Who's Afraid of a Large Black Man?

by Charles Barkley, Michael Wilbon (Editor)

Citing the obstacles standing in the way of harmonious race relations in the United States, a cautionary analysis of the nation's growing racial segregation describes the author's experiences of talking about race with interviewees ranging from students to KKK members, addressing such issues as interracial relationships, affirmative action, and racial stereotypes. 300,000 first printing.

Genres: Sports, Nonfiction, Basketball, Memoir, Biography, African American, Autobiography

256 pages, Hardcover

First published March 31, 2005

Reviews

[Brian TramueL · Rating 3 out of 5]

Better than I expected, also a lot of what I expected. I approached with an open mind however it read as preachy and for me I am unable to relatable as entertainers and athletes (although they may have started from humble beginnings) are often detached from the reality of everyday folks and our experiences concerning racial issues. I know the title refers to a man, but I would have like to have 'heard' more from women.

[Jay Rain · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating - 8.2

Being familiar with the separation of class/race, the interviews were more re-affirmation than revelation; Much like his first book, my respect for Charles Barkley grew in his attempt to spur conversation

Interesting tidbits on Samuel Jackson/Osama Barack/Bill Cosby & Barkley tackles the issues straight on laying blame on all races; Would be an eye-opening read if not already familiar with race inequality

Interesting Comments

Tiger Woods
Tiger is very big on charitable work such as education

Was the target of racial hatred as a child

Barack Obama
Senator of Illinois who was the keynote speaker of the 2004 Democratic National Convention

White people have all the power and if they are going to listen to black people, they have to be approached in a non-threatening way

The attitude of anti-intellectualism in the black community is the most damaging thing to young people

Dialogue on race is usually preceded by an ugly, tragic incident and is buried in hate and rhetoric

The mistrust and financial segregation between races will always cause hate

Could be President of the US in 2012

Samuel Jackson
Black people choose to remain separate from the white world - to truly succeed you have to be able to live in both

ABC offered Barkley a spot on Monday Night Football in 2004

Move profits come from international possibilities. Jackson is successful because he goes to each country to promote the movie and the audience gets to know him

Jackson is the highest grossing actor in the history of movies

Black culture is appealing to white society through music
There are not enough prominent black actors - Freeman, Jackson, Washington. There is a glass ceiling in Hollywood

Sports is the only anomaly where there is not a glass ceiling

The power in Hollywood is the power to say no - Jackson rarely does the same character twice

Bill Clinton
Number one problem in America is that the people do not get to know one another. Having one friend is not knowing each other

There should be federal incentives for school programs that work. If a school is failing in its nation scores the principal will be replaced

School vouchers will only help one or two students but what it does is hurt others as schools are under-funded. There has to be competition in the school system

The US has the best school system in the world. Success is all about education

Parents will only care about the schools that their children attend

Politics is all a mental game. The opposition is trying to turn the voters off you

Although it is hard, under-privileged youths should look at the future more than the past and the present. Discipline, education and effort will lead to success

George Lopez
Hispanic stories get left out of American storytelling

Only children internalize everything

The success of the WB network was around minorities but once successful they changed the programming to be more white

The Nielsen Media ratings do not fairly represent the minority community. The reality is that advertisers are more concerned with purchasing power

Hispanics are 13% of the total US population, Blacks are 12%

Be happy for any person that is doing well

Minorities are so insecure that they do not support each other and are jealous of other successes

It is more important that you say what you feel than it is to be right

Rabbi Steven Leder
Blacks do not really pay any attention to Jewish people or their issues

Conversation about race makes people feel nervous. If you do not feel uneasy you are probably not talking about anything of substance

The bigger the problem, the more important the dialogue

It is the greatest time to be of Jewish faith - they are not victims anymore

It is difficult to identify the current black leaders

Jewish people formed the NAACP. Eventually, Blacks took over as they wanted to run their own show

There is economic apartheid in the school system - rich kids and poor kids have different experiences and learning

Private schools are the worst thing that ever happened to America. Rich people would not let the schools deteriorate if it was their kid attending

25% of the Army is black - more than double their population percentage

Net worth should not equal self worth but it does

Black people have it so much better than they used to and this is not recognized enough

