part of efforts to maintain racial solidarity. He then notes that other groups use similar tactics, and later in the book draws some parallels to the gay/lesbian community.

But, for groups in general and black in general, this raises new questions that Kennedy tackles.

What are the defining points of the community, and here, specifically, the black community? And, who are the guardians and gatekeepers?

On the former question, Kennedy says it is, without a doubt, affirmative action. He then devoted an entire chapter to exploring how this rubber hit the road with Clarence Thomas.

Kennedy isn't afraid to point fingers at many black "guardians" for merely engaging Thomas on his point of view, rather than any evidence he may have for it. He links this to the larger problem of black "guardians" writing off black conservatives in general. He makes clear that wrestling with an opposing point of view on empirical grounds does not necessarily mean agreeing with it.

No. 2, after affirmative action, from how I read Kennedy, he would probably say is interracial marriage.

And No. 3, quite relevant today with Barack Obama and Tiger Woods, is racial identity. Kennedy defends an ABC reporter a year ago asking Obama about how he identified himself, in part by referencing Woods' "Cablinasian" self-designation.

I came away from the book glad that I'd read it because I did gain insight into some of my own attitdues and feelings, particularly towards those who prefer terms such as bi-racial, multi-racial. The book also provides a *peek inside* the mindsets of back conservatives such as Clarence Thomas.

Kennedy's approach is to straddle the fence of racial loyalty, point out where its fence posts and railings are and then proceed to explain why the fence itself is not needed. That conclusion does not reconcile with my own racial experience. By giving examples of situations (and people) where the accusation sellout is loosely made without regard to the damage such an accusation makes, Kennedy does make a valid and salient argument, but one that of itself is incomplete. According to Kennedy, there are very few circumstances in which the term sellout should apply. This would be a fine conclusion to come to if sellout was just a intellectual construct. It is not. In the basic use of the word, the term sellout means disloyalty; it conveys the pain of the betrayal of trust. There is a psychic, spiritual and emotional aspect to selling out (and most particularly to being sold out), that has far more resonance than the social and historical context in which Kennedy makes his arguments.

Betrayal is deeply wounding, regardless of its source or kind. When black people sellout it, that type of disloyalty is felt perhaps like no other form of betrayal. I would have gained a lot more from this book had Kennedy taken this emotional truth into full account and explored it with as much zeal as the intellectual points he makes.

I echo what one of the earlier reviewers, Major W, says: the book would have greatly benefitted from the opinions and expertise of psychologists, social scientists and perhaps even someone from the fields of anthropology and spirituality.

Had I read the book's Epilog first, I would have understood Kennedy's point of view right from the start and consequently would not have made the mistake of investing expectation and hope that the book would provide what I sought by reading it: enough insight to pave a pathway to healing the racial wound. In the end, I felt a bit of the sting of having expected a deeper and more resonant thesis.