sadgirlsidney's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
3.5
I was very excited when I found out the film, by the same name, was based on a book by the lead detective Ron Stallworth. I will say having seen the film first I was left somewhat sad by the dramatizations included in the film that in reality did not happen and simultaneously surprised by the interesting facts that weren't included. I find books like this so hard to review because as compelling and well written they may be the horrific subject matter has such a huge impact. But this is extremely well done and I'm so glad Ron also narrated the audiobook which is just a big bonus to me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Racism, and Racial slurs
Moderate: Colonisation, Islamophobia, and Antisemitism
Minor: Rape
ksuazo94's review
adventurous
informative
inspiring
reflective
tense
fast-paced
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Violence, and Racial slurs
Moderate: Sexual content
elenaakers's review
informative
inspiring
slow-paced
1.5
One of the worst written books I’ve ever read, which is so unfortunate because the premise is so interesting. If anybody could have ever benefitted from a ghost writer it was this guy. It really felt like an editor never touched this, but there was indeed one thanked in the acknowledgements. The author made a few excellent observations about structural racism, but honestly there wasn’t really any new or particularly insightful information about the KKK, and a significant amount of space was dedicated to bashing the left-wing groups that opposed them. Had to remind myself that yes, this is a story about a Black man infiltrating the KKK and that is super cool, but he was also still a cop, and maybe cops should not write books. Anyway, excited to watch the movie!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
singmillz's review
emotional
informative
slow-paced
3.5
very interesting but a slow read. some grammatical errors throughout. he repeats thoughts multiple times which made it drag on a little
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
stevia333k's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
tense
fast-paced
2.0
I don't know how to label this book for triggers. I'll update if I can figure that out.
While I think the context this book debuted in makes it insulting to black lives matter activists (and even some of the text is insultingly vague too), I like how this book gave profiles of civilian organizations & their organizing problems because it helps explain why people seek red-brown alliances (which for example can be seen in cases of domestic violence & addiction focusing on blue coats as a treatment).
I also liked how it framed terrorist organizations like the KKK as a franchise business. Basically look into business organizing to get insight on terrorist organizing since they both come from a source of company towns & extractivist/colonization firms.
So this is either 3 or 4 stars. I give it 4 stars because this gives me insight on some organizations around me, but otherwise this would've maxed out at 3 stars.
Like it's literally about 1 person's career, mainly 1 undercover investigation, and it doesn't give a profile of the whole police department. The data black lives matter activism is able to get from data leaks, lawsuits, and newspaper compilations is more informative than 1 case. Like this is a whole thing that cook county district attorney Kim Foxx emphasizes, and even she doesn't get investigations nor justice for black trans women & the femicides against my trans sisters. This author is to the right wing of Kim Foxx. (Also the author doesn't get much specific about leftist organizations that don't trust cops, which fair enough because I wouldn't want a cop speaking in behalf of the left much anyways.)
This book was recommended to me before the terrorist attack/hatecrime at Club Q in Colorado Springs. I feel like that's an example of how this book under serves our communities.
The stars are liable to drop as I have more time to feel it. Actually I'm dropping it to 2 as I've sat with it for 6 hours because I literally gave "Hitler's American Model" & "Everybody wants to be a fascist" 1 star for assuming the audience is anti-fascist when the medium doesn't fit that, even though I agree with those points. I give this 1 more than 2 because at least this book snitches, but I'll drop it to 1 star later if I feel like it.
While I think the context this book debuted in makes it insulting to black lives matter activists (and even some of the text is insultingly vague too), I like how this book gave profiles of civilian organizations & their organizing problems because it helps explain why people seek red-brown alliances (which for example can be seen in cases of domestic violence & addiction focusing on blue coats as a treatment).
I also liked how it framed terrorist organizations like the KKK as a franchise business. Basically look into business organizing to get insight on terrorist organizing since they both come from a source of company towns & extractivist/colonization firms.
So this is either 3 or 4 stars. I give it 4 stars because this gives me insight on some organizations around me, but otherwise this would've maxed out at 3 stars.
Like it's literally about 1 person's career, mainly 1 undercover investigation, and it doesn't give a profile of the whole police department. The data black lives matter activism is able to get from data leaks, lawsuits, and newspaper compilations is more informative than 1 case. Like this is a whole thing that cook county district attorney Kim Foxx emphasizes, and even she doesn't get investigations nor justice for black trans women & the femicides against my trans sisters. This author is to the right wing of Kim Foxx. (Also the author doesn't get much specific about leftist organizations that don't trust cops, which fair enough because I wouldn't want a cop speaking in behalf of the left much anyways.)
This book was recommended to me before the terrorist attack/hatecrime at Club Q in Colorado Springs. I feel like that's an example of how this book under serves our communities.
The stars are liable to drop as I have more time to feel it. Actually I'm dropping it to 2 as I've sat with it for 6 hours because I literally gave "Hitler's American Model" & "Everybody wants to be a fascist" 1 star for assuming the audience is anti-fascist when the medium doesn't fit that, even though I agree with those points. I give this 1 more than 2 because at least this book snitches, but I'll drop it to 1 star later if I feel like it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Antisemitism, Hate crime, Murder, Violence, Racism, and Religious bigotry
miaaa_lenaaa's review against another edition
informative
reflective
fast-paced
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cultural appropriation, Racism, Hate crime, Cursing, Racial slurs, and Religious bigotry
frannyd's review
adventurous
informative
reflective
medium-paced
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Racial slurs, and Racism
Moderate: Antisemitism, Classism, Homophobia, and Misogyny
greatexpectations77's review
adventurous
informative
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
3.75
This is a totally wild story, and I can see why it was made into a movie. Also having the author read the audiobook when he wasn't a trained narrator felt really authentic. Most interesting was probably seeing the views of the author who sat at so many intersecting communities.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Homophobia, Antisemitism, Biphobia, Lesbophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, and Religious bigotry
veskumelooni's review against another edition
informative
fast-paced
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Hate crime, Racial slurs, and Racism
Minor: Antisemitism
theallmightyme's review against another edition
challenging
funny
informative
reflective
slow-paced
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Racial slurs
Moderate: Hate crime and Antisemitism