by Tavis Smiley
First published 2006
This collection brings together six years of symposium discussions into actionable guidance for African American advancement. Tavis Smiley assembles contributions from prominent figures including former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. David Satcher, Leadership Conference on Civil Rights executive director Wade Henderson, PolicyLink founder Angela Glover Blackwell, and Princeton Religion professor Cornell West. Each chapter tackles a specific challenge facing Black communities, from healthcare and education to crime prevention and economic stability. The authors provide concrete steps that individuals and families can take to improve their immediate situations. Despite the reality that over 8 million African Americans live in poverty and face severe social inequities, the book maintains an optimistic tone. Every section includes resource lists, actionable recommendations, and citizen checklists designed to sustain community momentum across social, political, and economic dimensions. The work serves as both a practical manual for personal improvement and a strategic guide for community leaders working toward systemic change in Black America.
Genres: african-american, politics, social-issues, non-fiction, social-justice, american-history
Vibes: intimate, optimistic, thought-provoking
Tropes: call-to-action, community-organizing
254 pages · Paperback · Third World Press