Ice Cube
Hip hop has brought races together - only sports and war do a better job

White people do not care how they look in front of black people, why does it work the other way. A white serial killer does not make the white race look bad

It does not matter where you live, you are searching for something

Moviegoers do not want to spend money to feel bad - that is why most black movies are comedies


Marita Golden

Prisons are being built based on the number of inner city children that are failing standardized test

Black society is lost

Bill Cosby challenged black parents to raise the youth correctly and that there was a problem

There is need for more public embarrassment to get the larger issues on the table

Black people were brought to America to better the lives of white people

More of a concern in the black church over homosexuality than AIDS

Peter Guber
Adolph Rupp was a racist that brought blacks to the Kentucky Wildcats only to save his job. He could not win without changing his view

First response to differences is fight or flight

News is corrosive - it is only about entertainment

Have to understand that the system is the enemy not other people

People want to be certain when they go to a movie that they will like it. Producers do not care about race, they care about making money

Nobody is alone anymore - through the Internet we are all connected

Government is saying that they do not have money for education or essential services but they were able to raise $1B for Tsunami relief

Jesse Jackson
Joe Louis and Jesse Owens were heroes for their generation

The rules are clear in athletics - it is an equal playing field for all races where you either win or you do not

Scholarships are nothing more than a glorified plantation life where the university is making money off kids

The struggle is about bringing the entire race up not just having successful athletes and entertainers

Robert Johnson
Previous owner of BET that acquired the Charlotte Bobcats

Most of the traditional leaders come out of the church until the migration to the North when it became a social issue

Blacks do not understand the sacrifices made by their elders

Blacks will sell their talent/business to the highest bidder

White people only think about themselves yet black people spend so much time thinking about white people and not themselves

Morgan Freeman
Only about Morgan Freeman

You are only blessed with talent and then your drive and initiative take over

The graduation rates for basketball players is down for the fifth straight season

NBA players do not receive royalties for jersey sales ($25M out of $2B). In Nascar, 50% of proceeds go to the driver

When you make enough money, it is just numbers

Life is all about choice - there is personal accountability

There should be no standards in movies but there should be diversity

Marian Wright Edelman
One out of three black men end up in prison

More children are lost to gun violence than any other time in American history

Crack decimated the Black community because it knocked out the strength of the Black mother

Three times the amount of money is spent on a prison over a school

Why do black children think of education as a bad thing?

[Paulo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Be careful, because although the author of this book is the basketball player Charles Barkley, ther is no ball here, since this book is about race and racism in the USA. Barkley declares that his inspiration for this book is simply that he has to attack racism. So, he interviewed people who are influential in their varius fields (politics, sports, movies, music, business, religion or education) in relation with race issues. And he inserts his own opinions and comments as each interview goes on.

Well, I must say that Barkley interviewed eleven men but only two women, for he is worried about the racial struggle (the cancer of this era, he says, in which he "loses"), but he is not about the gender struggle (in which he "wins", of course). I don't find that approach very wise: he says he thinks you'll never see a black president (the book was written in 2005)... less than 4 years later Obama was president, but 15 years later we are still waiting for a woman to be president in the USA.

On the other hand, it is a book one hundred per cent focused on the situation in the USA (I'm spanish and I have never lived there). I didn't know some of the interviewee, and several of the topics discussed are almost not applicable in my country, where currently we have a different situation. Besides, time has not affected well to this book, given the controversial episodes lived by Tiger Woods and Bill Cosby (Cosby has not his own interview, but he is named in several of the others).

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I picked this up as a light airplane read and kept it because I think it's something more. It's refreshing to get a perspective on race that's more down to earth than academic theory or systems analysis. Barkley picks a great variety of political and cultural figures and I like the focus more on cultural racism than the traditional civil rights and poverty spin. There's lots of great discussions in there and I think it could be a great conversation starter - accessible enough to break the silence so many of us carry about race.

My only hope was to get more of Barkley's own perspective about race and how it works. I got some about his process of inspiration and writing, but I think overall he could distinguish more between his own points and those of his interviewees. Perhaps a separate section or interview just for him, rather than inserting his ideas as much into each interview.

Overall, a great book, especially for anyone who is scared of talking about race, just beginning to explore, likes cultural discussions or doesn't want to deal with lots of academic BS.

