The short essays are packed with statistics, acronyms, and some policy jargon; while they can at times make for dry reading, they offer fresh ideas and perspectives on many of the most pressing problems of this era. Standout essays include Brandeis Marshall on algorithmic assault, Cliff Albright on voting rights, Fenaba R. Addo on student loans and the Black wealth gap, and Kyle K. Moore on stratification economics. A powerful foreword by Tressie McMillan Cottom offers a starting point for critical self-reflection ... An important volume for anyone involved in dismantling systemic racism through advocacy and public policy.
An expansive set of essays ... Among the most instructive and stimulating essays in this collection are those that target rapidly evolving forms of racial discrimination, as in Deborah Raji’s examination of the embedded biases and blind spots of Amazon’s facial recognition technology. A particular strength of many of the essays, moreover, is their precision in identifying forms of resistance that have proven successful in the past and in speculating on those that hold special promise for the future. Cliff Albright’s exploration of voter suppression stands out in this regard ... An inclusive, edifying, often fiery assembly of voices articulating the way forward for Black America—and America in general.
... [an] invigorating essay collection ... Though most of the contributors’ proposed solutions lack specifics, they’re effective as launching pads for further discussion. Policymakers will want to take note.
