Things That Make White People Uncomfortable: Adapted for Young Adults

by Michael Bennett, Dave Zirin

Overview

Michael Bennett is a Super Bowl Champion, a three-time Pro Bowl defensive end, a fearless activist, a feminist, an organizer, and a change maker. He's also one of the most humorous athletes on the planet, and he wants to make you uncomfortable. Bennett adds his voice to discussions of racism and police violence, Black athletes and their relationship to powerful institutions like the NCAA and the NFL, the role of protest in history, and the responsibilities of athletes as role models to speak out against injustice. Following in the footsteps of activist-athletes from Muhammad Ali to Colin Kaepernick, Bennett demonstrates his outspoken leadership both on and off the field. Written with award-winning sportswriter and author Dave Zirin, Things That Make White People Uncomfortable is a sports book for young people who want to make a difference, a memoir, and a book as hilarious and engaging as it is illuminating.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781642590227
Publisher:	Haymarket Books
Publication date:	09/03/2019
Pages:	268
Sales rank:	397,927
Product dimensions:	5.60(w) x 8.60(h) x 0.90(d)
Age Range:	12 - 17 Years

About the Author

Michael Bennett is a three-time Pro Bowler, Pro Bowl MVP, Super Bowl Champion, and two-time NFC Champion. He has gained international recognition for his public support for the Black Lives Matter Movement, women's rights, and other social justice causes. In 2017, he was named one of the 100 Most Influential African Americans by The Root, was the Seattle Seahawks nominee for the NFL's Walter Payton Man of the Year award, and was honored along with his brother Martellus with a BET Shine a Light award for exceptional service. He is the cofounder with Pele Bennett of The Bennett Foundation, which educates underserved children and communities through free, accessible programming. He has held free camps and health clinics in Seattle, in his hometown of Houston, in his current offseason home, Honolulu, and in South Dakota on the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe. He donates all of his endorsement money and the proceeds from his jersey sales to fund health and education projects for poor and underserved youth and minority communities, and recently expanded his reach globally to support STEM programming in Africa. Dave Zirin is the sports editor for the Nation and the author of several books, most recently Brazil's Dance with the Devil. Named one of UTNE Reader's "Fifty Visionaries Who Are Changing Our World," Zirin is a frequent guest on MSNBC, ESPN, and Democracy Now! He hosts WPFW's The Collision with Etan Thomas and has been called "the best sportswriter in the United States," by Robert Lipsyte.

Editorial Reviews

Michael Bennett is an agent of change.”
—The New York Times

 “A shockingly honest take on sports and politics.”
—The Stanger

“This book is a courageous and compassionate story of a great athlete and grand human being full of deep care for his fellow citizens! Don't miss it!”
—Cornel West

 “It would be easy for Michael Bennett to remain silent, to play in the NFL and make his mark through accomplishments on the field. Instead Michael has chosen to use his voice and his platform to fight injustice.”
—Senator Bernie Sanders

 “There is a tradition of athletes who understand that sports is a way to reach people and change the world. I am proud and humbled to be recognized as part of that tradition. I believe that Michael Bennett's name deserves mention alongside the best of us. This book doesn't only explain the roots of Michael Bennett's courage. It will inspire the people who read it to conquer their fears and fight for what's right.”
—Dr. John Carlos, 1968 Olympic medalist

 “I was going to say this is the most courageous books on race written by an athlete in my lifetime, but I actually think this is one of the most courageous books on race and racism in America that has ever been written by anyone. It’s that good and that important.”
—Shaun King, columnist for The Intercept and writer-in-residence for Harvard Law School’s Fair Punishment Project

 “There is a revolution underway inside professional sports and Michael Bennett is at ground zero. In this revelatory book, he puts everything on the line to share the reasons, strategy, pain and deep thought behind this historic uprising. And he invites us into a vision of justice and liberation that is simply irresistible. This book is pure fire.”
—Naomi Klein, author of No Is Not Enough

From the Publisher

10/07/2019

Gr 9 Up-Adapted from Bennett's 2018 memoir of the same name, this young adult edition focuses on his upbringing, professional football career, and views on social injustice. As an athlete, Bennett uses his high-profile visibility to challenge the status quo. He includes examples of other activist-athletes such as Muhammad Ali and Colin Kaepernick. Bennett isn't afraid to tackle tough subjects that other pop culture-oriented books may ignore. His powerfully solid voice covers a spectrum of societal ills; he refuses to sit in silence and tries to find solutions for socioeconomic issues like food deserts. Bennett's openness and honesty accomplish what the title professes: making white people uncomfortable by providing a chance to listen rather than speak. To change the future, we must first understand history. VERDICT Dynamic and passionate, Bennett's stories from the past, present, and future are inspiring as a secondary purchase for most, but a first choice for libraries wanting to add titles that discuss social justice.-Alicia Abdul, Albany High School, NY

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