[Daniel S. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was somewhat dry at points, however it expresses views of a man who has been feared by his size and the color of his skin. I would recomend this book, mainly to people who have an inerest in divirsity (Anna Matthews). I also liked this book because Charles Barkly was a Professional Basketball player, and I tend to like books by Pro Athletes.

[Angelica LeMinh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I kind of wish that Barkley would've switched this book's title with "I May Be Wrong But I Doubt It" because I'll be honest-after reading that one first, I expected this one to be more of the same.

Boy was I ever wrong. This book is sooo important, so surprising, and so inspiring. Chuck doesn't carry the reputation of the most progressive athlete, but I am beginning to think that is glossed over by his stance that politics shouldn't be at the forefront.

But if ever he has presented a moment of himself not "shutting up and dribbling", this is it. It's no accident that it was a collaboration with Mike Wilbon, though I'm a bit surprised at the "hard -ers" that got by both of their watches.

I was surprised and enlightened by the list of interviewees, their stories (this is the first time I have heard of Tiger Woods' childhood experience of racism-holy shit), and where Charles stands in relation to his curation of them.

This should definitely be on the reading list of everyone scrambling to cope with the dumpster fire that is the United States right now-may your white guilt lead you to these conversations, but you stay and drink because you are empowered to be part of the solutions.

[Colette · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read it for the early Obama interview.

[John Goebel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Celebrity talking with celebrities about race and classism in 2005 including Senator Barack Obama.

[Chris]

I read the book.

[Ice · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Racism," Charles Barkley says, "is the biggest cancer of my lifetime. And I know I can't cure the cancer, but doesn't somebody have to attack it?" Barkley's means of attack in Who's Afraid of a Large Black Man?--not surprising from one of the most outspoken athletes of our time--is to break past the taboo of race by talking about it in the open. What might be surprising is that Barkley steps aside and lets other people talk, too. While in his previous bestseller, I May Be Wrong but I Doubt It, the former NBA MVP and current TNT commentator held forth on a wide variety of subjects, for his new book he sought out a baker's dozen of leading figures in entertainment, business, and government (and yes, one athlete) and sat down with each for a frank conversation about race.

Of course race is not a simple topic, and each discussion heads in its own direction. Tiger Woods speaks both of his biracial identity and of how moving it was to see the black staff at Augusta National lined up to see him put on the green jacket as Masters champion. George Lopez talks about the pressures of creating a breakthrough Latino sitcom in an almost all-white industry. Film producer Peter Guber surprises Barkley when he says that he made The Color Purple out of economic self-interest, not idealism. Many of the discussions turn, like Guber's, not to traditional civil rights but to economics, which Rabbi Steven Leder calls the real "last taboo subject in America." It's clear that the audience Barkley most hopes to reach with this book is the young black men and women that he and many of his interview subjects are concerned about. "We're losing," activist Marian Wright Edelman tells him, "and if we don't stop this trend, we're going to be headed back to slavery." Barkley's celebrity subjects can provide some models for success for those readers, but one also hopes Barkley can continue the conversation by turning the spotlight on those struggling with the problems of race outside the sometimes protective glare of fame. --Tom Nissley

Throughout his career, Charles Barkley has always been willing--quite willing--to call it as he sees it, making him one of the most quotable athletes of his era and, many have suggested, a future political candidate. He's as happy talking issues as talking hoops, and for his new book, Who's Afraid of a Large Black Man? he sat down for conversations across the country about the troublesome topic of race in America. We had our own conversation on the subject with Sir Charles: Read it to find why he wrote the book, what he tells his own biracial daughter about race, and why he thinks sports can be a model for race relations.

From Publishers Weekly
Don't let the cheeky title, the byline or the picture on the cover fool you: this is a serious book that's not about Charles Barkley. Instead, this work, edited by the Washington Post and ESPN's Wilbon, is a candid collection of 13 interviews by Barkley with prominent Americans like Bill Clinton, Jesse Jackson, Tiger Woods, Morgan Freeman and comedian George Lopez on the oft-avoided subject of race. Barkley, well known for outspokenness as a player and an on-air commentator, challenges his interviewees to deal with this delicate issue head on.

