The Trouble with Friendship: Why Americans Can't Think Straight About Race

In this lively book a well-known social critic draws on evidence from movies TV literature and advertising to argue that many Americans have been lulled by the media into believing that racial problems can be substantially mitigated even vanquished by blacks and whites working together one on one to reconcile their differences. Benjamin DeMott believes that this position of "friendship orthodoxy" oversimplifies the causes of racism and allows us to ignore the harsh socioeconomic realities faced by many blacks in this country. "A fresh witty and pertinent essay on race in America. . . . DeMott advances his simple yet subtle argument in graceful nuanced writing."-Edward T. Chase Nation "DeMott draws carefully and intelligently from the well of cultural evidence and delivers the boldest contribution to America's ongoing racial dialogue to come along in years."-Quinn Eli Philadelphia Inquirer "A refreshingly original assessment of the state of black-white relationships in the United States."-George M. Fredrickson New York Review of Books "DeMott argues his case persuasively in this important book a clarion call to those still willing to consider the lessons of history before TV and advertising erase them completely."-Kirkus Reviews "Critical reading for anyone interested in the intersections of culture race and policy."-Kristal Brent Zook LA Weekly "A uniquely fine book . . . on race relations in America. . . . A powerfully crafted call for a revolution in the way we see ourselves."-Courtland Milloy Quarterly Black Review of Books

Social critic DeMott (The Imperial Middle) offers a salutary deconstruction of "friendship orthodoxy"?the new theme of black-white commonality that, he says, prevails in pop culture and revisionist thinking and hampers moves toward racial justice. DeMott's take on ad campaigns, sitcoms, movies such as White Men Can't Jump and such authors as Studs Terkel (who calls for "affirmative civility") is devastating. Then he cites research comparing the U.S. to other "caste-like" societies and declares that caste remains?especially for poor blacks. Worse, "nonscholarly cultural production" has served to erase history, he states, criticizing Roots and the PBS series The Civil War for ignoring the lasting effects of slavery. Though society embraces the palliative words of such black neoconservatives as Shelby Steele, we ignore the fact that their messages of individual pride also acknowledge the need to help the poor. Thus, in a brave and potent challenge to orthodoxy, DeMott calls on the majority society to recognize its responsibilities and to endorse "broadscale programs of development" for blacks.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.