American Whitelash

A Changing Nation and the Cost of Progress

By: Wesley Lowery

Narrated by: Wesley Lowery

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

An NPR Best Book of the Year • Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year

Longlisted for the 2024 Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence

“American Whitelash is indispensable. Really. It is.” – Ibram X. Kendi, author of How to Be an Antiracist

Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist Wesley Lowery confronts the sickness at the heart of American society: the cyclical pattern of violence that has marred every moment of racial progress in this country, and whose bloodshed began anew following Obama’s 2008 election.

In 2008, Barack Obama’s historic victory was heralded as a turning point for the country. And so it would be—just not in the way that most Americans hoped. The election of the nation’s first Black president fanned long-burning embers of white supremacy, igniting a new and frightening phase in a historical American cycle of racial progress and white backlash.

In American Whitelash, Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist and best-selling author Wesley Lowery charts the return of this blood-stained trend, showing how the forces of white power retaliated against Obama’s victory—and both profited from, and helped to propel, the rise of Donald Trump. Interweaving deep historical analysis with gripping firsthand reporting on both victims and perpetrators of violence, Lowery uncovers how this vicious cycle is carrying us into ever more perilous territory, how the federal government has failed to intervene, and how we still might find a route of escape.

©2023 Wesley Lowery (P)2023 HarperCollins Publishers

Facts

This eye opening truth about what is happening in society needs to be read by these out laddish politicians who think Trump isn’t the voice of this movement.

I wouldn’t call it a story. It’s our reality

I appreciated the lessons in this book that we continue to refuse learn.
It is very sad but true and will continue to be true until…?
But I have hope. Hope and faith are what we have or else live is hard to live.

This explains a lot

As a white man, I've never understood why someone would hate a whole group or race of people. This book explained a lot and opened my eyes to how some people think (and are trapped in their own thinking).

White Supremacy

A well written and well-read book by a very articulate author. This should make everyone reading it think long and hard on what part they can play in bringing the goal of true racial acceptance, brotherhood, and sisterhood into existence.

Clear and engaging

The author makes a great narrator. Book reveals much that is known about the US in detailed and anecdotal ways that bring the history to life.

Whitelash is real

I learned more about race, white lash, anger and rage in this country. From this book than I have from anything else I’ve ever read. It is a thoughtful examination of how we got to where we are now,division of the country, the racial tensions and white supremacist groups. A very good listen a very good read, and a wonderful author.

Can’t continue to ignore our history

This was hard to listen to but the truth of this book demands that we face our history, as sordid as is. The pain & suffering experienced by citizens of color cannot continue. It is disgusting & heartbreaking that America is still at this stage - in 2023!

Good story line

Presentation has great stories about incidents that makes you think.
Wanted to keep listening.
I would recommend

Excellent

It was very well done. I appreciate the work and effort to bring the concepts alive.

What was in the past will always be our future.

I found this story to be very informative. I also found it to be the story of a tragic nation.