In this 25th anniversary edition of Race Matters, Dr. West contends that we are currently living in one of the darkest moments in American history. He points to everything from our lack of integrity, honesty, and decency to our market-driven culture of mass distractions as fuel for more racial hatred and contempt. Dr. West clearly explains how we arrived at this bleak time in history as well as our potential to move forward, together, through hope and vision. A good read!

It's a bit obvious at times, but I think this is a solid book about African-American studies. Having never really been exposed to black culture in any non-superficial way until college, this was some good therapy to escape my rural white upbringing. If you're a seasoned reader of Af-Am studies, then, well, you've probably already read this, but if not, it's probably a bit basic for you, but if you aren't, then this seems like a good starting place.

It is pretty much impossible to get a handle on the idea of race and its implications in the United States without reading Cornel West. He is by far the most eloquent and erudite people who walk the earth. He's funny, poignant, and above all hopeful about a brotherhood which, not yet extant, is still within our reach.

This book was first published in 1993 and is about the state of race matters in the US during the early 90s.

I liked that it covered variety or areas such as politics, but also class, psychology, sexuality and sexual orientation, gender issues and even African-American and Jewish relations.

I wish that West had also talked about other issues within the Black community such as colorism, but also the relations between African-Americans and Black immigrants.

On thing I feared was that the book would be outdated since it was published in 1993 and much has happened during the past few years in the civil rights movement. I was positively surprised. It's still very much relevant.

I think this book is very short (108 pages) and just right for someone who wants to have a quick overview of some major themes on the issue of race in America. Then I would recommend moving to Kendi's more exhaustive and recent How to Be an Antiracist, and the unputdownable (and most important book to read on Race) Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson.