False Black Power? (New Threats to Freedom Series)

Jason Riley shows how the sacred assumptions we have been told since we were in primary school are wrong. I never knew that blacks achieved so much before the Great Society during the Jim Crow era. That is such a beautiful empowering thing to know. Progressives paint blacks now as dependents which they ( The Progressives) must manage. It’s disgusting and demeaning to blacks.

The author takes on a taboo subject by arguing that culture and personal choices—not structural racism and white privilege—are the major impediment for social and economic progress in some black communities. So, this book (which is easy to read and well researched) will probably upset a few people because it is not "politically correct."The author succeeds in showing that the sharp rise of black political power at every level of government has not advanced, but actually impeded, black upward mobility because it has relied (counter productively) on victim status as a tool for gaining and maintaining power. Notably, the author illustrates that liberal policies, such as affirmative action and the Great Society program, stymied the economic and social advancement that blacks gained before these programs were adopted in 1960s. Moreover, the author illustrates how blacks before the 1960s succeeded--and did so despite structural racism--because they had strong communities and families. Thus, contrary to liberal ideology, blacks are generally not being disadvantaged by whatever remains of structural racism (or the lingering effects of slavery and Jim Crow laws), but by social decay and the erosion of a strong family structure.This reader enjoyed the constructive criticism provided at the end of the book by John McWorter who argues persuasively that Jason Riley’s argument focuses too much on the greatly-diminished political clout of Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, and not enough on current progressive commentators (e.g., Ta-Nehishi Coates) and social media sources who have made it feel conscientious if not “cool” to stereotype blacks as victims who require more and more government support to succeed—a position that McWorter finds patronizing, to say the least.Overall, the book is a measured and compelling attack on identity politics and is critical of liberals whose policies, contrary to their alleged intentions, are harming those who they claim to be trying to help.

And it's short. Jason exposes the the false narrative behind black helplessness. I remember having my disagreements. But overall, I recommend this book.

Jason Riley has the courage to speak out about the fact that African Americans would be better served to rely on their God-given talents and skills to advance themselves socially, economically and spiritually by applying their talents to useful and important careers. Too many people are more concerned with the thought of racism as a cause of their lack of success in our country. This belief of racism does not help the African Americans because the reinforcement of this belief influences their behavior. They begin to rely on the government for welfare and other "give-away" programs which diminishes their incentive to succeed by applying their talents and skills to advance themselves and their family. Jason disdains the use of "give-way" programs by the government as a way to assist the African Americans because it enables the problem of reliance on the government. He also points to the period of time from 1940 - 1960 when the African Americans were very active in improving their lives without concern about racism. When the use of the term "racism" began to become a more prevalent term used by the politicians and the media to gain the support of African Americans, it inspired African American leaders to adopt the belief that racism was indeed a factor for their lack of success and this belief was perpetuated further until it has become a widely spread phenomenon to present day thinking.A very good book to read for all Americans.

Observable facts and truth actually matter to Jason L. Riley and his timely and valuable book provides solid proof that Mr. Riley is interested in the truth of what is actually happening in today's society. Well researched and documented with linked footnotes/references, the reader quickly gets the clear understanding that this is both a serious academic work and analysis of what is going on in politics and racial relations in our country today. While Dr. Thomas Sowell is slowing his outstanding output of worthwhile commentary and analysis of what ails our society today, Jason L. Riley has taken the baton and is forging ahead to carry on providing clear headed analysis from a Conservative and objective viewpoint. I highly recommend this book as a timely resource for use by voters, politicians and academics to get, an at times uncomfortable, but necessary counterpoint from Leftist Dogma on where our society is today and what needs to be done to actually improve it, rather than continue with the failed programs and policies of the past.  False Black Power? (New Threats to Freedom Series)

Mr. Riley brings a new dimension with great insight into the cultural politics of candidates and how it is manipulated into serving, the agenda of the party and not the culture for which is was intended. In other words, when Obama initially talked about black people needing to ‘pull themselves up by their bootstraps.’ while he was a candidate; once elected the Democrats forced him to change the narrative to run on a platform of black people are victims under white supremacy; although, history is documented showing that this is not the case.

A really enjoyable and easy to read book on what Riley sees as the biggest impediment to black progression in the United States. Well sourced and highlights the often ignored history of black America post slavery in context of their outcomes today. Riley highlights the limitations of a groups political power as a route to better economic outcomes, and how this focus on cultivating political representation has been a hindrance to black people in America compared to other groups who shunned politics. Riley emphasizes the importance of personal responsibility as well as being critical of cultural attributes, which are also often ignored when discussing a groups outcomes, instead racial discrimination being the go-to explanation. What is also good about this book is that John McWhorter and Glenn Loury (both really worth checking out) give their opinions on Riley’s essay, which gives it a good balance overall.

Nice round up of current empirically supported conservative rational view and why progressive emotive arguments are mostly non sequitur logically even tho powerful in effect - but there nothing new or surprising - mostly reiterates Thomas Sowell - nothing wrong with that just that you could get it from the horses mouth

An excellent summation of the industry that has sprung up since the 60's in divding people by race and setting us against each other. This divde and conquer nonsense has been going on for thousands of years and must be identified, called out and ended if we are to progress.

Excellent book and service