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Michael Eric Dyson

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Race Rules: Navigating The Color Line Hardcover – October 17, 1996

by Michael Eric Dyson (Author)

4.3 17 ratings

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Former welfare father, ordained Baptist minister, and Princeton Ph.D., Michael Eric Dyson is best known for taking black studies ”to the streets” with his passion for popular culture and his commitment to urban youth. Here he unearths the hidden rules that poison our language, our thinking, and our politics.Dyson reveals the pernicious influence of racial thinking across the broad canvas of American social and cultural life, from the disjunction between how whites and blacks view the world, to the way perceptions of black masculinity thwart black leadership, to the politics of nostalgia that keeps us looking to an imaginary past rather than creating a positive future. Through painful examples drawn from within the black communitysexual conflict in the black church, the myth of the ”head Negro,” relations between black men and womenhe depicts our ongoing failure to break free of the rule of race.”In a color-blind society, we can only see black and white,” warns Dyson as he argues for color consciousness informed by history and shaped by hope. provocative and compelling, Race Rules is the most important work to date from the ”hip-hop intellectual” who stands at the forefront of his generation of black public thinkers.

Print length

240 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Basic Books
Publication date

October 17, 1996
Reading age

18 years and up
Dimensions

5.75 x 1 x 8.75 inches
ISBN-10

0201911868
ISBN-13

978-0201911862
Lexile measure

1200L
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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In this somewhat disjointed essay collection, Dyson (Between God and Gangsta Rap) argues that "we haven't learned our lessons" about racial etiquette. This ordained minister writes with rhythm and power, even if he sometimes travels well-trod ground, as when he teases out the racial ironies and subtexts in the O.J. Simpson case or analyzes the respective appeals of Colin Powell and Louis Farrakhan. Dyson also presents a self-indulgent essay on black public intellectuals; while he cogently explains this recent phenomenon, he goes on to offer tongue-in-cheek "awards" to various intellectuals and their critics. Much more interesting is his exploration of the tension between black sexuality and the black church, in which he argues that the church must develop "a theology of eroticism" to supplant "guilty repression or gutless promiscuity." Dyson, who is in his mid-30s, lectures his elders that the criticism rap music generates was once faced by jazz; he goes on to dispute Cornel West's attack on black nihilism by urging a focus on how power in the inner cities has shifted to a dangerous "juvenocracy." A final essay on Waiting to Exhale seems a throwaway, but before that, Dyson thoughtfully urges black leaders to "transform" race, to challenge white supremacy and black orthodoxy and to link to "other forms of political resistance." Author tour.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Dyson, a Baptist minister and professor of communications at the University of North Carolina, has written a companion to his last work, Between God and Gangsta Rap (LJ 1/15/96). From the aftermath of the O.J. Simpson trial to the posturing of black leaders following the Million Man March, Dyson explores the social issues governed by race. He delves deeply into the struggles of many to understand the powerlessness of their African American compatriots at the hands of the justice system, in political life, and within community institutions. Dyson identifies three African American leaders?Jesse Jackson, Colin Powell, Louis Farrakhan?and how he believes they have aided or hindered justice for African Americans. Recommended for academic and public libraries.?Kevin Whalen, Elizabeth Free P.L., N.J.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Basic Books (October 17, 1996)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 240 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0201911868
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0201911862
Reading age ‏ : ‎ 18 years and up
Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 1200L
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 13.6 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.75 x 1 x 8.75 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #4,087,417 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #15,056 in African American Demographic Studies (Books)
- #54,245 in Sociology (Books)

Customer Reviews:
4.3 17 ratings

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Michael Eric Dyson

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Michael Eric Dyson is an award winning author, a widely celebrated Georgetown University professor, a prominent public intellectual and a noted political analyst. A native of Detroit, Michigan, he is also an ordained Baptist minister. Dyson is a two-time NAACP Image Award winner (Why I Love Black Women, and Is Bill Cosby Right?), and the winner of the American Book Award for Come Hell or High Water: Hurricane Katrina and the Color of Disaster. His book The Black Presidency: Barack Obama and the Politics of Race in America was a Kirkus Prize finalist. Dyson has written 19 books, and edited another one, over his nearly 25-year publishing career. He is also a highly sought after public speaker who is known to excite both secular and sacred audiences. Follow him on Twitter @michaeledyson and on his official Facebook page (facebook.com/michaelericdyson)

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4.3 out of 5

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Shameeka L Burton

Good reas

Reviewed in the United States on October 23, 2013

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The author brings our very important points about the state of black America. He also points out some of the causes of our current state as people. Good read!

One person found this helpful

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MamaDink

Good Book

Reviewed in the United States on November 24, 2012

Verified Purchase

I love this book and I believe all people not just blacks should read it..It answers questions we have of one another and debunks myths that keep racism rampant...

