eBook

Nation of Cowards

MARTELL LEE TEASLEY, DAVID H. IKARD

2012

Overview

In a speech from which Nation of Cowards derives its title, Attorney General Eric Holder argued forcefully that Americans today need to talk more-not less-about racism. This appeal for candid talk about race exposes the paradox of Barack Obama's historic rise to the US presidency and the ever-increasing social and economic instability of African American communities. David H. Ikard and Martell Lee Teasley maintain that such a conversation can take place only with passionate and organized pressure from black Americans, and that neither Obama nor any political figure is likely to be in the forefront of addressing issues of racial inequality and injustice. The authors caution blacks not to slip into an accommodating and self-defeating \"post-racial\" political posture, settling for the symbolic capital of a black president instead of demanding structural change. They urge the black community to challenge the social terms on which it copes with oppression, including acts of self-imposed victimization.

• Publisher: Indiana University Press
• Subject: 2009 / 21st century / African Americans / African Americans -- Economic conditions -- 21st century / African Americans -- Politics and government -- 21st century / African Americans -- Social conditions -- 21st century / American Government / Civil society / Economic conditions / Executive Branch / Obama, Barack / Obama, Barack -- Relations with African Americans / Political Advocacy / Political aspects / Political Process / POLITICAL SCIENCE / Politics and government / Post-racialism / Post-racialism -- United States / Race awareness / Race awareness -- United States / Race relations / Racism / Relations with African Americans / Social change / Social conditions / Sociology / U.S.A / United States / United States -- Politics and government -- 2009 / United States -- Race relations -- Political aspects
• ISBN: 9780253006288, 0253006287, 0253007011, 9780253007018