Barkley wisely keeps his opinions brief, letting his dynamic counterparts take center stage. In doing so he gets these stars to open up on how American society fares on such topics as racism, race relations, welfare reform, economic and social discrimination and creating opportunities for minorities. Mixed in with the bigger name celebs and politicians are lesser-known folk, such as Robert Johnson (the NBA's first black owner), the Children's Defense Fund's Miriam Wright Edelman (who laments that there are "580,000 black men in prison compared to about 45,000 who graduate from college each year") and Rabbi Steven Leder. For all the different backgrounds and opinions, all the participants believe the racial divide in America can only be bridged with a combination of reforms to our educational, medical and economic practices and a strong self-evaluation by the African-American community. Everyone also agrees that a core group of strong black leaders must emerge for these changes to be enacted. Surprisingly, this eye-opening book might point to Barkley as just such a leader.

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Today I finished “Who’s Afraid Of A Large Black Man?“, by Charles Barkley (edited by Michael Wilbon) (2005©). This is a book about racism in America. More specifically, it’s a book about asking successful people to discuss their experiences and views about racism in America.

Charles Barkley is a famous former professional athlete. In this book, he interviews thirteen people to open a discussion about race and racism in America. The list includes: Tiger Woods, former President Bill Clinton, former Senator (current President) Barack Obama, Jesse Jackson, and George Lopez. Each of the interviewees brings their perspective to the issue. All say essentially the same thing: we’ve come a long way, but we’ve still got a ways to go.

I found the book a fascinating (and very quick) read. My own view is, of course, mixed with my personal experience – racism exists and is a powerful force for division in the country I love. I have seen it face to face, experienced it, seen people look away, and seen people rise up to the challenge of it.

I believe racism in America is about fear and economic opportunity. The fear is the fear of “others”. Those not like us. Those not from around here. Them. I believe there is a natural tendency in humans to bond with those we are near and associate with. Call it localism, nationalism, tribalism or some other kind of “groupism” and it still results in the same thing – “us” against “them”. This tendency is played upon and magnified by those who seek to “control” the majority of Americans – the majority who just want to get on with their lives, get ahead a little financially and raise a family. The tactic is to divide and conquer and, as I mentioned previously, race is one easy way of dividing people who might otherwise find common cause.

There is a perception in modern society that we can’t ALL have great jobs – whatever “great jobs” means. That may be correct. But, we should all be able to work hard for a living wage. Note, I said “living wage”, not “minimum wage”. “Work hard” means more than just showing up, although that is a very important part of working hard. It also means giving your best effort during the time you are working. It normally means using your brains as well as your muscles.

I question this perception / belief / assumption. I believe we can all earn a living wage. We are not all going to be “rich”, but I believe our nation is unique in its ability to fund equal opportunity. I’m not sure we always had this ability, but I certainly believe we do now. I believe we are moving into a post-industrial (post-standardized, post-mass produced) world where the benefits of industrial scaling are beginning to decrease and the benefits of limited, customized, specialized manufacturing are starting to dominate. On top of that, we are now better able to use technology to make very specific (small scale) manufacturing cost effective for the majority of products. And finally, a significant portion of the economy is now purely digital, meaning: it isn’t consumed by use.

There is a saying that a smile is something you can give away freely and never have less of. This is what we are approaching with an economy based on digital use without consumption. The trick will be the distribution of wealth and opportunity for economic advancement. It will be a disgrace to see race rather than ability as the determinant factor in distribution.

The book is a terrific thought provoking read and I highly recommend it!

Finding this book was pure serendipity. A co-worker is also an avid reader and she brings in books and just leaves them for anyone who wants to take and read them. I was walking along the bookself and there it was…

[Emma Grayson · Rating 3 out of 5]

book 32
(2.5)
a candid account of race in america coming from people directly influenced and able to directly influence the conversation moving forward. really informal almost as if CB was a narrator of a TV series or a late night talk show host? idk i liked it but i deffo rolled my eyes more than a few times when he’s talking about himself lol and his words bolded/the persons words quoted made it seem disjointed and almost awkwardly trying to tie the dialogue together😬

crazy how he talked to obama before he even ran for prez, tiger woods before the scandal when he was still with his wife, even kanye west from back then and sam jackson !! like wow

difficulties with leadership in the black community - CB argues that it was there on the ‘60s/70s/even into the ‘80s but no modern day people taking tough stands and rallying others - how is this different in 2021 or is it the same?

