56 pages • 1 hour read
Khalil Gibran MuhammadThe Condemnation of Blackness
Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2010A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
The Condemnation of Blackness by Khalil Gibran Muhammad delves into how the urban North contributed to the association of crime and Blackness from 1890 to 1940, linking disproportionate Black incarceration rates to racialized social science and statistical misuse. Muhammad highlights the efforts of Black scholars and white racial liberals who challenged these ideas and examines how discriminatory practices in crime statistics and policing perpetuated systemic racism, a legacy that endures in contemporary society. Topics include systemic racism, discrimination, and racial violence.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Khalil Gibran Muhammad's The Condemnation of Blackness offers a nuanced exploration of how racial crime statistics shaped perceptions of African Americans post-Reconstruction. Reviewers praise its meticulous research and historical insight, though some find the dense academic prose challenging. The book is commended for its relevance to contemporary discussions on race and justice.
Who Should Read The Condemnation of Blackness?
Readers who value deep historical analysis of race, racism, and social justice will appreciate The Condemnation of Blackness. Similar to Michelle Alexander's The New Jim Crow and Ibram X. Kendi's Stamped from the Beginning, this book offers a scholarly yet accessible examination of systemic racial disparities in America.