John McWhorter – The Path Not Taken for Black Activism

Dinesh D'Souza's "The End of Racism" is a controversial book that argues against the existence of systemic racism in the United States. D'Souza contends that racism is primarily an individual phenomenon and that policies aimed at addressing systemic racism are misguided. The book has been widely criticized for its selective use of evidence and its dismissal of historical and contemporary accounts of racial inequality. It sparked significant debate and controversy upon its release, highlighting the ongoing complexities of the discussion surrounding race and racism in America. The book's arguments have been challenged by numerous scholars and activists who point to the persistent effects of historical and ongoing racial discrimination.

In 'Crime and Human Nature', James Q. Wilson and Richard J. Herrnstein present and critique major theories of crime etiology, emphasizing the role of intrinsic aspects of human nature rather than solely psychological or environmental factors. They argue that biology and genetics play a significant role in the causation of crime, while also considering the complex interaction between constitutional and social factors. The book is notable for its interdisciplinary approach, drawing from biology, neuropsychology, and rational choice theory to understand why individuals commit crimes.

This book, co-authored by Kwame Ture (Stokely Carmichael) and Charles V. Hamilton, is a critical analysis of racism and the political struggles faced by black communities in the United States. It defines Black Power, discusses the historical and systemic roots of racism, and critiques the failures of integration and liberal coalition-building. The authors argue for the necessity of black self-definition, political modernization, and the establishment of black political power to challenge white supremacy and achieve structural change. The book also examines specific examples of black political organizing, such as the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party and independent black political parties in Lowndes County, Alabama.

In this searing and moving essay, James Baldwin examines the Atlanta child murders that took place over twenty-two months in 1979 and 1980. He delves into the significance of Atlanta as the site of these brutal killings—a city that claimed to be 'too busy to hate'—and the pervasive role of race throughout the case. Baldwin critiques the prosecution of Wayne Williams, the Black man tried for the crimes, and argues that the case highlights the failures of integration and the ongoing racial stagnation in America. The book is a profound and disturbing look at American race relations, making a time-specific event timeless and revealing the hard-to-face issues that continue to plague the nation.