If you're familiar with his radio show, The Breakfast Club, you'll be familiar with his way of thinking and his perspective on many controversial issues. This memoir just gives further insight into those issues while allowing us a peak into him as a man. He could've been a bit more personally transparent to connect with readers, but I get why he would be guarded.

To say Black Privilege:Opportunity Comes to Those Who Create It wasn't compulsively readable, I'd be making the understatement of the century and I'll gladly expound on that matter in this review.

My initial interest in Black Privilege was based on the current racial makeup this country is experiencing where more and more of the systemic "white privilege", the black community has been speaking of, is proving to be true. With video footage of cops being Judge and Jury to people of color, the racist undertones that the current administration has said against President Obama during his tenure that blatantly ignored or chalked up to fake news... never mind all that. My point is that, I was captivated by the title Black Privilege because I wanted to understand what that meant.

Thankfully Charlamagne tha God doesn't use this platform as a way to further the divide but rather to encourage anyone reading to use their "white privilege", "black privilege", or "gay privilege" to achieve their goals in life.

Now! I don't listen to radio... usually ever and I don't particularly listen to The Breakfast Club, the syndicated hip-hop radio show that Charlamagne co-hosts with Angela Yee and DJ Envy. Since I do listen to hip-hop and R&B, I'd have to be living under a rock not to know what Charlamagne tha God is. Plus, the infamous Birdman interview flooded my timeline for months. There wasn't anyone I didn't know who didn't want "respeck" when you mentioned their name. So yes, Charlamange and company are a big part of hip-hop history and his voice is one of the strongest (and boldest) in the radio community.

Black Privilege: Opportunity Comes to Those Who Create It is a memoir/coming-of-age/cautionary/self-help book all rolled into one. Charlamange in his own words and voice, provides 8 nuggets of information that encourage the reader to live, speak, aspire to their truth. He found early in life that he was going to speak his mind and his opinion no matter what because it was his truth. And because of his often controversial stance and willingness to be heard he's one of the most revered names in radio and the hip-hop community.

Larry Mckelvey, aka Charlamagne, uses his experiences as a youth in an effort to stand behind the nuggets of truth he drops. Charlamange explains that he could have been someone out there lost with no future where he "was caught up in building street cred during my teenage years. But fifteen years later, I can report there is not one major purchase I've even been able to make using it."
I almost feel like that line nugget of truth should be required reading and reflection for the youth in Chicago that are terrorizing the city with unprecedented violence. He learned that thinking that the streets was where it's at was only going to lead him to jail or death, or somewhere drunk under a tree.

Black Privilege also encourages the reader to find their truth and not everyone telling you a different route is being a hater. Many people need to hear Simon Cowell say their performance was the worse or that they just don't have the skills to be a hoop star. Many people think the only success there is is what the media purports it to be. Not everyone one can be a Jay-Z or Beyonce. Those roles are already taken. But, you could be the person that cures AIDS or cancer if you follow your truth and not someone else's.

Honestly, as I read Black Privilege, I couldn't help but Google some of the interviews he spoke of in this book and I think that's what makes this title even more enjoyable to read. Like I mentioned, I wasn't a fan nor a hater of Charlamagne. I had very limited information of who he is/was in the radio industry so to see that he wasn't blowing steam up my ass was refreshing. There are so many memoir out there that have been proven to be fudged a little, I was more than excited that this wasn't.

Really, I could go on and on about how much I enjoyed reading Black Privilege all day. There are tons of people (myself included) that need credit for the stupid things I've done as well as an overhaul in time management. Maybe I'm reading this book at the right time in my life where I've decided to go back to school (for the 3rd time) in an effort to "put the weed in the bag" and pursue a career. Either way it goes, Charlagmange is a very relevant voice that should be heard and this book, Black Privilege should be read. Yes it is vulgar and extremely jarring at times but really... could we expect anything less from the "Prince of Pissing People off"?

Copy Provided by Touchstone via Netgalley

I have recommended this book to everyone I know. I think it may be one of the best books I've read this year. I laughed out loud so many times! I've crowned Charlamagne the Motivational Life Coach to the Hard-Headed. His life story and all the hard knocks are relatable even when unbelievable. The principles in the book are solid and time-tested, but his straightforward manner, although a little raw, is what makes this book a modern classic. He is able to reach the community that may never pick up a book by old school teachers like Zig Ziglar and Tony Robbins, but his vernacular and unique point of view makes sure the principles are attainable to everyone. It is a must read and EVERYONE that took my advice and read the book, came back to me with the highest praise. I knew reading it that it would be a best-seller and I was totally vindicated by the NYTimes.

