We supposedly live in an era of racial enlightenment; an era of equal value and opportunity for all people, regardless of color. Slavery and the Jim Crow South are the stuff of history books—cautionary tales—and the central figures of the Civil Rights Movement are generally held up as archetypal heroes of the people, devoid of squirm-inducing political extremism. But is this the truth?
Speaking of extremism, Eddie S. Glaude, Jr. believes that may be just what the doctor ordered for America and tells us as much in his new book, Democracy in Black. Why does he advocate extreme measures? Because business-as-usual black politics and our standard responses to occurrences like the shooting of Michael Brown are not addressing the deeper issue. Even electing the first black president has not addressed the deeper issue. And the issue is the “racial value gap:” the deeply-held belief—so deeply held that it’s part of the national sub-consciousness—that white people are more valuable than everyone else.
Glaude makes a compelling case for his belief that there is a racial crisis in America and white people remain largely unaware and even culpable because we sit on top, not really understanding the value gap. As a result, true democracy suffers. As a white reader, there were several times I wanted to put the book down, but I knew I couldn’t look away. I needed a big bowl of this, and you probably do, too.
Glaude, as a Princeton professor, knows his history and writes with both skill and venom. Paragraphs land like blows. He connects the dots of American history, reminding us that there isn’t a direct line between the founding of the NAACP, the Harlem Renaissance, Brown v. Board of Education, King’s “I Have A Dream Speech,” and Obama’s election. It is the events that happened in the margins of the history books that tell the most important story, which is the story of the narrowing of the American mind to accept the value gap that still exists. We narrow our minds because we want our idealized view of America as a land of equal opportunity and value to remain untarnished. We want to believe in an America that “rights itself” when injustice rears its ugly head.
Here is a statement from the climatic chapter:
“Obviously we know we matter. The phrase isn’t about asserting our humanity to folks who deny it…#BlackLivesMatter reminds white people that their lives do not matter more than others. It is a direct challenge to white supremacy.”
Are Glaude’s statements inflammatory? Yes. Do I agree with him categorically? Of course not. That doesn’t change the fact that this book stands as a bold statement of the value of black people at a historical crossroads. I pray his message is not ignored or dismissed. Glaude calls for all Americans to cast a blank, “none of the above” ballot for the upcoming presidential election as a “hard reset” of American democracy. That’s starting to look like a really good idea right now.
Please Note: This book was gifted as a part of the Blogging for Books Reviewers Program in exchange for my unbiased review of this work. This has in no way influenced my opinion or review of this work.