Description

This program is read by the author

For fans of Bad Feminist and The Sum of Us Black Skinhead sparks a radical conversation about Black America and political identity

In Black Skinhead Brandi CollinsDexter former Senior Campaign Director for Color Of Change explores the fragile alliance between Black voters and the Democratic party Through sharp timely essays that span the political cultural and personal CollinsDexter reveals decades of simmering disaffection in Black America told as much through voter statistics as it is through music film sports and the baffling mind of Kanye West

While Black Skinhead is an outward look at Black votership and electoral politics it is also a funny deeply personal and introspective look at Black culture and identity ultimately revealing a Black America that has become deeply disillusioned with the failed promises of its country

We had been told that everything was fine that America was working for everyone and that the American Dream was attainable for all But for those who had been paying attention there had been warning signs that the Obamas version of the American Dream wasnt working for everyone That it hadnt been working for many white Americans was immediately and loudly discussed but the truthand what I set out to write this book aboutwas that it hadnt been working for many Black Americans either For many Obamas vision had been more illusion than reality all along

When someone tells you everything is fine but around you you see evidence that its not where will the quest to find answers lead you As I went on the journey of writing this book I found a very different tale about Black politics and Black America one that countered white Americas longheld assumption that Black voters will always vote Democratand even that the Democratic party is the best bet for Black Americans

My ultimate question was this how are Black people being led awaynot towardseach other and what do we lose when we lose each other What do we lose when to quote Kanye West we feel lost in the world

A Macmillan Audio production from Celadon Books