Content Of Our Character [Paperback]

 

 

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In the book, The Content of Our Character,Shelby Steele expresse very strong views about racism in the black community. He, at times, has valid responses to some of the problems that America faces with racism, but some of his opinions(keyword opinion)comes of very strong and seems unsympathetic to some of the struggles that African-Americans have faced in the past as well as the present.
While I hope he may be sensitive to the hardships hardships that have fallen upon the black race, I think his basic point of the book is that although blacks have been victims of racism for decades, there is no sense in "milking the cow" for more reasons to fall as victims to racism. There are situations that African-Americans can change in their own lives to keep from being pulled into negative stereotypes. For example,in one of his arguments he states that there are blacks who complain of living in poverty and that its the "white man's" fault. He says there are things that you can do to change that situation such as going for a higher education and actually apllying yourself to achieve that goal. As with anything in life there will be sacrifices made and that something you have to do. Meaning you can place the blame on anyone or anything why your life is the
way it is but what are you going to do to change it? No one can hold anyone back from achieving anything. He defends most of his arguements this way-- by offering "suggestions" on how not to fall to being a victim of racism, at least in your own eyes because you are doing all that you can do to try your best to improve your life(if improvement is needed). He's stating racism is not the sole problem fore African-Americans, some just use racism as a crutch to make an excuse about why their not getting ahead in life.
But at a different point of view, it seems for a second he for a second he forgot he is a black man. He stated that he felt nostalgia when in black neighborhoods( but as I stated offers suggestions on how not to fall as a victim to racism and stereotypes) and he stated that while at a party he felt ok for a moment by making whites who were at the party feel guilty about struggles(even though he stated that those African-Americans who use racism as a crutch and shouldn't) and he's married to a white woman. How did she feel knowing he at one time was ok with that? His opinions are very strong and can be taking the wrong way. I feel as if he is very opiniated and at times unsympathetic to the hardships. I would recommend this book to read, just keep your own opinions at heart and remember there just opinions.

This tome by Shelby Steele was written slightly over a decade ago. However, the problems of race and class that defined much of the black experience in America at the time of its writing still hold for today. And, while I agree with Steele's general assessment of the state of black America, and especially with the solutions he outlines, I do agree somewhat with his critics, black or otherwise, who believes Steele tends to underplay the current levels of racism in our society.

However, here's the rub: Racism can be an excuse to fail, or a reason to improve one's lot to the extent that blacks are empowered to make racism less relevant to their individual and collective destiny. For what Steele is proposing is a return to the proud ethic first elaborated upon by such civil rights pioneers as Booker T. Washington and Marcus Garvey.

I give this excellent book four stars instead of five for the following reasons: 1). As it was compiled mainly from magazine articles previously written by Steele, it is a bit repetetive, and; 2). Steele draws quite a bit on history of the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 60s, but I believe that by tracing many of our societal trends to the turn-of-the-century competing visions of Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. DuBois, this would have been a more well-rounded book.

The Content of Our Character by Shelby Steele appealed to me in some ways while he contradicted himself in others. At different times throughout the book Mr.Steele gave me the impression that he believed that African-Americans caused their own problems in society while at other times he made it seem as if white America caused the black society's problem.
For instance, in a passage in this book he said he felt okay at one point with making white guest at a party he attended feel guilty about the oppression that African-Americans went through during slavery. Yet, he is married to a white woman.Another statement that he made where he was contradicting himself is he would be promoting the rights for African-Americans and saying that we need to stand up for ourselves, but then in the same breath would say how he felt"nostalgia" when in black neighborhoods. Excuse me?
Now there were points that I agreed with(out of the many he made). For example when he stated that if a black student who sits in front of class and is a hard worker will be put in the same category as the group of black students in his same class that sit in the back and act as if they don't have any commonsense. Not true in all cases but true in many. I also understood the point he was making when he said that seeing for innoncence pressures blacks to focus on racism and not see the opportunity that can take those in poverty away from it.Instead, some blacks see racism in everything even if it's not there. But he had a pretty shallow view since he thinks that injustice does not exist today in the black community because he is very wrong. He suggests that blacks gain entitlement by refusing to see ways that the could better themselves. I think that's something that could be said for all races and also it's not that the black race wants to be better, just equal--something I believe won't be happening anytime soon. We've come a long way, just not long enough.
The Content of Our Character was a book that I think was good book to help "wake up" your views about issues inside and outside the black community. It helped me with my views and I'm sure it can help with yours.

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3.0 out of 5 stars A flawed analysis of a national problem
Shelby Steele's book has generated a lot of controversy in the black community, some generally applauding for his views and more castigating him as an Uncle Tom; and as a black... Read more

Published on Jan 23 2002 by JLind555

5.0 out of 5 stars Profound Sociological Insights
Prior to reading THE CONTENT OF OUR CHARACTER, one will find it helpful to know something about Sheby Steele's background. Read more

Published on Dec 9 2001 by S. M Marson

4.0 out of 5 stars Ok
To sum up what I think Mr Steele was saying in this book, is that African americans should stop thinking about the past, and look to the future, and at the process that african... Read more

Published on Sep 6 2001 by "July Lady"

4.0 out of 5 stars Ok
To sum up what I think Mr Steele was saying in this book, is that African americans should stop thinking about the past, and look to the future, and at the process that african... Read more

Published on Sep 6 2001 by "July Lady"

3.0 out of 5 stars worthwhile
Despite an over reliance on personal anecdote and pop psychology, which mars his book, Shelby Steele offers one really terrific insight, that "... Read more

Published on Dec 8 2000 by Orrin C. Judd

1.0 out of 5 stars Under the guise of promoting better race relations...
I was terribly disappointed after reading this book...before reading, one gets the impression that the views expressed about race relations are refreshing and eye-opening, but it... Read more

Published on Nov 11 2000 by persistence_is_all

4.0 out of 5 stars Disturbingly liberating
Shelby Steele's strong opinoins and in that context contraversial lifestyle choices (i.e., being a tenured professor having a white psychologist as a wife) leads one regardless of... Read more

Published on July 25 2000 by Earl Hazell

5.0 out of 5 stars Among The Very Best Books on Race in America
Steele's deeply absorbing "The Content of our Character" should be required reading for every American. Read more

Published on Jun 10 2000

1.0 out of 5 stars a weak look at race relations
This is one of the worst books I have ever read on race relations in the United States. Steele's arguments are illogical and he is prone to making sweeping generalizations. Read more

Published on Mar 15 2000 by sophie hunter

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the jewels on my shelves
Like many concerned Americans, I have spent decades discussing and reflecting on the racial troubles in our past and present, and have read numerous books that explore the topic... Read more

Published on Mar 18 1999

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