There are so many good books around me that it feels like an embarrassment of riches. I recently had the opportunity to speak to two authors about their works: one a political analysis of the history of Black Republicans and the other a book of short stories about a Jamaican American family living in Miami during the 1980s. Both books were a window into the complexities of Black people living in America under the shadow of white supremacy and trying to navigate what it means to survive and possibly thrive as Black people living in the United States.
Clay Cane’s bestselling book, “The Grift: The Downward Spiral of Black Republicans from the Party of Lincoln to the Cult of Trump” lays out how modern day Black Republicans have cast their lot with racial opportunists and keepers of white supremacy and white nationalism. He takes the reader through a detailed account of Black Republicanism, party realignments, and the calcification of the two-party system for Blacks in America. This accessible book is perfect for anyone who is curious how we have gotten to the moment where a portion of Black people support a party actively working to malign their communities and make policy detrimental to Black people throughout the nation. 2024 will be a long year as we inch toward the November 5 presidential election and Cane’s book is mandatory reading to help you better understand many of the conversations pertaining to Black people this election season.
As someone who cares about and has dedicated her life to better understanding the ideological and ethnic diversity of Black people, Jonathan Escoffery’s novel “If I Survive You” is a must read. I’m a bit late to the party considering the novel was nominated for several awards in 2022 and was considered one of the best books of the year by several outlets and magazines including Oprah Daily, TIME, and The New Yorker. Escoffery’s short stories are at once touching, informative, funny, heartbreaking, and filled with memories. He weaves in the history of American policies, Jamaican politics, and economic and environmental factors affecting the lives of one family in his short stories. I am partial to the art of the short story and the skill it takes to create entire worlds in such a short span of time. His stories are page turners and lead the reader to tussle with the ramifications of personal decisions as well as political decisions beyond an individual’s control.
It is my hope that you will purchase these books, support Black authors, and use these books (both nonfiction and fiction) to help you better understand Black politics and people. Both of these books help us feel less alone and make sense of the world around us.
Christina Greer, Ph.D., is an associate professor at Fordham University; author of “Black Ethnics: Race, Immigration, and the Pursuit of the American Dream”; and co-host of the podcast FAQ-NYC and host of The Blackest Questions podcast at TheGrio. She is a 2023-24 Moynihan Public Scholars Fellow at CCNY.