Enough: The Phony Leaders, Dead-End Movements, and Culture of Failure That Are Undermining Black America--and What We Can Do About It

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Enough: The Phony Leaders, Dead-End Movements, and Culture of Failure That Are Undermining Black America--and What We Can Do About It

by Juan Williams

3.87 · rating details · 125 ratings · 38 reviews

Half a century after brave Americans took to the streets to raise the bar of opportunity for all races, Juan Williams writes that too many black Americans are in crisis—caught in a twisted hip-hop culture, dropping out of school, ending up in jail, having babies when they are not ready to be parents, and falling to the bottom in twenty-first-century global economic competi...moreHalf a century after brave Americans took to the streets to raise the bar of opportunity for all races, Juan Williams writes that too many black Americans are in crisis—caught in a twisted hip-hop culture, dropping out of school, ending up in jail, having babies when they are not ready to be parents, and falling to the bottom in twenty-first-century global economic competition.

In Enough, Juan Williams issues a lucid, impassioned clarion call to do the right thing now, before we travel so far off the glorious path set by generations of civil rights heroes that there can be no more reaching back to offer a hand and rescue those being left behind.

Inspired by Bill Cosby’s now famous speech at the NAACP gala celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of the Brown decision integrating schools, Williams makes the case that while there is still racism, it is way past time for black Americans to open their eyes to the “culture of failure” that exists within their community. He raises the banner of proud black traditional values—self-help, strong families, and belief in God—that sustained black people through generations of oppression and flowered in the exhilarating promise of the modern civil rights movement. Williams asks what happened to keeping our eyes on the prize by proving the case for equality with black excellence and achievement.

He takes particular aim at prominent black leaders—from Al Sharpton to Jesse Jackson to Marion Barry. Williams exposes the call for reparations as an act of futility, a detour into self-pity; he condemns the “Stop Snitching” campaign as nothing more than a surrender to criminals; and he decries the glorification of materialism, misogyny, and murder as a corruption of a rich black culture, a tragic turn into pornographic excess that is hurting young black minds, especially among the poor.

Reinforcing his incisive observations with solid research and alarming statistical data, Williams offers a concrete plan for overcoming the obstacles that now stand in the way of African Americans’ full participation in the nation’s freedom and prosperity. Certain to be widely discussed and vehemently debated, Enough is a bold, perceptive, solution-based look at African American life, culture, and politics today.(less)

Hardcover, 256 pages

Published August 1st 2006 by Crown

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Feb 06, 2008

Hugh Henry rated it

Shelves: political

Imagine one aging man who gives one single speech with such power that he prompts another man to write a book. Bill Cosby gave a stirring, scathing, passionate speech on the fiftieth anniversary of the Brown vs. Board of Education case and Juan Williams wrote Enough. Cosby asked, "What good is Brown vs. Board if nobody wants it?" and decried the decline of the black family in America over the last fifty years. Cosby was born at a time when around 80% of black children had marri...more

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Jun 18, 2007

Ed rated it

Recommends it for: anyone contemplating the question-why blacks in America continue to do poorly?

Blacks in America fail to recognize that the face of the emeny is us !! Time to stop looking to be saved, save ourselves.

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Nov 03, 2011

trav added it

Shelves: but, unowned

Let me start by saying that I am not African-American, so this feels like an "outsider looking in" discussion. I do live in Birmingham, AL though, where talks of race, economics, education and history are brought to the forefront of discussion, news, etc. every day.

With that disclaimer out of the way...

I thought Juan Williams did a fantastic job of shining a light on the social ills of the past 50+ years.

