| The Covenant with Black America is the | | | | processes of those so confined. The |
| brainchild of Tavis Smiley. For the past | | | | symptomatic results are evidenced in school |
| seven years, the talk show host has had his | | | | dropout rates, drugs and gang violence. So |
| own "State of the Black Union" symposium. | | | | dysfunctional has this public policy been, |
| Seeing that simply exchanging opinions with | | | | that some cities have started to tear down |
| the nation's top black leaders was not | | | | their projects. Throwing more money at the |
| sufficient, he decided to chart a course for | | | | problem, for them, is not the solution.In |
| the African American Community. To provide a | | | | this same vein, the tile "covenant," is |
| structured blueprint, The Covenant with Black | | | | perhaps a misnomer for this book. A covenant |
| America have assembled a scholarly collection | | | | is a pact. And a pact, as such, requires |
| of 10 short essays by esteemed experts in | | | | that both parties perform a specific set of |
| various disciplines to address the | | | | criteria. Although there is a "What every |
| devastating social, political and economic | | | | Individual Can Do" section of each chapter, |
| disparities facing many African | | | | there is not a clear sense of endorsement as |
| Americans.Each chapter or "covenant" looks at | | | | to a national plan of action by individuals |
| one pivotal issue and supplies the reader | | | | in addressing these problems. As there are 10 |
| with a list of resources and suggested plans | | | | different introductory essays, each written |
| of action that individuals and governments | | | | by different individuals, it is difficult to |
| can do to make a difference in their | | | | get a comprehensive picture of what is |
| communities. This high-octane approach, as | | | | promised by whom and when, with no real teeth |
| the book indicates on its back cover, is "to | | | | of accountability as might be expected in an |
| shift the conversation from talking about our | | | | actual covenant. Equally disappointing, the |
| pain to talking about our plan" for the | | | | book does not really explore core |
| African American community.As might be | | | | self-responsibility issues, such as the need |
| expected, any best-selling book that tackles | | | | to look at the spiritual, mental and |
| such a profound and often neglected need in | | | | emotional health of the individual as a way |
| our society is likely to generate some | | | | of making true progress.Also, what would be |
| controversy. The proposed formulas for | | | | refreshing would be to have each essay focus |
| addressing a host of ills, from the skewed | | | | on setting definitive goals over a specific |
| criminal justice system to substandard | | | | time period. Such as by 2015, 60 percent of |
| education to toxic waste in poor | | | | black males will be in college; or that 80 |
| neighborhoods, to name a few, is not without | | | | percent of toxic waste in poor neighborhoods |
| it's critics. For others The Covenant with | | | | will be cleaned up. Without specific goals, |
| Black America did not meet some expectations | | | | many of the suggestions, while well |
| and go far enough.Despite the diversity of | | | | intentioned, seem ineffectual.Still, the real |
| contributors of the various covenants, the | | | | virtue of this book lies in putting these |
| book has a rather monotone character | | | | critical issues before all Americans. Whether |
| throughout. This is probably due to the | | | | you agree with the diagnosis and |
| consistent format that each essay follows as | | | | prescriptions of the essays in The Covenant |
| dictated by the book. Each chapter starts | | | | with Black America is not the issue. The |
| out with an introductory essay identifying | | | | issue is to increase awareness, dialogue and |
| the issues at hand. Then there is a treatise | | | | debate in how best to address the needs of |
| of the subject, complete with a table of | | | | those most disenfranchised in our nation.At |
| statistics, followed by shared solutions | | | | 254 pages, this provocative book is well |
| under the headings of "What the Community Can | | | | worth the modest retail price of only $12.00. |
| Do", "What Every Individual Can Do", "What | | | | Given the many social challenges we as a |
| Works Now", and "What Every Leader and | | | | nation face, it is a small price to pay to be |
| Elected Official Can Do." However, the | | | | a party to the trends of a bestseller. All |
| general theme, despite the shared solution | | | | profits from this book are dedicated to Third |
| topics, seems to be almost always weighted | | | | World Press.John Woolf is the founder of |
| towards heavy governmental intervention. In | | | | several successful Internet technology |
| short, a "fix it with finance" solution to | | | | companies including the Book Price Comparison |
| the problems. Critics of this book, both | | | | website As a pragmatist of the world around |
| black and white, point out that the | | | | him, he is both a critic and crusader on |
| Government does not solve problems, it funds | | | | international politics and energy policy as |
| them.It could be pointed out, for example, | | | | it relates to our security and our impact on |
| that the past governmental housing projects | | | | the global environment.Visit to read reviews, |
| have in fact created a type of apartheid for | | | | find similar titles, and search for the |
| much of the African American community, thus | | | | lowest possible price for The Covenant with |
| isolating and amplifying the negative thought | | | | Black America and other great books. |