Reviews
The Black Presidency: Barack Obama and the Politics of Race in America by Michael Eric Dyson
socraticgadfly's review
4.0
This is a good critique of Obama's presidency — within an establishmentarian box.
Dyson notes how Obama has dealt with being America's first black president while actually being of biracial background, and of the African portion of his heritage technically being African native, not African-American. He described in detail how this has worked with traditional black American power brokers, his one-time pastor and by extension the "black church" and other things.
Dyson also describes how Obama has *not* dealt with some of these things, such as working around at least some sections of the "black establishment," or, more accurately, the "black establishment as he found it in 2008."
So, in that sense, it's a version of "inside baseball," with all of its strengths as well as weaknesses.
And, weaknesses there are. Dyson pretty much passes by Obama's call, early in his presidency, for people of the left to keep pushing him, then his irritation when they — white, black, brown, or other colors — did just that. And, outside Cornel West, he doesn't mention a lot of black critiques from the left, outside the left edge of the black establishment.
Dyson notes how Obama has dealt with being America's first black president while actually being of biracial background, and of the African portion of his heritage technically being African native, not African-American. He described in detail how this has worked with traditional black American power brokers, his one-time pastor and by extension the "black church" and other things.
Dyson also describes how Obama has *not* dealt with some of these things, such as working around at least some sections of the "black establishment," or, more accurately, the "black establishment as he found it in 2008."
So, in that sense, it's a version of "inside baseball," with all of its strengths as well as weaknesses.
And, weaknesses there are. Dyson pretty much passes by Obama's call, early in his presidency, for people of the left to keep pushing him, then his irritation when they — white, black, brown, or other colors — did just that. And, outside Cornel West, he doesn't mention a lot of black critiques from the left, outside the left edge of the black establishment.
marystevens's review
3.0
Discussions of the politics of race through the lens of President Obama's speeches. Critical of the President who is not enough of a "race man" for Dyson. I skimmed it.
srobertsp's review
5.0
An insightful book, gaining strength as it progressed, and culminating climactically. The final chapter, a deft and moving analysis of Obama’s “Amazing Grace” eulogy for Rev. Clementa Pinckney after the Mother Emmanuel AME Church massacre, is 6 or 7 stars.
stanl's review
5.0
Highly informative analysis/interpretation of how President Obama has come to terms with "blackness" as a cultural concept while serving as the first Afro-American President of the United States of America. Michael Eric Dyson provides an intellectually stimulating account not only of the President, but, also, of our nation during this time. Michael Eric Dyson is a true public intellectual.
margaretpinard's review
3.0
Challenging read. Leaned a lot on Obama's main tactic of scolding black folk, but also addressed black rhetoric, Obama's unique position, other black leaders' take, and pivotal moments in Obama's term where things changed, or lessons hit home. I'm more well-rounded after reading it.
+ 226 "I have something that rhymes with bucket list" 249 "a legacy of hundreds of years of slavery and segregation, and structural inequalities that compounded over generations. It did not happen by accident." thought-provoking 253 "What's always been strongest about the civil rights movement has been when it said, yes, there is a unique problem here that arises out of race and slavery and segregation. But when you lock us up, you're imprisoning yourself in some fashion. When you deprive that child of opportunity, you're weakening yourself."
-207 'the demand for proof of what they believe is not foolproof' confusing sentence
+ 226 "I have something that rhymes with bucket list" 249 "a legacy of hundreds of years of slavery and segregation, and structural inequalities that compounded over generations. It did not happen by accident." thought-provoking 253 "What's always been strongest about the civil rights movement has been when it said, yes, there is a unique problem here that arises out of race and slavery and segregation. But when you lock us up, you're imprisoning yourself in some fashion. When you deprive that child of opportunity, you're weakening yourself."
-207 'the demand for proof of what they believe is not foolproof' confusing sentence
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