A race of people is like an individual man; until it uses its own talent, takes pride in its own history, expresses its own culture, affirms its own selfhood, it can never fulfill itself.
Synopsis
LEARN ABOUT THE BOOK
This book is an internal critique and analysis of the various ways in which Black Americans, both historically and contemporarily, have pursued certain behaviors, ideologies and cultural practices that have been self-destructive and counterproductive to the improvement and betterment of the Black American community. As Black Americans still contend with negative outside forces such as systemic racism that continue to present obstacles toward their advancement as a people, they make their situation worse in America because of their own jealousy, envy and group self-hatred, along with certain pathologies that serve to sabotage their own growth and development from within. There are many reasons for this, of which the author describes in the ensuing chapters throughout the book.
Reviews
The Enemy Within skillfully addresses the need for a reassessment of Black American conflicts and struggles, suggesting ways they can be addressed. Williams’s book will undoubtedly help spark conversation about the social, political, and economic welfare of generations of Black Americans.
The Enemy Within is not light reading. It’s compelling, sometimes painful, and the product of admirable research… Shakir Bakari Williams has made an important contribution to understanding the roots of racism, the persistence of racism, and a path beyond racism (for both Blacks and Whites).
This narrative is well-detailed and informational. Essentially, it reveals how oppressed Blacks become trapped by their lack of initiative to create alternatives, collaborate with one another, and actively seek alternatives for self-sufficiency. Anyone interested in Black history should read this book.
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