First published 2018
Mitch Landrieu opens with his May 2017 speech to New Orleans residents about taking down four Confederate monuments, including the Robert E. Lee statue. His decision sparked national debate and brought millions of viewers to his televised address. Landrieu traces his personal evolution on race, growing up in one of America's most segregated cities with a father who championed integration as state senator and mayor during the 1960s and 1970s. Despite his progressive upbringing, Landrieu had to confront how Southern history had been distorted in his own education. He examines the legacy of slavery and systemic racism that continues to plague American institutions. The book combines memoir with historical analysis and policy recommendations. Landrieu argues that white Americans must face uncomfortable truths about the past rather than clinging to false nostalgia. He distinguishes between remembering history and venerating it, challenging readers to reckon with racism's persistent influence on contemporary politics and society.
Genres: history, african-american, politics, memoir, non-fiction, biography-memoir, 21st-century, american-history
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: memoir, personal-journey, social-commentary
Setting: New Orleans
Period: 1960s, 1970s, 2017
227 pages · Hardcover · Viking
Content warnings: racism, slavery