The Black Agenda: Bold Solutions For A Broken System by Anna Gifty Opoku-Agyeman
Synopsis.
“The Black Agenda mobilizes top Black experts from across the country to share transformative perspectives on how to deploy anti-racist ideas and policies into everything from climate policy to criminal justice to healthcare. This book will challenge what you think is possible by igniting long overdue conversations around how to enact lasting and meaningful change rooted in racial justice.” —Ibram X. Kendi, #1 New York Times bestselling author of How to Be an Antiracist and Stamped From the Beginning
From ongoing reports of police brutality to the disproportionate impact COVID-19 has had on Black Americans, 2020 brought a renewed awareness to the deep-rootedness of racism and white supremacy in every facet of American life.
Edited by Anna Gifty Opoku-Agyeman, The Black Agenda is the first book of its kind—a bold and urgent move towards social justice through a profound collection of essays featuring Black scholars and experts across economics, education, health, climate, and technology. It speaks to the question “What’s next for America?” on the subjects of policy-making, mental health, artificial intelligence, climate movement, the future of work, the LGBTQ community, the criminal legal system, and much more.
Essayists including Dr. Sandy Darity, Dr. Hedwig Lee, Mary Heglar, and Janelle Jones present groundbreaking ideas ranging from Black maternal and infant health to reparations to AI bias to inclusive economic policy, with the potential to uplift and heal not only Black America, but the entire country.
The Review
This book felt like sitting in a community circle talking with peers about what is broken and how to fix it.
If only my peers were this informed.
Hence, the extreme value of the book.
I love the structure of it specifically how it’s categorized.
Little essays chunked together in broad strokes but left upon their own to shine.
Each essay is able to get as specific as it wants which overwhelming screams diversity.
Not because these essays are written by black authors, but because it shows spectrums and shades beyond race that make us both like so many others and make us so spectacularly unique.
I found myself saying out loud
“That’s for damn sure”
I loved and appreciated all of the ideas brought forth in these essays. They give great examples of not only what could be done but also how to do it and why.
I found myself throughout the week tilling these ideas in my head. I know there are problems, and now I know a few more but overwhelmingly there are solutions. And part of getting to those solutions is giving voice to those who have been silenced. This book does that.
10/10 recommend ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martins Press for this advanced copy in both ebook and physical arc!
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