DeMott examines a stunning range of cultural evidence--from the oratory of politicians to popular cinema and television to scapegoated welfare mothers to some of today's most respected thinkers--to lay bare the assumptions of "friendship orthodoxy," which maintains that racial problems can be solved simply by blacks and whites working together, one on one, to reconcile differences.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Social critic DeMott (The Imperial Middle) offers a salutary deconstruction of "friendship orthodoxy"?the new theme of black-white commonality that, he says, prevails in pop culture and revisionist thinking and hampers moves toward racial justice. DeMott's take on ad campaigns, sitcoms, movies such as White Men Can't Jump and such authors as Studs Terkel (who calls for "affirmative civility") is devastating. Then he cites research comparing the U.S. to other "caste-like" societies and declares that caste remains?especially for poor blacks. Worse, "nonscholarly cultural production" has served to erase history, he states, criticizing Roots and the PBS series The Civil War for ignoring the lasting effects of slavery. Though society embraces the palliative words of such black neoconservatives as Shelby Steele, we ignore the fact that their messages of individual pride also acknowledge the need to help the poor. Thus, in a brave and potent challenge to orthodoxy, DeMott calls on the majority society to recognize its responsibilities and to endorse "broadscale programs of development" for blacks.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Library Journal
A top social critic argues that bringing blacks and whites together is not enough. Excerpted in Harper's September issue.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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3 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An amazing book, by a wonderful writer.,
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This review is from: The Trouble With Friendship: Why Americans Can't Think Straight About Race (Hardcover)
An amazing book. DeMott's books about race and class really opened my eyes... highly recommended
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