My Mother. Barack Obama. Donald Trump..., Kevin Powell
My Mother. Barack Obama. Donald Trump..., Kevin Powell
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My Mother. Barack Obama. Donald Trump. And the Last Stand of the Angry White Man.

Author: Kevin Powell

Narrator: Kevin Powell

Unabridged: 8 hr 27 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 09/04/2018


Synopsis

Written in the tradition of works by Joan Didion, bell hooks, Toni Morrison, and Eve Ensler, this “profoundly insightful and brilliantly inciting” (Dominique Morisseau, Obie Award-winning playwright) exploration of the soul of the United States—the past, the present, and the future Kevin Powell wants for us all, through the lens and lives of three major figures: his mother, Barack Obama, and Donald Trump.

Ten short years ago, Barack Obama became president of the United States, and changed the course of history. Ten short years ago, our America was hailed globally as a breathtaking example of democracy, as a rainbow coalition of everyday people marching to the same drum beat. We had finally overcome.

But had we?

Both the presidencies of Obama and Donald Trump have produced some of the ugliest divides in history: horrific racial murders, non-stop mass shootings, the explosion of attacks on immigrants and on the LGBTQ community, the rise of anti-Semitism and Islamophobia, a massive gap between the haves and the have-nots, and legions of women stepping forth to challenge sexual violence—and men—in all forms.

In this collection of thirteen powerful essays, “Kevin Powell thoughtfully weaves together the connective tissue between gender, race, sexuality, pop culture, and sports through a series of raw, incredibly personal essays” (Jemele Hill, writer and ESPN anchor). Be it politics, sports, pop culture, hip-hop music, mental health, racism, #MeToo, or his very complicated relationship with his mother, these impassioned essays are not merely a mirror of who we are, but also who and what Powell thinks we ought to be.

About Kevin Powell

Kevin Powell is the author of thirteen books, including his autobiography, The Education of Kevin Powell: A Boy’s Journey into Manhood. He lives with his wife Jinah Parker, the dancer, choreographer, and playwright, in Brooklyn, New York.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Andre

That is quite a title right? Although there is plenty of talk about his mother and what Kevin Powell refers to as their complicated relationship, there is much less about Obama and very little of Trump. The challenge of essay collections, if the collection is not conceived originally as a whole book......more

Goodreads review by Karla

See the full review at A Review of Kevin Powell's Latest Book. This year I have committed to reading and reviewing books mainly by womxn writers but when I received an advanced proof of Kevin Powell’s latest book, My Mother. Barack Obama. Donald Trump. And the Last Stand of the Angry White Man., I de......more

Jemele Hill's blurb says it all for me: He masterfully uses his own life experiences to force us to take an uncomfortable look at how we've been conditioned to adopt, accept, and extend the unfortunate American traditions of hate and violence.......more

Goodreads review by Sharon

Interesting take on racism today. I sort of skimmed through it, but focused on the last essay. As a white woman, I really can't empathize with Powell's hardships through life. One statement did stand out, however: Obama’s base support, White, Black, Latinx, Asian,Native American, Arab, Jewish, Musli......more

Goodreads review by Lisa

I loved this collection of essays by Kevin Powell. Because I know nothing about Hip-Hop I started to skim the essays on JAY-Z and Tupak, but I quickly realized that Powell turns his sharp gaze on everything and draws all the cords together. His insights about how music and athletics reflect truths a......more