I thought his arguments were well constructed and clear. And I found it very hard ...more

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Dec 18, 2011

Frederick Glaysher rated it

· review of another edition

Juan Williams, Enough. MCRI[return]September 15th, 2006[return][return]Juan Williams, Enough: The Phony Leaders, Dead-End Movements, and Culture of Failure that are Undermining Black America–and What We Can Do About It. Crown, New York. 2006.[return][return]The major shortcoming of Juan Williams book is that he doesn’t go far enough. But more of that later. It should first be said that he goes very far indeed, saying much that has needed to be said for years, if not decades. No mean achievement....moreJuan Williams, Enough. MCRI[return]September 15th, 2006[return][return]Juan Williams, Enough: The Phony Leaders, Dead-End Movements, and Culture of Failure that are Undermining Black America–and What We Can Do About It. Crown, New York. 2006.[return][return]The major shortcoming of Juan Williams book is that he doesn’t go far enough. But more of that later. It should first be said that he goes very far indeed, saying much that has needed to be said for years, if not decades. No mean achievement. The subtitle itself sets out much of the structure of the book: The Phony Leaders, Dead-End Movements, and Culture of Failure that are Undermining Black America–and What We Can Do About It. Williams’ discussion is built around Bill Cosby’s speech in 2004 on the fiftieth anniversary of the Supreme Court’s decision in Brown v. Board of Education, as well as Cosby’s numerous other talks throughout the country since then, including Detroit.[return][return]Williams laments the lack of any real leaders in the black community in the tradition of Frederick Douglass, Booker T. Washington, W. E. B. Dubois, and Martin Luther King, Jr., all of whom in Williams’ view shared a commitment to black self-reliance and self-determination:[return][return] “In its place is a tired rant by civil rights leaders about the power of white people–what white people have done wrong, what white people didn’t do, and what white people should do. This rant puts black people in the role of hapless victims waiting for only one thing–white guilt to bail them out” (32).[return][return]He lambasts both Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton as never having really accomplished much, in a way similar to John McWhorter’s scathing reference to “black theatrics.” Returning often to Bill Cosby’s speeches, concurring with Cosby, Williams states, “At some point, people have to take a personal accounting, turn away from any self-defeating behavior, and be sure they are doing everything in their power to put their families and their communities in a position to prosper and advance” (43). Jackson and Sharpton have “slowed the emergence of any new model of national black political leadership” (47). Juan Williams never suggests that Bill Cosby is in a sense the model–Cosby himself has repeatedly stated he’s an entertainer, not a leader, but merely someone sick and tired of it all and speaking out to wake people up to how bad things really are. Williams’ book goes a long way towards helping people do just that by facing the unpleasant facts.[return][return]Some of those facts include the diversion of attention and resources from the truly pressing needs of the black community to a futile fight for reparations for slavery. The chapter title says it all: “The Reparations Mirage.”[return][return]In a chapter on education, Juan Williams frames his discussion with Cosby’s provocative challenge, “What the hell good is Brown v. Board of Education if nobody wants it?” The dismal statistic of a 50 percent black drop out rate from high school, the best students pilloried as “acting white,” behavior way out of control, and so on, all adds up to deep and endemic crisis for young black people and the community. Cosby, Williams, and others are to be applauded for caring enough about the students themselves that they have publicly confronted and discussed what the issues really are, unlike those who, as Cosby cuts to the quick, are worried “they would lose their gig.” Indeed, there are black leaders and school officials who deserve to, and should, lose their “gig,” for the sake of the children and the future good of the black community.[return][return]On the national level in regard to black crime, Juan Williams similarly asserts there has been a failure of leadership:[return][return] “Never a word was spoken about the need for black Americans to take up their own war on drugs and on crime as a matter of personal responsibility…. All the silence could not blind anyone to the neon lights flashing sad facts about the severity of black crime. By 2004 federal data showed that black Americans–13 percent of the population–accounted for 37 percent of the violent crimes, 54 percent of arrests for robbery, and 51 percent of murders. Most of the victims of these violent criminals were their fellow black people. This legitimate fear of violent crime by black people spread into every corner of the nation” (116).[return][return]To these sad facts, Cosby and Williams rightly emphasize the utter crisis that confronts black America, all of America, and the need to wake up, take personal responsibility, and begin at the most basic level of society, with rebuilding the black family and community, citing the past in about 1950 when 78% of black children were raised in two-parent homes, compared to today with approximately only 34%. Williams also repeatedly emphasizes Cosby’s other major points, education and hard work, giving many inspiring examples.[return][return]Part of that rebuilding involves confronting the glorification of violence and sex in hip-hop and rap music and videos. Increasingly widely criticized, and justly, by many people, black and otherwise, for the misogyny and demeaning portrayals and exploitation of women, Williams discusses a number of disturbing and shocking incidents and rappers, highlighting that again black leaders, by failing to speak out and condemn “the corruption of rap for all these years” has “resulted in real damage to the most vulnerable of black America–poor children, boys and girls, often from broken homes” (133).[return][return]Throughout his book, Juan Williams demonstrates a firm command of the history of black people in America, the heroic struggle for freedom and dignity. Bringing it alive for black people today, he shows how black history is indeed relevant to the current problems of phoney leadership and community crisis. He seems to be saying the resources are there in the past and in the people; we need to do a better job of drawing on the best and striving to live up to it; we need leaders who can set the right standards, point us in the right direction, and demand we struggle for the mountain top.[return][return]My only misgiving with his book is that he seems studiously to avoid the subject of affirmative action, which I believe is a significant part of the problem, undermining self-determination and providing false excuses for failure or the lack of personal development. Unlike John McWhorter who directly takes on affirmative action, Williams may feel it’s best just to discuss the need for personal and community responsibility, cultural improvement.[return][return]I would argue the psychological chains binding the wrists of the black community must be cut, if any true progress is to be made. After all, the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative (MCRI), up for a vote in the very same year Williams publishes his book, will almost certainly pass and quite probably help further lead to a nationwide end of racial preference. Williams ignores the entire issue. It seems to me that Ward Connerly, Shelby Steele, Thomas Sowell, and others are more perceptive in this regard, kicking the destructive, misbegotten crutch away. But for anyone interested in an insightful survey and analysis of the issues that will remain and must be confronted on November 8th, Juan Williams’ Enough may be one of the best place to begin.[return][return]Frederick Glaysher [return]http://www.fglaysher.com(less)

