Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #949879 in Books
• Published on: 1991-09
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 192 pages

Synopsis
Essays argue that Blacks are more oppressed by doubt than racism, looks at the origins of racial conflict in America, and assess the failures of social policies designed to lessen racial differences.

Customer Reviews

One of the jewels on my shelves
Like many concerned Americans, I have spent decades discussing and reflecting on the racial troubles in our past and present, and have read numerous books that explore the topic. When published, this book was a long-needed tonic, notable not only for its fresh perspective and searching, reasoned tone, but for the personal honesty of its author, an honesty which even critics admitted. How sadly ironic therefore that one reader above is reduced to defaming the author as "dishonest," "obscure," "second-rate,", without "consequence, " seeking only "fame," a "charlatan" engaged in a "hustle." Would you like a better understanding of the state of a reader who, driven to disagreement with this author, can do no better than sputter insults and defamations, who CANNOT COME TO TERMS with the content of "Content of our Character?" To you I recommend the book.

Essays regarding race relations and a vision for success
I found Shelby Steele's essays to be even handed, thoughtful, and enlightening. This is my first reading of a race relations text as such. My insights have been shaped by personal experiences, history books, television, and newspaper accounts of the events of the 1960's, 70's, 80's, and now 90's. The insight provided by Steele's personal life events, the discussion of Bill Cosby's bargaining, Jesse Jackon's power trips, Ronald Regan's ingratiating, and quotes from Ralph Ellison have broadened my perspective regarding race in the United States. To paraphrase, he believes blacks need to shift from wartime to a peacetime identity, from fighting for opportunity to seizing it, to prosper based on your own initiative, and use the means at hand to succeed. Included is a discussion of affirmative action and the notion that its time has passed. If affirmative action's time has passed, then the need to support or provide developmental skills has not. This work has stirred me to read more African American authors and to continue broadening my persoectives.

The book every school child should read on race relations.
In this age of politically-correct hyper-sensitivity, Shelby Steele has the backbone to cut to the core of race relations in America: what we've been doing just does not work. This small volume is wise, erudite and bold. What's more, it dares to tell the truth. Upon finishing Mr. Steele's book, I was reassured and encouraged by the hope that at last, a single beam of light had found a forum in this artificial atmosphere of heat. Mr. Steele's calm, reasoned voice is the voice of the future for race relations -- and anything at all considered "pc" in this country. "Content of our Character" is our blueprint for finally moving forward and making real progress.