"...the chains that bind us will yield as well, provided that we attack them shrewdly." (pg. 148)
Stars: 5/5
Ellis Cose makes some salient points pertaining to conundrum that exists in American for Black men, especially young black males.
A few of the topics covered in The Envy of the World: a peek into Cose's own journey through Chicago's public school system, America: the perpetrator behind the stereotypes of the Black man, the de-valuation of intelligence because being smart is not 'keeping it real' or being 'cool', the prison industrial complex & the spiraling out of control incarceration rate of African-American's and how both got its start, the apparent appeal of thuggish behavior and prison stints.
Two antidotes that I believe Cose is trying to prescribe are: education and mentorship; and how both of these can dramatically influence the lives of young black males in today's society. Many have said education is the key, but Cose reveals why many are not choosing that route and states the obvious repercussions of opting for the alternative. There are many examples in the book of mentoring programs and their positive results, but I believe Cose is attempting to relay that it will take more than just a handful of well-placed programs to make a significant difference. In order to affect change, combating the rising prison rate for African-Americans for instance, everyone must be a mentor, even if it is just merely leading by example.
Although much of this is not new, Cose's common sense approach rings resoundingly with the reader and makes it a valuable read. This is my first Ellis Cose book, but it certainly will not be my last.
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