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Sep 08, 2011

Richard rated it

There are many laudatory reviews of Enough here on Goodreads. Appropriately so, I believe. I concur with the preponderance of opinion that Enough has an important message and is well-written. Mr. Williams at times writes quite passionately about his subject, and with good reason.

There are several places in the book where Mr. Williams and I part company, but none of them are central to his message. One example of this is his contention that the Constitution supported slavery, using ...more

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Nov 27, 2008

Tim rated it

Recommended to Tim by: Peter Smick

Juan Williams' Enough is a riff on Bill Cosby's speech at the celebration of the golden annivesary of the Brown vs Board of Education decision in which Cosby took civil rights leaders and many African Americans to task for not taking advantage of all of the hard work that was done to achieve the rights that all Americans now enjoy. Williams expands Cosby's thesis and write about black leadership (mired in victim mentality), hip-hop culture, materialism, educational reforms that do not work, welf...moreJuan Williams' Enough is a riff on Bill Cosby's speech at the celebration of the golden annivesary of the Brown vs Board of Education decision in which Cosby took civil rights leaders and many African Americans to task for not taking advantage of all of the hard work that was done to achieve the rights that all Americans now enjoy. Williams expands Cosby's thesis and write about black leadership (mired in victim mentality), hip-hop culture, materialism, educational reforms that do not work, welfare, gangsta behavior from so-called celebrities, family breakdown, teen preganancy, and bad parenting.

Enough was published in 2006, and now we have a President who has in fact demonstrated that the nation will not reject a candidate based on his race, in a sense confirming Williams' facile thesis that hard work will pay off if people take the initiative to get an education, a job, and a partner before they have children. However, I had the strange sensation as I was reading that Williams was "speaking truth to weakness" rather than "truth to power," even though Williams would counter that thinking of the poor and underprivilged as "weak" merely confirms their status as victims.

