Tag: Politics

Books, NonFiction

The Color of Law by Richard Rothstein

RaeAnna

Read Yes
Length 331
Quick Review Race is a complicated issue in the United States. The Color of Law goes a long way to explaining some of the intricacies. I have heard nothing but good things, and I can’t agree more.

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The Color of Law by Richard Rothstein || Romper

American history is riddled with inequality. Laws have been made and changed and changed and changed. Laws made in the name of “equality” have been instituted, and, yet, inequality thrives even today. Richard Rothstein unravels some of the assbackward, sorry, I mean, laws about equality in The Color of Law.

We have come a long way… ish. There is still so far to go. Discrimination doesn’t necessarily look the way it did 100 years ago or even 50 years ago, but it is still rampant. Rothstein, obviously, in The Color of Law that discrimination is and has been de jure. It may not have begun in the legal system, but the discrimination has been bolstered in the policy decisions of the federal, state, and local governments. These policies have reverberated throughout history and are still felt today.

One example, which spans several chapters in The Color of Law, talks about the housing situation. Housing is a necessity similar to air, nourishment, clothing, and puppy cuddles – wait, that may just be me. Housing discrimination has been in the legal system for… ever. Even when there were fewer or no laws explicitly denying certain people access to housing, there were laws allowing discrimination to continue. I would explain more, but it is a complicated topic to explain in a paragraph.

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The Color of Law by Richard Rothstein

Basically, laws have kept people of color in particularly unpleasant and unequal circumstances through many routes.

If The Color of Law is your first read on the inequities of the American legal system and society in general towards people of color, you will definitely find many parts to be distressing. I do. Everytime, I delve into these topics, I am disturbed. I believe this is a good thing. Reading books about uncomfortable topics affects the way we see the world. As a white person, it’s very important to be aware of the difficulties people of other skin colors face.  

I highly suggest reading The Color of Law. Today, Tuesday, November 6, 2018 is midterm elections. Our votes matter. Our votes matter to the country. Our votes matter to our friends and family. Our votes matter to people of color. When we vote, those votes allow people to make and decide on policies that will affect our lives, the country, and, in a way, the world. When we vote, we vote for people who will make this world a better or worse place. Books like The Color of Law help inform and influence the way we vote.

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Memorable Quotes:
“De facto segregation, we tell ourselves, has various causes.”
“Let bygones be bygones is not a legitimate approach if we wish to call ourselves a constitutional democracy.”

Title: The Color of Law
Author: Richard Rothstein
Publisher: Liveright Publishing Corporation
Copyright: 2017
ISBN: 9781631494536

 

Books, NonFiction

Good & Mad by Rebecca Traister

RaeAnna

Read Yes
Length 320
Quick Review Anger has been subdued, ignored, and vilified in women for-literally-ever. It’s not even something that can be discussed as if it’s in the past. Good & Mad is a look into women’s pent-up anger.

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Good & Mad by Rebecca Traister || Red Dress || Heels

Earlier this year, I read Rebecca Traister’s All the Single Ladies (read the review here) and enjoyed it very much. When I found out about her newest book Good & Mad, I was ecstatic to read it.

Anger is a natural emotion. Everyone is angry at some point, in some way, on some level. For men, anger can be an asset. For women, it never is. Anger is something I have struggled with my entire life. I was never encouraged to be angry; instead, calm down became a mantra. Anytime I was angry, it was always played off as irrational and, when I got older, or just PMS. Just so you know, it was never PMS. The even more infuriating thing: it was women telling me these things. It wasn’t until I was older that I realized other women experienced the same thing.

Good & Mad isn’t necessarily ground breaking, but it is important. Now is a time of upheaval. Women are fighting for their rights. Equal rights. A lesser known right: the right to be angry. We deserve to feel angry and express it. Rebecca Traister explores the history of women’s anger with a great of emphasis on American women.

I enjoy reading Traister’s work because she has a sense of humor even when writing about dark topics like feminism, violence, and anger. Good & Mad is no exception. She finds flaws in the American system, but through the criticism, it is obvious she loves this country and wants the best for it. Focusing on competent yet vilified women in politics is one way of showing examples of women’s anger being unacceptable. Women can’t win on either end. If they’re angry, they’re vilified; if they’re too kind, they’re adorable and a push over. Neither way is a woman taken seriously.

One of my favorite points, which I had not thought of much, is the idea that when a woman criticizes a man it is reminiscent of maternal criticism and marks an emotional return to childhood for men. This is a really interesting concept that could be expanded upon.

I highly suggest this read. It’s very interesting!

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Memorable Quotes
“Over the threat of a potential female leader, brutal masculinity won.”
“The aspersions that a woman who is angry is also unstable is cast every day in popular political discourse.”
“Maybe we cry when we’re furious in part because we feel a kind of grief at all the things we want to say or tell that we know we can’t.”
“The close cousin of sadness is laughter”

Title: Good and Mad
Author: Rebecca Traister
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Copyright: 2018
ISBN: 9781501181795

Books, NonFiction

Impeachment

RaeAnna

Read Yes
Length 192
Quick Review I probably recommend everything Jon Meacham touches. Impeachment is a tiny book jam-packed full of interesting facts about a well known word yet unfamiliar process.