highlights - code shifting, the minority inferiority complex as explained by George Lopez (always be happy for other people’s success), the importance of education (specifically black male teachers on the younger generation of black kids *according to Obama), these conversations from the early aughts are just as pertinent TODAY!! Lamenting the same things or trying to bring light to subjects people often gloss over - it’s so important these conversations keep happening but even in the last 15 years since this book has been written, there is so much more we need to do ugh

“when [people in hollywood] wrote, they wrote in the consciousness of the society that they dwelled in” - sam jackson

“in many states they will base the number of prisons they’re going to build on the number of kids in inner-city schools that are failing” - marita golden WTF IS THIS TRUE

“we are more class-separated than we are by race” - morgan freeman

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

I actually stumbled across this book while looking for autobiographies about different athletes. This is a really fascinating book. Barkley does a wonderful job, in my opinion, of saying exactly what he's thinking without sounding angry or bitter, emotions which tend to close listeners' ears when they most need to be open. He even mentions that fact in the book - approaching people with ideas in anger or hostility rarely allows for you to truly be heard or understood. He makes his point, but not once does it feel like he's spreading hate or negativity. Everything he's saying he says in sincerity and out of genuine concern and it really makes you think. Perhaps this sort of thing doesn't make it into the mainstream news because it doesn't have dramatic flare, but this is the sort of thing news outlets should be devoting time to.

I'm not going to lie, this book kind of surprised me. Based on the title and where my brain is because of the news lately, I was actually expecting this book to be more about racism between black and white people. While Barkley does talk about that, he actually brings the discussion out to a much broader level. Through the interviews he conducted he talks about a whole spectrum of issues black people face today, a good portion of which aren't solely related to racism. He also brings the discussion around to say that many of the issues black people face are not unique to them alone and a lot of issues are actually to do with society and education for everyone. That's not to downplay the issues black people face, but rather it shows that many of these problems are cancers in society as a whole.

I did not necessarily agree with everything said in this book, but I think that's part of the beauty of it. And my agreeing or disagreeing doesn't make what's being said right or wrong. There are interviews with different people, all who approach the subject from different angles, and they all don't necessarily agree with each other. And I don't think that's a bad thing. It takes all kinds of people and this book makes you think about that. Barkley did a great job with this book.

[Alanwalter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a fairly eye-opening commentary on race in our society. The book consists of a collection of interviews with comments by Barkley interspersed. There are so many different thoughts that ran through me while reading this book. First off, it is Barkley's firm belief that racism is the cancer of his generation (last time I checked we didn't cure cancer, so I'm pretty sure cancer is the cancer of his generation but that's just nitpicking) and I think that he is right, it is a huge problem. It's an even bigger problem, in my estimation, because no one talks about it. That is in the end his goal; to get people talking about race. I guess since I've been recommending this book left and right he has done a fairly decent job. This book also made me think about the fact that the biggest problem in our society is a lack of discussion on every issue and I wish two things. One, that there were other books like this for all kinds of hatred and two that there were other books like this that make you think about race and all of the garbage that comes with social institutions that have been partially based in it.

[Bernadette · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a successful, wealthy influential former pro athlete Charles Barkley says he feels it is his responsibility to do whatever he can to make this world a better place, particularly in the area of race relations. This book, a series of conversations with 13 leaders in a variety of fields, includes Tiger Woods, Bill Clinton, Morgan Freeman, Jesse Jackson, Rabbi Steven Leder and Marian Wright Edelman. Barkley plays devil's advocate with the interviewees and isn't afraid to disagree sometimes. Basically, he's looking for answers to how we can cure racism which he considers "the biggest cancer" of his lifetime. His goal is to start the conversation because he says "we're more scared than we've ever been when it comes to talking about race."

This book was written in 2005 and I wonder what Barkley would say now. Have we made any progress? He hoped to start the dialogue, have people sit down and have open positive discussions. I learned a great deal from the wide variety of perspectives and hope that I will be more open and tolerant as a result. I liked Barkley's "real people" approach as opposed to policy and cultural theories. Worthwhile and thought-provoking read.