I did not count the number of times that Williams wrote, "In an interview for this book, Cosby said..." and I yearned for some of William's own solutions beyond the perennial bromides of "get an education, work hard, be a model citizen and loving parent." None of this is untrue, and Williams correctly places himself in the company of Booker T Washington, WEB DuBois, ML King, and Malcolm X, but at the same time their is very little concrete analysis of how to do these things given our current situation. It was a tough book for me to read as a kneejerk liberal from Massachusetts.

For example, the final chapter opens: "Arriving at real solutions to help the poor get out of poverty is not as hard as it seems. What is hard is getting the message out. It is especially hard when a deafening batch of shrill voices is shouting excuses for why the poor remain poor. It gets even more difficult when the culture celebrates the cycle of failure, anger, and self-defeating behavior that keeps poor black people shacjked in the twenty-first century. And it becomes nearly impossible when ssmart, successful black people, under the banner of racial solidarity, refuse to hold black people responsible for their own failings."

And so the gauntlet has been tossed down, and we have a new President uniquely in a position to speak truth about these issues. Williams advocacy is not nuanced (nor was Cosby), but he holds, as it were, a mirror up to our societal nature and asks us to reinterpret what has happened over the past 50 years. The book is well worth reading.

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Jul 30, 2011

Alan Frager rated it

· review of another edition

Though Juan Williams repeats himself, he makes a very clear point: Bill Cosby was correct and courageous in calling out the black community leaders for their failure to speak and act against the current state of black culture in America, notably the high value given to hip hop artists and sports stars and the low value for education, marriage, and family responsibility. Williams notes that most current black American leaders are still fighting for civil rights although progress requires more fo...more

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Sep 26, 2007

Aron rated it

A very accessible and sobering look at African-American poverty by Juan Williams that takes the form of a call to arms in support of Bill Cosby and his education/strong family/personal responsibility argument.

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Apr 23, 2008

Emiliano Orencia rated it

Critique by someone who understands "black America" and provides pointed facts and statistics to support his contentions. Juan Williams does not appear to be one of these intellectuals in an ivory tower looking down upon the subjects he is focused on.

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Nov 21, 2007

Stephanie "Jedigal" rated it

· review of another edition

Interesting and very fast read. Williams' style is both conversational and well-organized. I purchased b/c I like the author as an NPR correspondent, and am interested in race issues. Although I'm white, I live in St. Louis, and am directly impacted by race issues in my community.

Author uses Bill Cosby's controversial speech in 2004 at the 50th anniversary celebration of Brown v. Board of Education, which made school segregation ("separate but equal") illegal. He exam...more

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Apr 23, 2010

Andrea rated it

A superb look at what creates and perpetuates poverty. Although written about Black America these are principles and patterns that appply to all people. Several sections should be required high school reading--they would be great discussion starters concerning education, work, marriage, personal responsibility and the true nature of leadership.

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Apr 11, 2008

Jwjohnsen rated it

I read this after hearing an interview with Juan Williams about the book on NPR. It really got me thinking, but as a member of the non-black community I could only really just shake my head at the end and think, man, I hope someday this gets fixed.. It makes me wonder, however, if there are ways that we as whites work to perpetuate false ideas of who we are based on what we read, watch, and listen to. Is our media merely a reflection of our reality, or is it (more likely) an element that shap...more

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Jun 03, 2011

Leslie rated it

Shelves: borrowed, nonfiction

All Bill Cosby ever said was that education, hard work, refusing to objectify women, and not engaging in crime or supporting criminals were the foundation to a happy, healthy, successful life -- that was all. Sounds like common sense to me (and NO, I am NOT white or Republican, not even close). It was nothing that countless civil rights leaders (the TRUE ones) had not said before. How he could be so maligned for speaking the truth is sad, bizarre, and absurd, and speaks volumes of our society. M...more

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Feb 18, 2009

Nadine Talley is currently reading it

I just start reading this book, so far I like the way It starts off with Bill Cosby downing the poor blacks, then some one points out his faults.

