The Trouble With Friendship: Why Americans Can't Think Straight About Race
Benjamin Demott
ISBN 10: 0871136198 ISBN 13: 9780871136190
Published by Atlantic Monthly Pr, 1996
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About this Item
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May have limited writing in cover pages. Pages are unmarked. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less. Seller Inventory # G0871136198I4N00
Synopsis:
Identifying the practices that are countering the progress of African-Americans, from political movements to media obscurity, a cultural study states that racial problems can be overcome by people working together to reconcile differences.
Reviews:
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.
A top social critic argues that bringing blacks and whites together is not enough. Excerpted in Harper's September issue.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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Bibliographic Details
Title: The Trouble With Friendship: Why Americans ...
Publisher: Atlantic Monthly Pr
Publication Date: 1996
Binding: Hardcover
Condition: Very Good
Dust Jacket Condition: No Jacket