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Our Black Year: One Family's Quest to Buy Black in America's Racially Divided Economy Paperback – May 14, 2013

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Maggie Anderson (Author)
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Maggie Anderson (Author)
4.4 out of 5 stars 31 customer reviews
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Product Details

  • Paperback: 320 pages
  • Publisher: PublicAffairs; First Trade Paper Edition edition (May 14, 2013)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1610392280
  • ISBN-13: 978-1610392280
  • Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #176,390 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Top Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsan eye-opener
By BookLuver on February 24, 2012
Format: Hardcover
An incredibly important read, everyone who cracks open this book will learn something new.As someone who is highly involved in the local food movement, I was shocked how little I knew. Before reading this book I had never considered that though I may be supporting local businesses on a daily basis, I have never noticed specifically who I was buying from.

The prose is engaging, and flows with ease--I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. But perhaps most importantly, OUR BLACK YEAR is accessible to young adult readers, I would love to see this book land on a highschool or college reading list.

A must-read for anyone alarmed by the racial wealth gap.
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4.0 out of 5 starsInteresting...but...
By Firestarter on August 12, 2014
Format: Paperback
I have mixed feelings about this book....

On one hand I admire this family for making an effort to support black businesses. Anyone paying attention to the problems facing the black community knows most of those issues stem from poverty and lack of economic opportunity. We, as a race, need to come together, build businesses, support our businesses, and employ other black people. By supporting black businesses we are supporting ourselves.

On the other hand, I didn't find the couple in this book likeable or "heroic." At times they came across as elitist and "out of touch." Their attitude toward poor blacks was painful to read. They believed they were pioneering some type of new frontier that others, before them, have preached for decades (i.e., group economics). For me, this was perhaps the most annoying thing about the book.

Another thing that I wish was expounded upon is the reaction of non-blacks to the family's "experiment." They spent a whole chapter talking about the reaction of other blacks but we didn't learn much about the reaction of non-blacks. It was mentioned that the family received tons of hate mail from non-blacks, but that's about it. I personally want to know why whites and non-blacks feel so threatened by the idea of blacks practicing some type of group economics....after all every other race on the planet is allowed to do just that.
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4.0 out of 5 starsInspiring and yet tragic
By Bookbin on February 21, 2012
Format: Hardcover
This book really opened my eyes to self-empowerment economics and the challenges that are not only inherent within the black community but in any community with a cause as well. While so many are willing to buy green or to vote with their dollars, it's striking how difficult it is to build support within other segments of the population. This isn't just an example for the Af-Am struggle but a story that can be used in other contexts as well.

The Andersons' story is inspiring - two upper middle class professionals looking to make a difference - and yet it highlights how much farther we have to go in America to combat the inequalities related to race. Lay readers will enjoy the personal struggle of Maggie, and sociology and economics enthusiasts will find plenty to discuss here as well.

Gregory does a bang up job making the book an engaging read.

Highly recommended.
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3.0 out of 5 starsNot in love with the title
By Read-A-Lot on February 26, 2012
Format: Kindle Edition
Our Black Year; that title makes it sound like some kind of curiosity experiment. The first thought that comes to mind for me is how can Black people have a black year? Isn't your whole life black, all of your years filled with the wonderful sights, tastes and sounds of black culture. Ok, just had to get that out there. Now, having said that, it is a great thing that Ms. Anderson has undertaken. Basically, Ms. Anderson with support of her husband made a conscious effort to spend as much of their disposable income as possible with Black businesses. They made it a point to go out of their way to patronize their own in hopes that support will help turn around struggling businesses and impact the communities they serve. This book is in essence a journal/report of their efforts.

The book makes for good reading and she skillfully weaves history and personal family issues into the narrative. That keeps the book moving and adds depth and perspective for the reader. Readers will get a sense of some of the hurdles black businesses face and the structural barriers, however I don't think the book has the power to transform behavior, because it never shakes the feeling of being an experiment. She is often condescending in her writing when describing certain neighborhoods and the people she encounters in those 'hoods. This was very disappointing for me, and speaks to the Anderson's obvious haughtiness, and distracts from the good prose. I wish the editor would have advised her to remove some of those painful-to-read passages, perhaps they're included to make it resonate and relevant with like minded class conscious people.Read more ›
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5.0 out of 5 starshighly recommended...for people of all backgrounds
By BookNY87 on February 24, 2012
Format: Hardcover
I was deeply affected by Maggie Anderson's message, which couldn't be more timely. Her voice speaks so powerfully to racial responsibility and economic distribution, and is motivational and affecting without being too preachy. She does a marvelous job backing her argument with a wealth of research and statistics. More than that, there is a bigger lesson at hand, and one that people--regardless of their race--should take into account: how (and where) we spend our money has enormous reprecussions on our future, locally and on a much larger scale. Next time you're on your way to Walmart, consider an alternitive that supports those in need, and people with whom you identify.

On top of being inspiring, Anderson shares imperative historical background and socialogical input, such that it should interest all fans of quality nonfiction. A must-read!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

Great book... Very insightful

Published 1 month ago by UnderTheNeemTree
5.0 out of 5 starsWow!

wonderful book, insightful and honest.

Published 1 month ago by Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 starsBlack

Excellent book and commentary on buying Black.

Published 1 month ago by Denmark
5.0 out of 5 starsExcellent book. I highly recommend it. It is heart felt. The...

This is a terrific book and I loved the research and heart that went into it! I highly recommend it and to contributing to The Empowerment Experiment Foundation!!!

Published 4 months ago by CD music collector
3.0 out of 5 starsItem was described as "Seller note: Only read once ...

Item was described as "Seller note: Only read once, gift quality."
The book was an ex-library copy with barcodes and stickers. Not gift quality. Read more

Published 10 months ago by L-Con
5.0 out of 5 starsAn adventure story

I'm a white guy interested in economic development and found this book enthralling. The author gives her unvarnished experience in her family's one year quest to buy only at black... Read more

Published 11 months ago by BigTexTinkerbell
3.0 out of 5 starsGreat Cause, Middling Writing

This experiment is important, to showcase how Black dollars spent in Black communities can make a difference to those who are in economic hardship. However, I felt Ms. Read more

Published 13 months ago by Patrick Cleary
5.0 out of 5 starsThe book that launched The Black Wall Street Journey

This is the most important book I've read since The Autobiography of Malcolm X and I have gifted it more than 20 times. More importantly, it has spurred me to be more proactive.

Published 14 months ago by Fedell Price
4.0 out of 5 starsThe results of integration

An informative, courageous book about a family who gave time, energy, intelligence and resources to a cause that should be a normal habit for afrikans, moors, and other original... Read more

Published 15 months ago by Robert Robinson
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

Recommend this book for everyone will to understand Black America struggle in this great country.

Published 16 months ago by Earlie H. Mullin

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