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This Is the Fire: What I Say to My Friends About Racism

This Is the Fire: What I Say to My Friends About Racism

by Don Lemon

Little, Brown and Company ·2021 ·224 pages ·Social Sciences
Near the Top
Near the Top
I Index
62/99
Near the Top

52/99

Critics

Near the Top

72/99

Readers

n/a

Scholars

38/99

Rating

66/99

Volume

77/99

Rating

68/99

Volume

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About This Book

In this "vital book for these times" ( Kirkus Reviews ), Don Lemon brings his vast audience and experience as a reporter and a Black man to today's most urgent How can we end racism in America in our lifetimes? The host of CNN Tonight with Don Lemon is more popular than ever. As America's only Black prime-time anchor, Lemon and his daily monologues on racism and antiracism, on the failures of the Trump administration and of so many of our leaders, and on America's systemic flaws speak for his millions of fans. Now, in an urgent, deeply personal, riveting plea, he shows us all how deep our problems lie, and what we can do to begin to fix them. Beginning with a letter to one of his Black nephews, he proceeds with reporting and reflections on his slave ancestors, his upbringing in the shadows of segregation, and his adult confrontations with politicians, activists, and scholars. In doing so, Lemon offers a searing and poetic ultimatum to America. He visits the slave port where a direct ancestor was shackled and shipped to America. He recalls a slave uprising in Louisiana, just a few miles from his birthplace. And he takes us to the heart of the 2020 protests in New York City. As he writes to his young We must resist racism every single day. We must resist it with love.


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Reviews

"an audacious and improbable book by a remarkable man ..."

Michael Henry Adams· The Guardian Read review ↗ Top of the Pile

"Lemon's call-to-action is a soaring examination of the causes of racist violence and injustice past and present, and he expresses his commitment to asking tough questions and seeking demanding answers that he hopes will kindle the fire this time to constructively confront racism in all its forms."

Carol Haggas· Booklist Read review ↗ Top of the Pile

"Readers who only know Lemon from his high-profile gig as a CNN anchor will be pleasantly surprised by his abundant prose skills ..."

Kirkus Read review ↗ Top of the Pile

"Much like his show, the book jumps around in both content and tone."

Wesley Lowery· The New York Times Read review ↗ Near the Top

"Readers will savor the well-honed language, but wish for stronger substance."

Publishers Weekly Read review ↗ Maybe Someday

"Ultimately, Lemon leaves me wondering who he's speaking to—who his friends are in his subtitle."

Tre Johnson· The Washington Post Read review ↗ Maybe Someday

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