I knew roughly what I was getting before I started reading Black Privilege as I'm an avid listener of The Breakfast Club.

Charlamagne Tha God A.K.A Prince of pissing people off may be a thought provoking guy but one thing you can't take away from him is his ability to speak the truth, such a rare commodity.

Charlamagne has used his platform to perform good deeds. I read that there was a little girl named Assiah in need of a kidney transplant. Assiah''s mother reached out to Charlamagne as she felt the hospital had her on the runaround. Charlamagne killed two birds with one stone; he put the hospital on blast and managed to find a donor for little Assiah..

CTG writes and speaks in a way that his young audience will understand. Overall, this was an interesting read. With a lot of food for thought. I would recommend this book especially to the youth of today as there are many lessons to be learned.

Charlamagne is known to be outspoken and very opinionated. He is a "no holds barred" type of person so I didn't know what I was getting into when I started the book. I didn't know if it would be a bunch of celebrity gossip and behind the scenes dishing or if it would primarily be his story. I was quite impressed that it seemed to be an unfiltered account of his life. It was a little slow (meaning some of the stories could have been shortened) in parts, but overall I was thoroughly impressed with his life story and the gems dropped along the way.

When there is a celebrity that is outspoken and controversial, it is always interesting to find out what makes them tick. I have a love/hate relationship with Charlagmagne; so when I found out he was writing a book, I new I had to read it. I actually opened this book with no expectations and I was pleasantly surprised. Charlagmagne gave all the insights and perspectives on why and how he is what he is today. I also enjoyed the throwback stories from Moncks Corner. His reading list had me chuckling. His advice on how to stay relevant and stay winning was something to take note of. His journey through the industry has been one of perseverance and steadfastness. Although it seemed like he retold some things, that wasn't a real problem because after all it is Charlagmagne and we know how he likes to be clear on things. I really enjoyed this book and I'm looking forward to seeing what else he has in store for the literary industry.

5321728
Andre's review Apr 14, 2017 · edit
liked it

The provocative title is obviously designed to maximize exposure. The first question that comes to mind, is what does Black privilege look like? The subtitle, Opportunity Comes To Those Who Create It, is really the foundation of the book. Charlamagne has become a popular radio host through his syndicated The Breakfast Club. His niche has been challenging those in hip-hop, asking the questions that others shy away from. So his book traces his rise from a small town in South Carolina to his current place in media. The book is part memoir, part self help, and part inspiration. The book is divided not by chapters, but by eight principles.

Early in the work, the feel of just belief in yourself and God and you too will be a success felt dominant and a bit fantastical. If those were the only criteria, everyone would be a success. As the book progresses it begins to pick up steam with humor, solid advice that young folks may find helpful and inspirational. The one principle that guides the book is the now popular, "live your truth." Charlamagne makes it sound more like embrace the things about you that are true, to take power away from those who would use your flaws against you. He uses the example of him looking like a teenage mutant ninja turtle. He learned to accept that about himself, or what he called his bookie nose, i.e. big nose. These are more examples of accepting your appearance, rather than living a certain truth. The thing I think is missing is the discussion about having the space wherein one can live their truth. That is not explored. If your truth interferes with what society deems unacceptable and threatening, then what? I think Charlamagne may have become aware of this because in the final principle he states, "Don’t get it twisted: I’m not a having an “All Lives Matter” moment here. Not for a second am I suggesting that racism isn’t real. It’s as real as the air we breathe. And the evidence is everywhere."

He writes in a way that I think will be relatable to his fans, youngsters and his own age group with at times pretty sold advice, like principle five. Put The Weed In The Bag! The reference of putting the weed in the bag comes from the movie Belly, when a character was talking to some young want to be hustlers, who hadn't sold anything but were talking about getting money, his advice to them was "put the weed in the bag." Learn how to do that first and move on from there.That principle basically deals with embracing the process. People often want to start at the top or always look for the shortcut, most times there aren't any. Understanding the things you may have to do in order to achieve your end goal is a valuable lesson to hear. He worked as a co-host on the very popular Wendy Williams show for a year and a half without pay. So that provides a very powerful example of dispensing advice by way of real experience.

"If I’ve had any advantage in this life, it’s that I was encouraged to read." I like the importance he placed on books and the value of acquiring knowledge, constantly being in an inquisitive state. "Books are what provided me with a sense of escape when the tension between my parents made our home feel suffocating. Books helped give me the confidence to dream bigger than I was supposed to as a poor black boy growing up in the rural South. Books are where I got the name Charlamagne (even if I did misspell it). My life is a living testament to the transformative power of books."

Perhaps his book will become one that will be talked about as one to be read and shared. I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.