This book is a must read.
Keith Boykin has curated a list of the most common racist arguments and questions, and provides precise detailed answers to each of them.

I did not know a lot about United States history (other than broad lines and ideas), but that was not an issue at all. Everything is explained within the arguments, and so this book does not require previous detailed or exact knowledge of events or laws. Every historical or current event mentioned is explained.

I particularly like that the author used quotes from recent events (such as tweets from politicians), to showcase how prevalent these racist ideas are and how relevant and important the answers are today. It is repeated multiple times in the book, but racism isn’t an issue of the past; it is still strong and everywhere, and it cannot be ignored.



Thank you NetGalley, PublicAffairs and Bold Type Books for the opportunity to read this ARC.





(For some reason the format didn’t really work in my reader app and it made some of the pages especially the timeline hard to read which affected my reading experience but I’m not considering it in my rating because this is an ARC and the actual ebook will probably be better.)

5 stars is not enough. This book is well crafted, well researched and so well organized. The author’s approach to navigating difficult topics is a breath of fresh air. The layout of the book makes for easy navigation to revisit specific ideas or topics. I thoroughly enjoyed the historical context paired with relevant current events. I’ve learned so much from this book. I will be highly recommending this book to anyone looking to expand their view on WHY “it’s always about race.”

I love the tite for this book. When I first saw it, thought it was going to be yet another book that criticizes people for bringing up the racism that still infects society. But instead it is informative and provides knowledge that readers can use when it comes to debates with people who have opposing view. Each section of the book starts out with a quote from a prominent person that criticizes, gaslights or looks down on people who actively try to change the problems that still exist in the country. The author then includes a second quote from another prominent person that is a rebuttal to the first quote.

The information provided is presented in a easy to understand format and the author conveys the points without making it seem like a lecture. He also provides citations so that you can verify he is presenting actual facts and findings rather then presenting opinions as fact. The author also weaves in some of his personal life experiences,when relevant, to bring a personal touch to the subject.

This book would be a nice addition to the collection of anyone who likes to keep their finger on the pulse of the social issues in this country.

How often have you been out at a gathering and heard that person whining about "everything being about race"? Or, as a USH teacher, how often did I hear students questioning "why do we have to spend so much time learning about slavery and Reconstruction"? Boykin's book does a fantastic job of explaining through his 25 arguments exactly why our discussions do so often need to include a frank consideration of the role of race.

The chapter that stood out to me the most was one written as satire at its outset: Chapter 8 - Even the poorest white people have white privilege. It starts with a story of Keshawn, a Black teenager from Chicago, who makes a series of choices that lead him to a conservative event in Indiana with a weapon. What follows is a re-telling of the violence and death that he caused which is capped off not with his arrest, but with police asking for his help in finding the wounded. As I was reading this story, I found it almost absurd beyond words; however, when I picked up that Keshawn was Kyle and the conservative event in Indiana was a Black Lives Matter protest in Kenosha, it clicked. That piece of satire was the perfect way to show how police and society treat people differently based on race, and that is one of the many reasons why this discussion matters.

This book would be a good entry point for people looking to educate themselves on how issues related to race impact many different aspects of daily life. It is also an opportunity for the reader to examine their own privilege, or the fact that they don't realize they have it, and figure out how to make some positive change.