DNF @10%

I am not the target audience for this book [I misread the title and missed that it was geared towards black republicans, of which I am neither] and I find that my moral compass and belief system doesn't align with the authors in such a way that I cannot continue reading. I am disappointed, but am glad I realized this early on so I didn't waste my time on a whole book that I would not have enjoyed.

Thank you to NetGalley, and SOURCEBOOKS [non-fiction] for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a great book that examines Black people in their history with the republican parties ending with black politicians and those who have absolutely drank the Kool-Aid that the Republicans are handing out. From Abraham Lincoln to the new deal with Roosevelt all the way to the clown Donald J Trump Mr. Cane doesn’t hold back when it comes to holding black politicians with their own self interest at the forefront and not the black community as a whole. He says these are people that would sell their own mama to get a head and he is probably right. I am not a Republican nor am I a black person but I think the only way we can cohesively make this a better place is to know where our friends are coming from whether we agree with them or not. I found this book interesting historically and factually it held my attention and it is a book I definitely recommend to anyone with an interest in politics and especially those segments we don’t get to know first hand in. What a great book this was way more interesting than I initially thought it would be and although I am a big fan of politics in the social workings of communities I do not belong to I wasn’t prepared for the honesty and great talent this book was written with I am not familiar with Clay Cane until I read this book and although I did not agree with him on everything I do have lots of respect for this politician and author. I want to think Sourca books nonfiction and Net Galley for my free Ark copy please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

A thorough examination of a complex topic, connecting Black American history since the mid-19th-century to today’s Trumpism.

After Abraham Lincoln, whose primary agenda hadn't been ending slavery, the Republican Party agreed to allow federal troops to withdraw from the South (the Compromise of 1877). Though Douglass Republicans continued to strive for progressive goals, their work was impeded by non-progressives—grifters—who sought influence within the Republican Party.

As a radio host, author Clay Cane wondered whether certain people are truly interested in meaningful, co-creative discussion and, if not, what is motivating them to run their mouths. Being a grifter doesn't make someone “less Black,” he says, but it isn't a good thing to be.

"The Grift" doesn’t give a follow-the-money trail. Instead, it focuses on grifting concepts and attitudes that have remained roughly constant over the last century-and-a-half, such as the claim that everyone already has an equal opportunity to be rich and successful and thus no policies need to change. Cane focuses on Black grifters, but this human frailty can affect people of any race. Readers can think about how we manifest this attitude in our own lives. Political grifting in the US didn't begin with Trump and it won't end with Trump.