56 pages • 1 hour read
The Condemnation of Blackness
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Book Brief
392
Book • Nonfiction
United States • Early 20th Century
2010
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
The Condemnation of Blackness by Khalil Gibran Muhammad delves into how the urban North contributed to the association of crime and Blackness from 1890 to 1940, linking disproportionate Black incarceration rates to racialized social science and statistical misuse. Muhammad highlights the efforts of Black scholars and white racial liberals who challenged these ideas and examines how discriminatory practices in crime statistics and policing perpetuated systemic racism, a legacy that endures in contemporary society. Topics include systemic racism, discrimination, and racial violence.
Informative
Challenging
Mysterious
Dark
Unnerving
Reviews & Readership
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Review Roundup
Khalil Gibran Muhammad's The Condemnation of Blackness offers a nuanced exploration of how racial crime statistics shaped perceptions of African Americans post-Reconstruction. Reviewers praise its meticulous research and historical insight, though some find the dense academic prose challenging. The book is commended for its relevance to contemporary discussions on race and justice.
Who Should Read The Condemnation of Blackness?
Readers who value deep historical analysis of race, racism, and social justice will appreciate The Condemnation of Blackness. Similar to Michelle Alexander's The New Jim Crow and Ibram X. Kendi's Stamped from the Beginning, this book offers a scholarly yet accessible examination of systemic racial disparities in America.
1,706 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
W. E. B. Du Bois
W. E. B. Du Bois
A renowned sociologist and anti-racist scholar who lived from the 1890s to 1963. He used statistics to challenge racial prejudices and is noted for his work in The Philadelphia Negro and The Souls of Black Folk.
Ida B. Wells
Ida B. Wells
A journalist and civil rights advocate known for her statistical research on lynching. She founded the Negro Fellowship League and contributed significantly to civil rights and feminist movements.
Frederick L. Hoffman
Frederick L. Hoffman
An author known for propagating the idea of Black criminality through racial statistics. His work, Race Traits and Tendencies of the American Negro, was influential in perpetuating racist ideologies in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
James Stemons
James Stemons
A Black community leader in Philadelphia who advocated for the rights of the Black community through the League of Civic and Political Reform. He faced resistance from local authorities and inspired future generations of Black anti-racist scholars.
392
Book • Nonfiction
United States • Early 20th Century
2010
Adult
18+ years
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