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Nov 08, 2007

Tasha rated it

· review of another edition

Eh. I wholly agreed with Williams' argument before I even cracked open the book, so I wasn't really changed or inspired by the time I reached the end. I would, however, recommend this book to people who disagreed with the controversial remarks Bill Cosby made at the 50th Anniversary Celebration of Brown v. Board of Ed. If you have any doubts about the value of Cosby's crusade, read Enough and perhaps you'll be convinced. Warning: Williams is a much better NPR correspondant than author. He'...more

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May 28, 2010

Melissa rated it

Williams skillfully covers the controversy over Bill's Cosby's speech on the 50th anniversary of the Brown v. Board of Education ruling.

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Feb 23, 2008

Lisa rated it

Recommends it for: everyone.

Shelves: nonfiction

While this book is mainly directly to African Americans, everyone can learn a lesson from this. Mainly, get an education and get a job before getting married. Don't get married until you are 21, and do get married before having kids. Then, once you have kids, give them your love and attention. Statistics show that following that advice will severely cut your chances of living in poverty.
This book is easy to read and full of good advice on how to live your life. I've listened to Juan Willia...more

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Sep 02, 2011

Jw rated it

If I were president of the world, every black high school junior would have to read this book.

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Apr 22, 2009

Matthew rated it

A sometimes uncomfortable screed against the ills plaguing low income, black America.

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Apr 19, 2011

Gina Herald rated it

I respect Juan's views and insights on this subject.

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Mar 09, 2009

Kristimgreen rated it

The points in this book are applicable to everyone. It focuses on the situation of the African Americans, but similar conclusions can be drawn about anyone in terms of what people have sacrificed for us and how we've thanked their legacy. Women marched to get voting rights proving that they were smart enough and capable, for women now to just play dumb and think it's cute. Or how most of us blame our bosses, or spouses, or professors, or someone else on why we're not happy or succeeding. So st...more

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Sep 29, 2010

Robin rated it

Great social commentary - and very well written.

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Apr 10, 2007

Marion rated it

This book isn't simply another huge tome bemoaning the state of black people in America and pointing fingers at everyone that could possibly be to blame, it's really a rallying cry for all Americans to better themselves, and for the affluent black community to start sending a message that there is hope, that they can look to their community for support, and that hard work and good education still counts for something. I got so excited about this book when I first read it, and I really need to go...more

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Sep 21, 2011

Naomi rated it

Wow..Wow..Wow..This book was FANTASTIC! Williams and Cosby were dead in this book. I can see, however, why this book received the backlash and criticism from black leaders.

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Mar 11, 2008

Jenny rated it

I decided to hold my nose and read a book written by someone who works for Fox News. Fortunately, the author has other credentials which mitigate Fox News! The book has a conservative flavor, isn't perfect, and probably should have been written by Bill Cosby, but it is provacative and offers a valid viewpoint to the debate on the state of contemporary black culture.

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Oct 15, 2007

Raghie rated it

Great read. I loved the way he used common sense to prove his point so much that I found myself underlining passages and sharing with friends. Juan does a great job of asking the question, "where are our black leaders?"

I recommend this book not just to adults but also our youth.

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Aug 22, 2009

David rated it

Highly recommended. An honest and frank appraisal of the civil rights issues and the continued problems facing America--black, white, hispanic, whatever--because of red herrings phony leaders, and "learned helplessness."

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Jul 22, 2008

Jeremy rated it

A bit over-exampled, but Juan Williams takes up the Bill Cosby mantle to try to change the culture of failure he finds so pervasive in black society. I was uncomfortable with how much I agreed with his perspective.

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Sep 05, 2008

Dennese rated it

I enjoyed the truth telling in Mr. Williams book. It was an eye opening look at black America's attitudes. I would say I agree with the author on many levels.

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Aug 09, 2008

Christopher Clinton rated it

All I can say is that Bill Cosby hit the nail on the head when he stated that the problem with black america is actually black america.

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