[Christine · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wouldn't have read this if it weren't for my book group. And I thought I was glad I was reading it once I read the intro, which made it sound interesting: Charles Barkley interviews a lot of prominent people on the subject of race. But then it was really kind of random. I got seriously bogged down on Jesse Jackson's interview (setting the book aside for a couple of weeks), but made it through. I'd say the interviews with Tiger Woods and Marian Wright Edelman were worth reading. And the one with Barack Obama. The book was written in 2005, so Barkley's commentary as he ties up that interview is timely: "Barack can bring people together. It won't be enough to get him elected president of the United States, but it would sure be something." Also, I should note there's a big emphasis on the media, with various interviews with media actors and execs (Morgan Freeman, Sam Jackson, Peter Guber, Robert Johnson). Barkley seemed credible until I read his intro on one of these: "I'm a movie-a-holic. I love the movies. Some days I'll watch three or four movies on satellite or DVD." ?!

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

ok...so in true Carrie fashion I only read what interested me...which for this book means about half.

The most hard hitting interviews were, Tiger, Barack, Samuel, Cube & Morgan.

I loved it when Barack stated that "we" as a culture are the only ones to teach our children NOT to value education! This is so true for so many of us.

I loved Tiger's story at the end about how all of the black servers came out and applauded for him when he won the masters.

I love how differently Morgan and Samuel see the entertainment industry.

And Cube is SO smart...I love him more now than I did before.

Charles was a good interviewer as well, except when it cam e to Morgan. He found it necessary to disagree with him repeatedly. Now I understand that it was a dialogue...but you don't have to tell us 5 times that you disagree with something! Especially when we we are trying to hear what the person you are interviewing is trying to say.

[Charlene Baumbich · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a thought provoking, accessible book on racism.

Part of Barkley's intention was to ignite more dialogue on the topic, get people past their fear of discussion. He interviewed, and talked about, prominent figures throughout sports, politics and entertainment. Barkley style, he nabbed some unlikely candidates, and included their surprising, philosophical, angry and sometimes confounding thoughts. Always--always--he had interesting thoughts of his own to add.

I came away feeling not only more enlightened about a complex subject, but wanting to tackle the topic with friends.

I've always enjoyed Barkley's TV interviews and personality. I found his book, edited and WITH an introduction by Michael Wilson, entertaining, smart and funny, yet filled with conversational spark plugs and uncommon insights. He had the perfect voice to attract MY attention on the topic, which he never lost.

[Northern K Sunderland · Rating 2 out of 5]

I greatly respect the struggle of the man classified as a minority against a system that is determined to keep him down. I am positive that racism is still prevalent in the States(especially in the South), and that it greatly effects the efforts of non-white Americans.
This book is an uninspired re-telling of these obvious truths, which had been brought out years ago by much actual Authors. In fact, most of the book is written by other people.
When it really boils down to it, I'm sure things were hard for Charles Barkley at first, but now he's one of the more famous basketball players in the world, and this book just seems like his latest attempt to remind everyone that he exists. And that he doesn't like racism.

Of course, what can one expect from a three dollar book written by Charles Barkley?

[Deshawn]

This book was educational and I was able to pull lots of information out of if for my own knowledge. I liked this both because it showed me different views from many various people and also it told how people in different fields of the entertainment businness deal with racism. I rated this book as a four because it opened my eyes on different racial topics. For instance in one chapter when Charles Barkley was interviewing Samuel l . Jackson I was enlightened about the network WB. In this interview it stated that WB was made for blacks then later was turned from that to generate a white audience. I noticed how the author had parts when he was talking in bold and whoever he was talking to the lettering was in regular standard print. I felt good after reading this book because I learned a lot about my culture.

[Des · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did not expect to enjoy this but I did. The title is pretty misleading and I can definitely understand how that might turn people off reading it. When I first saw it in a bargain bin at Borders some years ago, I barely glanced at it before deciding to take a second look and flip through. It was definitely a good decision on my part because I bought it that day (but only ended up reading it recently).

