APRIL 2021 - AudioFile
Much like his popular CNN show, Don Lemon’s new audiobook is well researched, thoughtful, and passionate. The book includes a collection of personal stories and observations mixed with a detailed history of racism and analysis of current events. Of particular note are Lemon's reflections on his visit to Africa with his mother to trace his family's ancestry. His emotional recollections set a powerful tone for the content that follows. Lemon outlines how our country got where it is today and includes a heartfelt appeal to resist racism to help heal our nation. Lemon also emphasizes the need to consider all voices and ideas, not just those we agree with, if we want to create lasting change. K.S.M. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine
From the Publisher
"Lemon brings a searing power and persuasiveness to his arguments and views. In his eloquence and candor, Lemon is a lyrical and ardent advocate for what is decent, just, and long overdue. His dismay and anguish are laid bare with a fervor that is authentic and hard-won. Lemon's call-to-action is a soaring examination of the causes of racist violence and injustice past and present, and he expresses his commitment to asking tough questions and seeking demanding answers that he hopes will kindle the fire this time to constructively confront racism in all its forms."—Booklist
"Astutely diagnoses our nation’s greatest malady. . . . Throughout, the author demonstrates an impressive ability to loop it all together and make it stick. He puts 2020 in context and gives it the language to sing a quietly outraged song. Long on context and analysis, this is a vital book for these times."—Kirkus Reviews
“A forthright, historically supported examination of the racial divisions that have plagued our nation.”—The New York Times Book Review
“An audacious and improbable book by a remarkable man.”—The Guardian
Library Journal
03/01/2021
Journalist Lemon (CNN Tonight with Don Lemon) candidly reflects on history and the major events of 2020, beginning with a heartfelt letter to his nephew in the wake of George Floyd's murder, describing progress and pitfalls in racial equity since Jim Crow. He argues that readers need to do something, however small, to combat racism and white supremacy in the United States. In order to inspire action, Lemon briefly describes historic events, as well as key stories he covered in 2020, like the COVID-19 pandemic and protests in response to racial injustice. He also provides thoughts and analysis on topics such as police brutality, death, segregation, and reparations. Lemon discusses anecdotes from his own life, including a trip to Ghana with his mother to discover their ancestry, and the tragic death of his sister Leisa. Throughout, he emphasizes empathy and the need for readers to value fellow humans despite their differences. Lemon ends by declaring that we are all capable of doing the work necessary to combat white supremacy. VERDICT A thoughtful analysis which deserves a place on readers' anti-racist reading lists. Recommended for those interested in trying to enact systemic change.—Rebekah Kati, Univ. of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
APRIL 2021 - AudioFile
Much like his popular CNN show, Don Lemon’s new audiobook is well researched, thoughtful, and passionate. The book includes a collection of personal stories and observations mixed with a detailed history of racism and analysis of current events. Of particular note are Lemon's reflections on his visit to Africa with his mother to trace his family's ancestry. His emotional recollections set a powerful tone for the content that follows. Lemon outlines how our country got where it is today and includes a heartfelt appeal to resist racism to help heal our nation. Lemon also emphasizes the need to consider all voices and ideas, not just those we agree with, if we want to create lasting change. K.S.M. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine
