Uncovering the Cost of Racism: How We Can Achieve Prosperity Through Unity

Liz: As a white person who has tried especially in the last few years to learn more about our country's bitter history of racism, I have learned still more about that racism and just how massively that history affects the present. For example, I had a vague knowledge of "red-lining" from the 1930's, but didn't realize just how directly this was the product of federal government rules, and didn't understand how the redlining of the 30's led to today's segregated neighborhoods, and so many ongoing inequities--the huge difference in home values, the ease with which blacks ave been stuck in environmental disaster areas, the continuing de facto segregation and unequal financing of public schools.

There are times when I have found it extremely painful to read more details of this history (and present).

BUT: McGhee's purpose with each chapter is to show how racism, whether overt or implicit, hurts ordinary white people and as well as blacks. The damage may be disproportionally wrecked on blacks (and other minorities), but usually the NUMBER of whites hurt is actually greater.

AND: This all this is not an accident. There is a small group of highly wealthy influential...

United States on Aug 05, 2023

max druker: A must read for anyone trying to understand the cost of racism and how it affects us all. Well reasoned and well written

Canada on Jan 29, 2022

Mark McCullagh: Very empirical and historically informed. Loved all the interviews with ground-level people making awesome changes in their communities! Deep insights

Canada on Dec 28, 2021

Ricardo Mio: What this book does is recount the author's three-year journey across the United States in search of something akin to the American Dream, and what has become of it. Most of what she found will break your heart. Two of the concepts she explores are (1) the Zero-Sum Paradigm, and (2) the Solidarity Dividend.

The Zero-Sum Paradigm is the belief that there is not enough to go around, that in order for one to succeed, someone must lose. It's a belief that has haunted America since its inception, beginning with slavery, and, in our time, racism, (a.k.a. "the fear of the other"). The Solidarity Dividend, on the other hand, are the benefits we gain when people come together across race to accomplish what we simply cannot do on our own. Quite simply, that is the point of Heather McGhee's book--that people truly do need each other, and when working together they achieve the American Dream.

The author illustrates how the fear of "the other" is not only irrational, but has led to a number of clearly irrational--and costly--public policies; policies that have hurt both black and white Americans equally alike, many of which she cites, beginning with the building of public pools...

United States on Apr 23, 2021

Amazon Customer: This book should be read by every American. Then maybe...

Canada on Apr 17, 2021

Daniel Glass: Tells the true history. A must read for anyone that cares about this world going forward. An amazing book that you must read.

Canada on Mar 11, 2021

Rn Wheeler: An informative look at the interaction between economics and racism.

Canada on Mar 01, 2021