2 people found this helpful

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ShaSeli

Interesting

Reviewed in the United States on May 3, 2023

This was an extremely interesting listen. His perspectives on the Black church, clergy and what needs to happen within our own communities is interesting.

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Abc

Borrow the book. Dont waste your money

Reviewed in the United States on June 25, 2021

Proves this so called minister is a racist

Reviewed in the United States on August 7, 2001

There is absolutely no doubt that this is a great book. The author, as is evident from the book, is a keen thinker and is as intelligent as he is funny. This book was a great reading experience for me, especially because I am neither black nor white. I loved the first part where Mr. Dyson talks about the O.J Simpson trial and how that has changed the playing field. He very deftly, avoids passing judgment on O.J, the man. Even though the author cannot be accused of justifying O.J's actions, he most certainly can be credited for trying to paint a picture in which O.J's actions can at least be objectively understood. This, to me, was extremely interesting. As far O.J. Simpson is concerned, Mr. Dyson has been successful in evoking a response of "Why not?" as opposed to "Why?" The book covers important topics like the failures and successes of the black church and the deficiencies in the present black leadership. One thought, which runs throughout the course of the book, is the author's consistent support for women's causes. A self-described feminist, the author has been very effective in talking about women's issues, specially the state of black women and the inequalities they have had to face due to not only their race but also their gender. Mr. Dyson gathers enough courage to criticize black men for the treatment they have meted out to the women folk. However, at times, Mr. Dyson sounds like he is desperately trying to gain support from black women as their only true sympathizer. I had the feeling that the author was sacrificing sincerity to gain a little goodwill. Mr. Dyson has taken a middle path solution to the question of racial equality. He agrees with both the integrationist ideals of Colin Powell and the separatist beliefs of Louis Farrakhan, but denounces both as being the only road to racial salvation. He tries to be politically correct so as not sound as either a rebel or a wimp. The author's discussion of the popular culture can be counted as another plus of this book. I specially liked his treatment of the subject dealing with the politics of nostalgia and how the elders blame the black youth for all the ills and reminisce about the 'good old days in the hood'. Probably the author's support for hip-hop and rap endeared this book more to me. As a great fan of rap music, I couldn't agree more with the author. However, I was disappointed at the fact that the author never mentioned Tupac Shakur, who I think has been one of the most important players in the history of rap music. Throughout the course of the book, I got the impression that the author was trying to prove to the world that he does not shy away from calling a spade, a spade. But whatever his real intentions, Michael Eric Dyson has been very effective in painting a true picture of the realities of race in this country and how it still dominates our life, more than we want or imagine.

7 people found this helpful

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Blaine Greenfield

Made me think a subject not ordinarily on my radar screen

Reviewed in the United States on February 27, 2004

Heard the taped version of RACE RULES, written and read by
Michael Eric Dyson . . . it is a collection of essays that deal with
the problem of racial division in America, as well as with divisions
within the black community.
Dyson, a former welfare father and now an ordained Baptist
minister and professor of Communications Studies at the University
of North Carolina, starts by talking about O.J. Simpson . . . I recall
initially thinking, "not this subject again," yet was pleasantly
surprised by how he got me to realize that there was more--a lot
more--to the subject than the media presented . . . another essay
dealt with the sate of black women and the inequities they have had
to face due to not only their race but also their gender . . . lastly,
I found it fascinating how Dyson agreed with both the integrationist
ideas of Colin Powell and the separationist beliefs of Louis Farrakhan--and
then denounced them both as being only road to racial salvation.
Dyson made me think about subject matter that ordinarily isn't on my
radar screen . . . for that, I'm grateful.

11 people found this helpful

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Cory J. May

A Man That Makes You Think.

Reviewed in the United States on September 28, 2007

I thought this book was great. I respect and love Dyson as a thinker and leader. There were a few things in the book that I dont necessarily agree with Dyson on, but who cares, thats life. The only person I need to agree with 100% is God. Overall his thoughts are deep, logical and thought provoking. Dyson is my favorite writer and Black Leader.

2 people found this helpful

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Plain Talk

Interesting dynamic on the Black Church

Reviewed in the United States on December 9, 2009

As the author of a new book on Race called Plain Talk, I decided to read as many books that I could before writing Vol. 2 of Plain Talk. One of the books that I brought was Race Rules. I had favorites and not so favorites in this book. Some may not be interested in the million man march or the dynamics of the lack of feminist influence on the march. However, you may be interested in MED's introspective rendering of the inner sanctrum of the pastor's circle. I won't give it away, but MED bares his soul. I also enjoyed the discussion on O.J. and what it said about our society. In my book Plain Talk, I also examine the polarizing aspects of this whole episode, as well as many other events. There is something for everyone in Race Rules. Enjoy. Plain Talk - Volume 1

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