I’m curious as to what books by black authors you’d recommend instead. Any suggestions? I used to read a lot of world literature but have fallen behind.
We have overcome! Then again, there is more work to be done. What will it take for 30% of the books to be by black writers? 40%? 50% There is systemic racism afoot in the land. I for one will not rest easy until we have achieved equity in the New York Times' ranking of the top books of the 21st century! We all must do the work. Try harder.
On a serious note, I enjoyed this insightful essay. These profiled black writers are not from Middle America. I know these places from which these writers come -- Cambridge, New Haven, Howard, etc. How many of these writers write against dogma in race? How many of these writers deploy slogan words to understand the world? As a proud graduate of the University of Virginia, it is disappointing to see that only one listed black writer graduated from a public university. Where is the viewpoint diversity? These listed black writers are from the pinnacle of higher education more so than listed white writers. Are we ok with honoring the Black Elite as a nod to diversity? Don't get me wrong. Some of my best friends and family members know well Palo Alto, Cambridge, New Haven, Providence and Philadelphia. They are also traveling in the same insular social circles -- Sag Harbor, Martha's Vineyard, Jack and Jill, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Alpha Phi, Alpha, , etc.
If everyone thinks the same and has the same insular social experience, have we achieved notable diversity in literature? Something to think about.
Hillsdale College in southwestern Michigan is the ONLY true conservative-leaning college in America. Period.
So if someone were to label it as a “bastion of conservative thought” then might not the opposite be true?
Every other single solitary college in America is a “bastion of leftist thought”?
Also, Hillsdale does “reject federal funding” and that is a BONUS…not having to be beholden to the federal government…is a wonderful thing! And guess what, their privately-funded endowments allow for scholarship monies completely free from federal government strings.
Also, Hillsdale was the first American college to prohibit in its charter any discrimination based on race, religion, or sex, and became an early force for the abolition of slavery. It was also the second college in the nation to grant four-year liberal arts degrees to women.
And, because of Hillsdale College’s anti-slavery reputation and its role in founding the new Republican party (Professor Edmund Fairfield was a leader at the first convention), many notable speakers visited its campus during the Civil War era, including Frederick Douglass and Edward Everett, who preceded Lincoln at Gettysburg.
The NYT still being “the most influential tastemaker” won’t last much longer on their current trajectory.
I’m curious as to what books by black authors you’d recommend instead. Any suggestions? I used to read a lot of world literature but have fallen behind.
I hear there is a great book out titled Letters in Black and White:: A New Correspondence on Race in America (IMay 23, 2023). Check it out. I know the author/smile (tongue in cheek) -- W. F. Twyman, Jr. https://www.amazon.com/Letters-Black-White-Correspondence-America/dp/1634312368 On second thought, the writer has retired from Blackness so there's that....Best https://twyman.substack.com/p/the-burbank-happening-and-other-signs
We have overcome! Then again, there is more work to be done. What will it take for 30% of the books to be by black writers? 40%? 50% There is systemic racism afoot in the land. I for one will not rest easy until we have achieved equity in the New York Times' ranking of the top books of the 21st century! We all must do the work. Try harder.
On a serious note, I enjoyed this insightful essay. These profiled black writers are not from Middle America. I know these places from which these writers come -- Cambridge, New Haven, Howard, etc. How many of these writers write against dogma in race? How many of these writers deploy slogan words to understand the world? As a proud graduate of the University of Virginia, it is disappointing to see that only one listed black writer graduated from a public university. Where is the viewpoint diversity? These listed black writers are from the pinnacle of higher education more so than listed white writers. Are we ok with honoring the Black Elite as a nod to diversity? Don't get me wrong. Some of my best friends and family members know well Palo Alto, Cambridge, New Haven, Providence and Philadelphia. They are also traveling in the same insular social circles -- Sag Harbor, Martha's Vineyard, Jack and Jill, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Alpha Phi, Alpha, , etc.
If everyone thinks the same and has the same insular social experience, have we achieved notable diversity in literature? Something to think about.
“Diversity”…you nailed it…different skin color and gender but little to no diversity of thought. Fraud.
Hillsdale College in southwestern Michigan is the ONLY true conservative-leaning college in America. Period.
So if someone were to label it as a “bastion of conservative thought” then might not the opposite be true?
Every other single solitary college in America is a “bastion of leftist thought”?
Also, Hillsdale does “reject federal funding” and that is a BONUS…not having to be beholden to the federal government…is a wonderful thing! And guess what, their privately-funded endowments allow for scholarship monies completely free from federal government strings.
Also, Hillsdale was the first American college to prohibit in its charter any discrimination based on race, religion, or sex, and became an early force for the abolition of slavery. It was also the second college in the nation to grant four-year liberal arts degrees to women.
And, because of Hillsdale College’s anti-slavery reputation and its role in founding the new Republican party (Professor Edmund Fairfield was a leader at the first convention), many notable speakers visited its campus during the Civil War era, including Frederick Douglass and Edward Everett, who preceded Lincoln at Gettysburg.
(Hillsdale.edu for reference here)
Sometimes, there is more to a story than what is printed…