Id quod religat – “That which binds together.”
Book Review: LIVONIA CHOW MEIN, A NOVEL
By Abigail Savitch-Lew If I did not know Abigail and happened to pass this title in a book store, I would likely walk by. That would have been a shame. But I do know Abigail and her work. When my copy arrived at home, I was anxious to open the book, though I had no…
Down Girl, The Logic of Misogyny
By Kate Manne (Oxford University Press, 2018) This is a worthwhile read for anyone interested in a philosophical treatment of gender norms as they relate to White patriarchy. Her treatment of the subject is both detailed and comprehensive, but also accessible. This is due to her approach. She uses real life examples throughout the book,…
Book Review: The Invention of the White Race
By Theodore W. Allen (Verso, Second Edition, 2012) “No immigrants ever came to the United States better prepared by tradition and experience to empathize with the African-Americans than were these Irish who were emerging directly from the historic struggle against racial oppression in their own country.” My Italian surname notwithstanding, I am mostly of…
Book Review: The Gods of New York, Egotists, Opportunists, and the Birth of the Modern City: 1986 – 1990
By Johnathan Mahler I enjoyed this book, but the enjoyment may require some qualifiers. The book is well written and well researched. Did I learn anything new? Not really. Did it provide insight or perspective about this period that I lacked? No. These are usually the requirements I have for commending and recommending a book.…
THE ARC OF THE MORAL UNIVERSE IS, AND ALWAYS HAS BEEN, A REFLECTION OF WHO WE ARE
It was an honor to attend the premier and to have participated in this latest installment of the civil rights documentary, Eyes on the Prize. Eyes on the Prize III came out late last February (2025). The first episode in this six-part series focused on the efforts of residents of Kelly Street, featuring Robert Foster,…
Book Review: The Barn, The Secret History of Murder in Mississippi
By Wright Thompson (Penguin Press, 2024) This book is more than an expose’ of the life and murder of Emmitt Till. And though it is filled with examples of the worst aspects of human nature, it goes beyond just how bad people do terrible things. It demonstrates how forces beyond our control define our destiny,…
LIVING SCARED OF CRYPTO
The Town of Griffinville was developed on the banks of a small river. The founders were mostly from one extended family, the Griffins, who made a fortune in trade. They decided to relocate and made a new beginning on undeveloped land, specializing in agriculture. The town rests within a pleasant valley connected by one main…
Response to a Question about Immigrants, Citizens and a Commonwealth
Background: Follow up reply to a reader who responded to Harry Boyte’s draft paper with the following question. The Question Posed on Academia.edu: How can being a hyphenated American as the basis for one’s identity help individuals become contributors to a commonwealth when its major force is to produce an uncommonwealth? This is a great…
WE WILL NOT BE SAVED FROM ABOVE; IT IS ALL ON US
What follows is a response to scholar and author Harry Boyte, who requested comments to a draft on “Courageous Citizenship,” a current focus of the national group, Braver Angels, a group whose mission is to promote respectful dialogue between and among those with divergent political views. Thank you Harry. I appreciate the opportunity to comment.…
Book Review: The Economics of Structural Racism, Stratification Economics and US Labor Markets
By Patrick L. Mason A good book, but as a read, it is more geared towards academics than for popular audiences. The book is dense with tables, which I would have preferred to have placed at the end of the book. Nonetheless, there is a lot of information that is useful and well documented. Throughout,…
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