A New York Times Notable Book of the Year
What do hurricane Katrina victims, millionaire rappers buying vintage cha...
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reviews
Mar 08, 2009
David
rated it: 
Steers clear of either extreme (there is no more racism; racism is pandemic and far too little discussed) and adds some good legal perspective on a few cases (e.g., differentiating unfair treatment from legally defined sex discrimination in a case in which women sleeping with the boss were promoted and others not).
On the whole, though, a tedious book. There's a good 8-page magazine article struggling to get out of this 350-page document. Maybe it's just that I already agree with mo More...
On the whole, though, a tedious book. There's a good 8-page magazine article struggling to get out of this 350-page document. Maybe it's just that I already agree with mo More...
Mar 18, 2008
Dan
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The basic argument of the book is that although our society has moved beyond it's racist past, we've failed to develop any new ways of discussing the racial problems we still have. If you've been anywhere near a tv or an internet lately, you'll have seen how right Ford is. I'm not audacious enough to hope, but it's been really interesting watching how Obama's campaign has shown how we still have some, as they say, issues with race in this country. Whenever some public figure brings up an
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Oct 01, 2008
Lynne
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I just cannot get myself to read this book - it's too dry and the set up takes too long. This is too bad, because Ford's scholarship on residential segregation, political fragmentation, and race is among the best.
Even without reading the book, I see major cracks in Ford's attempts to get folks to pay more attention to what some call "structural racism," the way that historical discrimination and present-day policies interact to marginalize African Americans, Asians, Latin More...
Even without reading the book, I see major cracks in Ford's attempts to get folks to pay more attention to what some call "structural racism," the way that historical discrimination and present-day policies interact to marginalize African Americans, Asians, Latin More...
Feb 18, 2008
Lawrence
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Definitely food for thought here about the dangers of trivializing the struggle for civil rights. Oprah getting snubbed by Hermes in Paris isn't - and shouldn't be - a high priority for civil rights activists to address. The book both falls short and overreaches in its analysis, however. Dismissing the importance of looking systematically at the commonalities of discrimination against various groups while focusing only on unique factors isn't consistent with a subtle and full analysis of oppr
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Sep 03, 2009
Nancy
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Without going into too long a book report (ha), I thought this was a book that every American should read. Ford (who happens to be black), really captured, what I (now) feel are the problems of race (black vs. white, to be specific) in the U.S. and included real solutions with how to fix them without being too optimistic or cynical. It changed my options on a few subjects regarding race and it's the fist account of Katrina that I thought was comprehensive and fair to all "sides."
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Feb 18, 2011
Kimberly
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But the race card is an impediment to dealing with these problems. It distracts attention from larger social injustices. It encourages vindictiveness and provokes defensiveness when open-mindedness and sympathy are needed. It leads to an adversarial, tit-for-tat mindset when a cooperative spirit of dialogue is required.
p 349
outlawing any and all consideration of race in order to stop racism is a bit like outlawing umbrellas because you don't like rain.
p 334
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p 349
outlawing any and all consideration of race in order to stop racism is a bit like outlawing umbrellas because you don't like rain.
p 334
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Apr 04, 2011
Kelly
rated it:
I really wanted to read this book. I attended a talk about it at Foothill College through the Author Series, and that is how I came to know of the book. I found the book very dense, but I found that I finally understood the author's points at the end, so I would say that the conclusion was very well done. It is hard to walk the line between anecdotes that make the book readable and losing the overall message, so I was glad that the conclusion was clear (at least to me). I think that this is
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Jul 07, 2008
Leigh
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If an issue involves a person of color is it racial? Richard Thompson Ford says Not Necessarily. Is discrimination bad? He says Not Always. But tread lightly, because, yes, Virginia, there really is such a thing as Racism. How do we distinguish between the spurious accusation and the real deal, the substantive solution and the naive response? That's what this wonderful and challenging book asks. Ford, an Integrationist at heart, argues that in this Age of Obama, we've made much progress b
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Feb 25, 2008
Troy
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I read the book, enjoyed it, and appreciated the author's use of anecdote to make his points. THis is probably one of the few "policy" books I've read whose author isn't in love with his own vocabulary.
Solutions-wise, he acknowledges that his answers may be a bit naive and unassuming of human nature, but I admire him for making them. In the face of overwhelming norms and behavior, we hope, someone exerts some common sense and does what is right. It'll take guts, though.
Solutions-wise, he acknowledges that his answers may be a bit naive and unassuming of human nature, but I admire him for making them. In the face of overwhelming norms and behavior, we hope, someone exerts some common sense and does what is right. It'll take guts, though.
Apr 07, 2008
As seen in the March 10 2008 issue of the New Yorker.
Racism clearly exists (as evidenced by African-Americans' overwhelming overrepresentation in prisons and in poverty), yet neither I nor anyone else I know wakes up each day thinking, "How can I discriminate against African-Americans today?" I'm interesting in learning the sources of this unintentional racism, and ultimately what we can do about it.
Racism clearly exists (as evidenced by African-Americans' overwhelming overrepresentation in prisons and in poverty), yet neither I nor anyone else I know wakes up each day thinking, "How can I discriminate against African-Americans today?" I'm interesting in learning the sources of this unintentional racism, and ultimately what we can do about it.
Jun 09, 2008
Ernest
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"The Race Card" is the fairest, most nuanced, and most sensible description of--and prescription for--current race relations in America. Written by Stanford Law Professor and civil rights expert Richard Thompson Ford (yes, he's black), this book examines recent, often headline-making, claims of racial bias and discrimination from a pragmatic legal perspective not beholden to any rigid ideological posturing.
Feb 15, 2008
Phil
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This book is awesome. Whether you're a liberal, independent, or conservative, you will find this intelligent and timely. I'm glad I finished reading this before the Obama/Wright controversy and today's NYC police acquittal--it helped put race relations into perspective and helped me learn not to jump on the race card bandwagon.
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Jun 28, 2010
Johnathan
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A fairly interesting and thought-provoking book. While I disagree with some of Ford's conclusions, ultimately I found myself swayed by the central premise: that we, as a society, lack a sufficient vocabulary to discuss the complicated manner in which race, racial stereotypes, and racism play out in our modern society.
Dec 23, 2010
Corey
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I read this book for my Graduate Seminar in Race Relations. This controversial book sparked a lot of lively discussion. While I may not agree with all of Ford's ideas, I have to admit that his book presents and interesting and well supported argument.
Jun 30, 2008
Jacquelyn
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I am currently half finished with this book. It is shedding light on some questions and concerns I have had regarding racial issues. It is an interesting read requires your brain to go into overdrive at times deciphering the leagalize.
Oct 13, 2008
Jenn
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I thought this was a really interesting examination of race relations in the United States. At times, the legal discussions were a bit lengthy and difficult to wade through, however.
May 29, 2008
Xavier
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The book starts off well. But somewhere in the middle, the point has been made yet you feel like the author keeps going for the sake of filling pages.
Sep 10, 2008
Tanya
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Written by a Standford Law professor, this book looks critically at claims of racism in modern society. Pretty interesting and well-balanced.
May 08, 2008
Julie
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He has a really interesting perspective on race in our country. Very timely and thought provoking.
Jul 14, 2010
Kirsti
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Thoughtful analysis of how laws and public opinion have changed over time.
Feb 06, 2012
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