Long Time Coming: Reckoning with Race in America by Michael Eric Dyson

The state of race relations in the United States has been a long and complex one. For centuries, African Americans have faced a range of prejudice and discrimination, from the implicit racism of the Jim Crow era to the more recent examples of police violence. The events of the past year have especially forced the nation to take a deep look at the systemic racism that has caused deep divisions and lingering resentment in the country’s history, and author Michael Eric Dyson tackles this difficult subject in his latest book, Long Time Coming: Reckoning With Race in America.

Dyson, who is a professor of sociology at Georgetown University and was recently named one of the 25 most influential African Americans by Ebony magazine, is no stranger to the struggles of race in America. In the past, he has addressed issues such as police brutality, the Black Lives Matter movement, and the racial tensions in Ferguson, Missouri. Now, Dyson has turned his attention to the long history of systemic racism in America and how it continues to manifest in our society today.

The book is organized into two parts. The first, titled “A Country Divided: The History and Legacy of Race,” outlines the history of racial discrimination in the United States and looks at the various challenges that have arisen over time. Dyson examines the various reasons for why society has come to shape an “oppositional narrative” of blackness, emphasizing the need to recognize the complex and painful history that has gone into constructing these ideas.

The second part of the book, titled “Advocacy and Action,” looks at the issues plaguing our society today, from the racial disparities in education and health care to the issues with law enforcement and the criminal justice system. Dyson argues for a comprehensive approach to the challenges we face, stressing the need for a “vigorous, multifaceted” strategy for keeping the conversation on race alive and for engaging all levels of society in order to effectively create solutions.

At the heart of Long Time Coming is the idea that progress can, and will, be made when we as a society confront and reckon with the painful history of racism in our country. Dyson writes in an engaging style and with a clear passion that makes the book an accessible and inspiring read. He tackles some of the most difficult topics with an honesty that is hard to find elsewhere, and he frames the challenge of racism in a way that will help readers better understand and appreciate the nuances of the issue.

Bottom line, Long Time Coming is an important book that will no doubt be invaluable to anyone seeking a more thorough understanding of the systemic racism that has been a part of United States history and continues to shape our society today. New insights, facts, and figures make it a useful reference for those looking for ways to create solutions for the challenges we face. Dyson’s powerful prose is sure to make it an essential read for anyone interested in race and justice in the United States.