Exploring the Impact of Barack Obama's Presidency on Race in America: The Black Presidency

Amazon Customer: Great read

United Kingdom on May 21, 2022

Rick Goff: Dyson’s book heeds the author’s call to contemplate Barack Obama’s presidency not just as the long awaited first black presidency (biracial,actually) but as a singular opportunity to acknowledge and address systemic oppression and violence - physical, spiritual, cultural - that has characterized the American experience since 1619. Dyson provides insightful readings of Obama’s rhetoric and policies, citing both successes and failures. This book is not a biography. It’s a work that contextualizes the (only) black (biracial) president (so far) and measures that president’s performance against his opportunity to improve the situation of black folk - and hence,all folk - in the USA. If you’ve heard Dyson on MSNBC, then you’re familiar with the tasty intersection of academic vocabulary and black cadence. I might compare his style to that of Talib Kweli with the emphases reversed.

United States on Apr 02, 2021

Clem: This book was not what I thought it was going to be. I was wanting a book about the presidency of, and the man Barack Obama. The blame, though, should be on me and me alone. A careful look at the wording of the title of the book should have probably educated be otherwise. This is a book about race. Specifically, this book is about the racial tensions and turmoil that still continue to plague the nation; and whether or not having a black president has the ability to change things. This book, though, is mostly about the racial problems and not so much about Barack Obama. Yes, we read his name from time to time, but he’s obviously a “supporting” player in this story. If this had been a movie, we wouldn’t even see the name ‘Barack Obama’ during the opening credits until we get to the words ‘And also starring…’.

Michael Eric Dyson is an op-ed writer for the New York Times as well as a contributor to MSNBC. He’s also written several books around racial injustice. And if you didn’t already know, yes, he’s black. Like the majority of black Americans, Dyson clearly sees that injustice is still with us. What’s only slightly less irritating to this injustice...

United States on Sep 14, 2020

Amanda: Great book enjoyed read. Came good condition etc

United Kingdom on Nov 22, 2017

canuck_cougar: I heard the author interviewed on the radio and I was excited to read something by him. Unfortunately, I found the book very challenging due to the dozens of references and footnotes and the scholarly academic tone. Still, I'm glad I read it (well... most of it...I put it down after getting 3/4 of the way through). As a Canadian, who didn't follow American politics while Obama was President, my eyes were opened very WIDE.

Canada on Oct 16, 2017

Roy Krahn: Dyson writes a great summary of a black presidency. Sometimes I think that he is too harsh on Barack Obama in the way the president dealt with the issue of race. But then he remembers that the president was really between a rock and a hard place in how he handled the race issue. Really a great tribute to America's first black president . Bravo Michael Eric Dyson!

Canada on Apr 13, 2017

Amazon Customer: Dyson's analysis of Obama's approach to be seen as president of all the people illuminates, in my opinion, the caution he displayed in pursuing policies that would specifically benefit African Americans. The book is mentally stimulating. It is a good read.

Canada on Feb 08, 2017

Advocate for the marginalized: OMG, nobody breaks it down like Michael D. (MD), king of metaphors. He tells the truth about our POTUS without disrespecting or demonizing him – to use his words President Obama ‘… deserves to go down as one of the most important and consequential presidents in our history, and yet, when it came to race, he often stumbled’. ‘Stumbled’ may not be a strong enough word; he damn near fell off the precipice. I must admit when I first started reading this book I didn’t think MD would forthrightly report on the president and his laissez-faire attitude when confronting or handling African American policies and issues; boy, was I wrong. What I especially appreciated (as I do with every book I’ve read by him) is his inductive reasoning where he brilliantly states and illuminates the many false equivalencies asserted by the POTUS such as between ‘black and white experiences and how the president mistakes racial effects for their causes’. Also, in his ‘fear of alienating white people’ POTUS several times equates white and black anger (as if) while failing to mention white privilege. As MD reminds us: ‘Not only did white privilege and government assistance enhance the...

United States on Apr 29, 2016