Barkley sits down with a bunch of people to discuss race from a variety of perspectives which all turn out to be fascinating. There is a past president (Bill Clinton), there are actors (Samuel L. Jackson, Morgan Freeman), entrepreneurs (Robert Johnson), rapper-turned-actor (Ice Cube), senator (Obama pre-2004 DNC), a rabbi, Jesse Jackson (no description is needed here really) and that golfer known as Tiger Woods.

[Wellington · Rating 4 out of 5]

In some ways I have modeled myself under Charles Barkley. I like the rather transparent and honest way he lives his life. He just speaks his mind and though people may not agree, they just chuckle instead of being offended.

I would like to be a person that can speak my mind freely ... and also welcome people to speak their mind freely to me.

So in the spirit of speaking freely ... this is my review. Charles Barkley came up with the idea of interviewing people on the subject of race. The answers in the interviews were remarkably grey and frank. No HR/PR spin .... people taking a moment to step out of the limelight and converse heart to heart. Talking to the person ... not the image the person is trying to convey.

[angrykitty · Rating 5 out of 5]

got this with the other barkley book. what are the odds i finish this one as well before atonement....pretty good i'd say......

...odds about finishing before atonement even better....started yesterday after i finished blankets....atonement is boring.

atonement is still boring.....but i found this book to be really amazing. barkley, to many, is just a loudmouth that uses his fame to say stupid things. this book shows a different side. even though i'm a minority that is hardly considered in this book, it's still a great book on race, and the issues that minorities face....and it's not just barkley spouting off....it's got everyone from bill clinton to ice cube's take on race issues in the united states. really really interesting.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although this book is not very well written, which made it difficult at times, I enjoyed it. I found that I would walk away from the book and talk about the different things that I had learned. I found that I had gained knowledge which gave me insight to other points of view. The beautiful things about this book is that it offers many different points of view, not just the authors'. I found myself experiencing different emotions with each section that I read. This would be a five-star book if it were more well written. If the reader can make it past that, he or she will definitely enjoy it.

[Aaron · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was disappointed by this. Don't get me wrong, Charles Barkley is trying to do a good thing by discussing the issues of race and economics with relevent people (including the likes of Tiger Woods, Barack Obama, Samuel L. Jackson, Jesse Jackson, Morgan Freeman, Bill Clinton, etc.). But, to be completely honest, I really wanted Who's Afraid of a Large Black Man? to feature Barkley spouting off the harsh, insane nonsense he does when he covers basketball games for TNT. I was looking for humor and interesting dialogue, and what I got were annoying, repetitive catch phrases from Barkley and semi-interesting dialogue on a touching and important subject.

[Kevin Oldenburg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sir Charles is my favorite sports personality, while Michael Wilbon is one-half of the best sports reporting combo on television. So naturally, when these to forces combine I am going to read what they have to say. Charles asks meaningful questions to important figures in pop-culture. I had a great time reading this and imagining how things would sound if Charles was narrating the book. Charles' sit-down interview with then, newly elected senator Barack Obama was very good. In this interview Charles makes a prediction, let's hope he wrong...

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charles Barkley interviewed 13 leaders about the issue of race in America. What does it mean in the 21st century and why we are afraid to talk about it. Candid questions that will spark conversations for the reader too.

Why I started it: The title caught my eye as I was shifting books at my library.

Why I finished it: Very interesting, especially the interview of Senator Barack Obama. (This book was published in 2005.) It raising an interesting question at what point do we still have a racial issue or has it morphed into an economic issue? And what are we prepared to do about it?

[Buddy Wheeler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I heard an interview on Talk of the Nation when this book came out. Mr. Barkley was eloquent and really had his finger on the pulse of the state of race relations in our country. This book was very helpful in helping me understand "the other side" of the story. We all have different upbringings but at the end of the day, we are all in this country together. Black, White, Mexican, Asian, Middle Eastern, all of us share a common interest and goal in making America wonderful. A great read.

[Tony · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice, easy read. These 'sensitive' issues of race are rarely discussed in public, thus needs to be explored because of its prevalence in our society despite claims saying otherwise. The interview with Tiger Woods reveals the racial tribulations he endured in his life and makes him a true inspiration.

[Jen Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked the questions this book raises. I liked how the book is written like a conversation. While I don't agree with everything Barkley says, I believe that the race issue still needs to be addressed.