Black Lies, White Lies: The Truth According to Tony Brown

A black conservative Republican, who refuses to perform the Uncle Tom "Tap dance" that many of his fellow black conservative Republicans do: That is, Brown is not one of the many constantly genuflecting Black conservative Republicans "skinning-and-grinning" to get cheap "Brownie points" (pun intended) from the majority racist-leaning white mainstream audience. Nor does he play the race card in reverse invoking "pretend solidarity" with the "black gansta underclass," or with what he refers to as the corrupt "Black Talented Tenth," both of whom he fingers as doing as much harm to the country as greedy and intolerant white racists. No, Brown, as one of his colleagues has referred to him, is an "Equal Opportunity [butt]-kicker." Unlike the cheaper versions of black conservatism (such as the Jessie Lee Petersons, Bill Cosbys, Armstrong Williams, and Lee Elders: the more notable of the genuflectors), goes about it methodically and constructively, goring all of the sacred cows equally. But much more importantly, what he says is sound social and political analysis -- back up by equally sound theory, and by a deep patriotic love and abiding faith for this country. Brown, like the rest of us, has a genuine desire to see our country turn the corner and get beyond our race fixation and away from greed, moral and economic decay. Using Whitney Young's metaphor "We didn't all come over on the same ship, but we're all in the same boat" as the centerpiece of this very sharp-edged socioeconomic critique and analysis, Brown proceeds to show us how, through compassion and Christian brotherhood, and by making everyone carry his own weight - meaning being equally culpable and equally responsible -- the greed and moral decay that is taking our nation down, can be fixed. Some of the key points of his solution include: (1) Instituting an Affirmative Action program that actually works for the poor, all the poor, and not just for middle class white women, as the present system does. (2) Getting rid of the "Entitlement Socialism for the rich" by "means testing" all social programs, so that those who are financially able, do not siphon-off what is actually intended for the poor. Currently, ¾ of our federal entitlement dollar goes to people who have not demonstrated financial need. Simply getting the rich off the dole (of social security for instance) represents a much larger potential saving than even getting all of the poor off the dole. Brown's logic here is the same as that of the NFL draft: Only by strengthening the weakest link in the chain, can the nation as a whole get stronger. (3) Restructuring the tax system to end deficit spending. Currently we borrow and spend too much, and save to little. And most of the spending is on nonproductive areas such as defense, interest on the debit, and entitlements, the great bulk of which goes to subsidies acquired through heavy lobbying by the big corporations and welfare to those who, if they were "means tested," probabl

This book starts out with some ideas on Black empowerment that will be surely taken as revolutionary by many, but to me seem right on the mark. Basically, he says, success for Blacks (like every other group) depends on their economic self-reliance, which in turn comes from better economic education, better support by Blacks of Black-owned businesses, etc. What was surprising and refreshing to me was to hear his attitude of bringing people together to succeed (i.e. Blacks, Whites and other groups working together) as opposed to an "us-vs.-them" mentality. I don't think the majority of the book is "weird," at all, as one reviewer claimed. He does veer off into a weird section on the non-HIV AIDS epidemic of which I couldn't really make sense. Otherwise, I think the book provides a good recipe for improving Blacks' future and also that of America as a whole.

While Tony Brown's book is not perfect, and although I do not agree with everything he says, his book is the second most refreshing book a person should read this decade. He brilliantly articulates what many know white or black, but what many rather not deal with. If your white or black, or human, this book will change your life and challenge your thoughts. If your a person that is not honest with yourself, this book might be hazordous to your health, and menatl status quo.

In Black Lies, White Lies, Tony Brown does what few high-profile African Americans have done before: He dares to challenge the lies of both Black and White Leaders and he dares to tell the truth. He attacks White racism and Black self-victimization with equal vehemence. He condemns integration as a disastrous policy, not just for Blacks but for the entire country. And he confronts the Black Talented Tenth, White liberals, conservatives, Democrats, Republicans, demagogues, and racists on all sides for their self-serving lies, their failures, and their lack of vision. Tony Brown spares no sacred cows. Black America must chart its own course, Brown says, and stop waiting for White America to solve its problems. And White America, he warns, should look into the societal deterioration within its urban ghettos and realize that the same fate awaits it, unless this nation rids itself of crippling debt and sacrifices and changes so that it can reclaim its position as a global economic power. Tony Brown does not simply slash and burn. He also offers farsighted, workable solutions to America's problems.