A Dream Deferred: The Second Betrayal of Black Freedom in America

Another great book by an intelligent observer of the hopes and failures of the civil rights movement for blacks, run mostly by whites with lots of hidden agendas and feelings of guilt.

"Discussions about race" is almost an oxymoron. The positions most people hold are already fixed and there isn't much of the ability to hear the other side that is required to have a true discussion. Too often we simply look for writings and speeches that support our pre-existing notions, praise them as we find them, and think to ourselves, "If only the other side would just see as clearly as I and this author do this problem would not exist!" Or we find an author with whom we disagree and attack him so fiercely because we somehow feel that if we can debase the author we can debase the view with which we disagree.Shelby Steele has been misused in both those ways. He has chosen a hard road because he writes sincere, thoughtful, and passionate essays that do not merely support or oppose widely held beliefs. Yes, he is attacked as if he were merely a water carrier for the GOP or praised as if all he were about were attacking affirmative action. He is far more subtle than this! Please take the time to read him carefully because there is so much more to gain from his writing, whether or not you end up agreeing with him.This book consists of one very long and three shorter essays. I hate to summarize the ideas in the essay because they are more thoughtful than any summary I can give and the mere mention of the subjects involved will likely provoke a polarized response to a position already held. What I will say is that if you force yourself to put aside your already firmly held views ad read these wonderful essays with an open mind, you can find insights that can move you to new thinking and attitudes. The best advice I can give you is to look for how he is challenging your presently held views rather than only noticing how he is challenging those with whom you already disagree. No matter which part of the political spectrum you currently inhabit, you will find a great deal of challenging and edifying writing here that will provide very nutritious food for thought on this important and sadly painful topic.

If you read THE CONTENT OF OUR CHARACTER, you're likely to think that A DREAM DEFERRED is published by the Department of Redundancy Department. Yes, there is no doubt that A DREAM DEFERRED is an elaboration of THE CONTENT OF OUR CHARACTER. However, I for one, have not tired of Steele's central thesis. In addition, Steele is a brilliant writer. I never tire of good writing.A DREAM DEFERRED reminds me of a rather poignant experience I had with an Ohio State University doctoral student. Three of us were sitting together over some coffee. Two of us were white male graduates, while the third was a Native American graduate student. He lamented the racial discrimination he faced with one particular professor. My colleague and I were quite distressed with the comments from this young man. We had some power and could do something about this unsavory situation. With some prodding, the young man eventually told us who the professor was. Upon hearing the name, puzzlement came over our faces, then a smirk. We were both familiar with the professor in question. He was terse, pompous and arrogant - all common characteristics of doctoral faculty. However, he was NOT a racist. We were able to convince the young man that his experience was not racially motivated but rather the professor was simply a jerk. No, he wasn't a racist; he merely treated everyone like trash. A DREAM DEFERRED provides the basis for whites to understand the predicament faced by many minorities. They have difficulty distinguishing between social activities that are racially motivated and social activities that emerge as stressful but have no elements of racial bias. Steele suggests that whites must stand firm. Funny thing is -- Steele is well aware that most white will not follow his directions. African Americans must take the lead.

Mr. Steele makes an eloquent case that "redemptive liberalism," designed not to actually correct problems but to assuage guilt for past sins, has not solved any of the problems of the black underclass, and in fact, is simply a form of lip service used by liberals and black power mongers. He makes clear, and argues persuasively, that "individual rights," not "group rights" are what made this country great and what the Constitution guaranteed and was designed to protect. (Readers of Ayn Rand's works will recognize the same championing of the individual and individual rights in Mr. Steele's book). I believe the depth of his arguments make a factual, logical, objective, and unemotional debate against his position extremely difficult. If a white author had written this book he or she would have be attacked, dismissed, and verbally lynched by the liberals and black power elite. Mr. Steele defines himself as a "black conservative," which most people would consider an oxymoron. The fact that he is a black man, and therefore could not possibly be considered a racist (as a white person writing exactly the same words would be) probably keeps the liberal media, liberal politicians, and the black power elite from mounting an attack on his work...which in turn simply reinforces his arguments!I believe so strongly in the conclusions of this book that I am seriously considering sending a copy to every Senator and Congressman in the United States. It's that good and it's that important...for all of us.

Mr. Steele has made me re-think the wisdom of blindly accepting the "party line" of black politics in America. I do not agree with all of his ideas. However, many of his views are worthy of careful consideration by blacks and white. Regretably, many blacks will not even listen [and do not want others to listen] to alternative views like those expressed by Mr. Steele. Mr. Steele should continue to make us think critically about other views of this thorny issue. I find Mr. Steele to be brilliant and a valuable asset to the black intelligentsia in America and the world. Keep up the good work. I am black person who has lived all my life in the "slavery border" State of Missouri (where active racism is alive and well). I have never thought of myself as a conservaitve. However, I look forward to reading and purchasing other books written by Mr. Steele in the future.