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Impeachment

Impeachment is a word thrown around often lately in the United States. The political climate makes a tornado look calm right now. In Impeachment by Jon Meacham, Peter Baker, Timothy Naftali, and Jeffrey A. Engel explore the evocative word in the Constitution, history, and looking towards the future.

Impeachment is split into four main parts plus an Introduction and conclusion. Jeffrey A. Engel explains the historical context of impeachment in the first part of the book. The Constitution lays out the foundation of impeachment. The founders or framers were hesitant to give any one person an exorbitant amount of power in order to avoid monarchy issues. George Washington was the perfect choice for the first presidency because he displayed “virtue enough to withstand the lure of tyranny.” He was chosen to set an example for all who followed because honor dictated his every move. He would always act in the best interest of the country, “Washington’s sense of duty eventually overcame his desire for tranquility.” I found this section to be the most intriguing because it is the foundation for all actions following. Jon Meacham examines the impeachment of Andrew Jackson. To oversimplify history: he was impeached because a) he wasn’t Abraham Lincoln b) he didn’t play nice with the other political party. Richard Nixon was covered by Timothy Naftali. I think that can easily be summed up by Watergate. Oh, and he quit to save face. Peter Baker discussed Bill Clinton lying about an affair.

 

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Impeachment

There has never been a president ousted from office. Nixon would have been, absolutely; however he quit before that could happen. There have been three impeachments. Because impeachment basically means trial. Common misconception.

I really enjoyed reading Impeachment. It’s always interesting to read collaborative works. The voices change with the authors, but they all work together to create a cohesive piece. These four men are wonderful writers and historians. I, of course, do enjoy their slant.

In the conclusion, there is a decent amount of discussion about the possibility of Trump being impeached. At the very least, there is acknowledgement of the word being thrown around heavily in the last election and current presidency. There is an under current of the thought that a vote on November 6th is a vote to impeach Trump or not.

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Memorable Quotes
“Those who study history are also destined to repeat it. But we are less surprised.”

Title: Impeachment; An American History
Author: Jon Meacham, Peter Baker, Timothy Naftali, Jeffrey A. Engel
Publisher: Modern Library
Copyright: 2018
ISBN: 9781984853783

Books

Born a Crime by Trevor Noah

RaeAnna

Read Yes
Length 304
Quick Review Trevor Noah turns heartbreaking personal history into hilarity with his witty insights into people, society, and basic human nature.

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Born a Crime by Trevor Noah | Skirt | Shirt

Trevor Noah is most widely known as the host of The Daily Show. His first book and memoir Born a Crime is truly a testament to all he has accomplished and overcome in such a short period of time.

Noah was born and raised in South Africa in the midst of apartheid. Born a Crime isn’t a cutesy title, nor is it a play on words. Trevor Noah was literally born a crime in his country. At the time it was illegal for a white person and a black person to have sex. He was the embodiment of his parents’ crime. A black mother and a white father. His life was in limbo in a way. Never belonging to one or the other, but always trying to get through.

He was raised almost exclusively by his mother. She seems like the kind of woman anyone would want for a mother-in law. Noah describes a strong woman. The type of woman who survives and even thrives in horrible situations. A woman of faith. A woman who wanted the best life possible for herself and her family. She earned an education and became a secretary in a time in a country it was all but unheard of for a black woman. Noah may be writing a memoir, but Born a Crime feels like a thank you letter to his mom.

South African apartheid was awful. I haven’t done a whole lot of research into it beyond the bare minimum because it makes me nauseous, which is exactly what it should do. Reading Noah’s memoir reinforced these opinions of mine, but he presents his story in a much more palatable way because he’s funny. Like myself, he has a dark and matter-of-fact sense of humor. Reading Born a Crime almost feels uncomfortable because of the jokes he makes.

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Born a Crime by Trevor Noah | Skirt | Shirt |

Noah has an intense insight into how people function in society, which comes from being on the outside his entire life. He wasn’t included in any group because he wasn’t white; he wasn’t black; he was colored, but didn’t belong there either, so he observed.

Born a Crime is separated into three parts, which are basically about his childhood, adolescence, and young adulthood. Each chapter begins or ends with a one or two page bold section giving historical, familial, or cultural context to what he just said or is about to say. He has an incredibly no-nonsense way of writing. When things can be funny, he lets them be. When things are sad, depressing, horrific, he lets them be. He is honest about South Africa. He is honest about his feelings and opinions. He is honest about himself. There’s a transparency to his writing, which is rough to read, but much needed when it comes to stories of abuse, racism, and more. It’s hard not to hear his voice as you read it  

One thing I had no idea about in South Africa is the fact Hitler is a common-ish name there. I definitely had a tiny giggle fest when I read the story about the time Noah accidentally brought Hitler to a Jewish party. Fun fact: Noah also accidentally burned down a house when he was a little kid.

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Memorable Quotes
“I eventually decided black people needed more time with Jesus because we suffered more.”
“… language, even more than color, defines who you are to people.”
“A dog is a great thing for a kid to have. It’s like a bicycle but with emotions.”
“That was my mom. Don’t fight the system. Mock the system.”

Title: Born a Crime
Author: Trevor Noah
Publisher: John Murray Publishers
Copyright: 2016
ISBN: 9781473635302