The End of Blackness

I just read this book and thought it was a wonderful addition to the discussion on black/white race relations in America. The negative reviews that have been posted both about this book, and about Ms. Dickerson personally, are not surprising. When a person refuses to be placed in a box and determinedly strives forward to assert their own opinions and perspectives it is a given that they will be attacked. I hope that the negative postings will not deter anyone from reading this book. It is important that individual thought and opinion be allowed and supported. If one is unafraid of honestly examining this issue, has a truly open mind, and desires honest "no holds barred" discussion then read this book!

I am a white man, or whitefella as we call ourlselves in pur part of the world. My wife is Aborigingal Australian. Her first language is Warlpiri, her parents first saw whitefellas in their childhood. They are desert people. Their historical experience is vastly dfferent from that of Black Americans and much closer to the experience of Native Americans. However because they too are black and as a result of the international impact of the US Civil Rights Movement many of indigenous descent here identify with the politics and culture of Black America. My wife's people have very little political voice. It is blocked and filtered not only by the politically and economically dominant White Australia but even more so by the old style political activists of indigenous descent in our southern cities who have no knowledge of their culture and experience but presume to speak on their behalf. Ms Dickerson's book is for us brilliantly liberating. It is time for my wife's people to take freedom, which in legal and consititutional terms they already have, and act free. They are caught now in a cycle of self destruction and they will find their own way out with the support of the mainstream when they are given a chance to tell their own story, their own truth in their own way and take responsibilty for that story. Thank you Ms Dickerson, your book should be read by all who truly believe in the essential equality and dignity of our race, the human one that is, the insanity of racism in all its forms and the ability of all in the human family to take control of thier own destiny and win the good fight.

This is an interesting and at times uncomfortable discussion of the issues that minorities have to deal with in the United States. Deborah Dickerson is an intelligent, insightful masterful author who tackles these issues with grace and wisdom. A book well worth reading.

...some of the tough things that we, as black Americans, should have been saying for many many years. Ms Dickerson deserves full marks for having the courage to skewer many of the sacred cows that we have been praying to for so many years. Further, she doesn't shrink from taking stab at today's almost-useless civil rights leaders. It is time, and past time for us to be proud of who we are for what we are and what we have done in this country. Not because white people will acknowledge it... some will, some won't, but so what? The acknowledgement of others shouldn't be the goal of ethnic pride. That said, it should also be said that ethnic pride shouldn't be a bar to the pride that comes from being an American. It is time, and past time for us to stop seeing ourselves only in comparison to how we are treated by white people... or any other people, including other black people. Black Americans have done remarkable things. We are inseparably woven into the fabric of American history and society. It is time, and past time for us to stop pretending that we exist outside of American society. We don't. This is our country, we are full citizens... let's act like it. We should walk tall, be proud, look others in the eye and smile, or not..., but not because of hostility, but because we are sure of ourselves and our great role in the building, and the success of this country. We ought not wait for the approval of other people to feel good about ourselves. This is childish behavior. This book could have been written better, and I don't agree with every word that is printed here, but what Dickerson wrote needed to be said. Dickerson is right... the mind truly is the last plantation, and all we need do is walk out through the open gate and decide to opt in.

I just read this book and I was blown away. She is one brave woman. The PC crowd is going to smack her around good, you watch and see. They do this to anyone who tries to leave their plantation of orthodoxies. She says we black folk got to move beyond the old civil rights paradigms because they just don't make sense anymore. Worse than that, they're keeping black people down. It's hard to let go of what's comfortable, but it's the only way we can climb higher. It truly can be said of Ms. Dickerson, she says what we've all been thinking, in our heart of hearts.