This is an excellent and well-argued examination of contemporary race politics in the United States. I find it amusing that Hughes cites Joe Biden's campaign statement that "If you have a problem deciding whether you're for me or Trump, then you ain't black" as an example of tying neoracism into political acceptance of Democratic policies. Virtually the same thing, on an individual level, happened when Hughes was interviewed on the ABC talk show "The View". Whoopi Goldburg questioned his knowledge of growing up black in America, which to me seems inconsistent with an assertion that America continues to be terribly racist. If a black person born in 1996 reports a different experience of racism than a person born in 1955 the clear implication is that racial relations have changed within that 40-year period. A few minutes later co-host Sunny Hostin suggested that Hughes had been co-opted by the Right and was a charlatan. A two-pronged attack amounting to "You ain't black."

Hughes main point is that one cannot undo past injustice by committing new injustices and that trying to do so is only builds new resentments. Programs to aid disadvantaged persons should focus on class, not race. He points out that a high percentage of black students admitted to elite universities through affirmative action graduate low in their class and they frequently have changed their majors from hard sciences to social sciences or humanities because they didn't have the rigorous preparation necessary for success that their white classmates have. Hughes calls for better education at the kindergarten and elementary level, teaching the skills and habits that students need for success.

One interesting reflection on history is Hughes examination of the Brown vs. Board of Education decision that forbid racial discrimination in public schools. Hughes brands the 1947 Clark research which weighed heavily in the decision as dubious social science and asserts that it actually showed the opposite of what most, including the court believe. Black children from segregated schools did not display lowered self-esteem by choosing the white dolls as preferable or the black doll as bad. Huges provides an appendix with a deeper examination of the original study that is well worth reading.

There is so much interesting and arresting information in this book that I must resist the temptation to write a precis rather than a review.

This very recently published and excellent book is written by a young man with such good ideas and insight. He presents so many arguments for a colorblind racial approach, such as the one that is consistent with the principles and goals from the civil rights movement instead of the present one in vogue promoted by authors such as DiAngelo and Kendi that Hughes calls "neo-racist" that just perpetuates discord, without solutions.

p. 176 "What better than affirmative action -what would truly benefit people of color-is an educational system that helps children develop the habits, attitudes, and skills they need to flourish in adult life." ( )

I wish this book had come out before my book club did HOW TO BE AN ANTI-RACIST. I knew ANTI-RACIST didn't sit well with me, I still think that color-blindness should be the goal. The argument for anti-racism seems to be: We tried color-blindness, it doesn't work, look at all the problems we still have! But you're ALWAYS going to have problems. You don't give up working towards the goal, if the goal is worthy, and what could be more worthy than living up to our nation's promise and treating all of our fellow human beings equally!

It's like complaining that even with umbrellas, even with raincoats, even with very good weather forecasts, people still sometimes get wet... so you argue to do away with umbrellas and raincoats. ( )