Navigating Difficult Discussions with a Black Man

Like reading: An outstanding read. If you want to know what others won't ask. This book is for you.

United States on Jan 17, 2024

Jwolajan: This book made me grow as person and brought a lot of valid points and it’s nice touch that the author did not hold back while creating this God given book I always recommend it to people .

United States on Jan 02, 2024

colby: I can't recommend this book enough. It outlines a lot of chronic myths and misinformation, explains why they're misguided, and gives strategies for changing behavior.

United States on Nov 22, 2023

K A S: Very knowledgeable and interesting. Helpful

United Kingdom on Aug 20, 2023

Paolo Bazzigaluppi: The book delivers a strong message on the importance of education about systemic racism in the USA, and the urgent need for conversations about all the abuses of (white) American society on the African American community. I'm not a big fan of the format of the book (i.e. conversation-style), but that's a matter of personal taste. What I actually disliked is the mixing of historical facts and anecdotes with the author's personal views on certain topics, like R&B music and transcultural couples. The language is simple and direct, which is probably instrumental to the author's goal of reaching as broad of an audience as possible. At times, broader historical background and deeper analysis of socio-economical factors would have been appreciated. Overall a nice introduction to the problem of systemic racism in the USA.

Italy on Apr 29, 2023

Rob V: I’ve been wanting to read this for some time now, and it was just about what I expected. I personally haven’t seen the authors online program that was the basis for this book, but I’ll admit that I’m tempted to look into it now. I blew through about the first third of this book in one sitting, and honestly felt it was one of the most engaging and fascinating things I’ve ever read. Though I read the last 2/3 pretty quickly and also in big chunks, I felt like I lost a little of the momentum that I had gained reading it from the beginning, so I almost suggest that you try to read this in one sitting, if possible. This book isn’t the definitive statement on racism, and I don’t think it’s meant to be. It’s supposed to be the beginning of a conversation, a dialogue with white people to help them understand where so many of these black concepts are coming from.

Author Emmanuel Acho does not speak from a place of hate, but from a place of concern, justified anger, and a serious desire for things to change. People that submitted the questions that he answered in this book had some pretty interesting ideas, including some questions that I had myself, and it was nice...

United States on Mar 05, 2023

Genevieve Levac: I fully recommend this book to anyone who wants to be more conscientious and learn to be anti-racist and an ally to their black friends, coworkers, or family.  

He explains how black people are still oppressed in America and what systemic racism is, by citing some serious studies. Emmanuel is concise and to the point. He clearly explains what white privilege is, why cultural appropriation is a slippery slope and why using the “n’ word and black face is never acceptable. 

White people are part of the solution. At the end of each chapter, he lists things we can do to support equality and be an ally. The suggestions range from reflecting on our privilege and implicit bias and having uncomfortable conversations with our black friends to supporting movie/song/poem/books and being involved in data collection, elections, diversity committees, attending protests, signing petitions, and much more. He went so far as to list specific ones to check out.   

His perspective is american though. I found myself curious about how things compared in Canada. A lot is tied up in academic study. Few newspaper articles takled the subject. Start with...

Canada on Mar 03, 2021

peasel: A wonderful read that will resonate with a wide audience. I read it as someone who wants to be a better ally, and the book did not disappoint. It was broken into logical sections, drew upon examples, and made suggestions for what you can do--and what you shouldn't--on your journey to allyship. Highly recommended!

Canada on Feb 10, 2021

M. Anderson: Unfortunately there is a theme of misogyny that comprises this message. A focus on race, but through a specific gender lens.

Australia on Jan 03, 2021

Gary Moreau, Author: Emmanuel Acho is the son of Nigerian immigrants who went on to play in the NFL, became a popular television sports analyst, and started an online video series with the same name as this book. And, I must admit, I’ve never heard of him. I’m much older, white, and watch little NFL football.

I was, however, intrigued by the title of this book, in part because I have always found every occasion with the greatest opportunity to teach us about ourselves just a little uncomfortable. And like a lot of people of every race I am at a loss to explain why we are still having the black/white conversation. Not that we don’t need to have it, mind you, now more than ever, but how can that be? Is somebody putting something in the water?

The answer is yes, figuratively speaking, but first a little about the style and structure of the book. The book is true to its title, which you don’t always find these days. Emmanuel starts each chapter with the kind of question on a lot of white minds (questions that he has actually received, not softballs of his own making) and then proceeds to answer that question in a rational, common sense way. He uses the word “uncomfortable” a lot...

United States on Nov 11, 2020