Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man

Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man is a nonfiction book by Emmanuel Acho, a former professional football player and current analyst for Fox Sports 1. The title is drawn from Acho’s popular YouTube series comprising conversations between him and guests about race and racism in the US. Like the video series, the book presents an honest, straightforward, and accessible point of entry for readers seeking answers to pressing questions about race.

A New York Times best seller, the book interweaves personal anecdotes, historical context, and statistics to create a powerful narrative about the state of race relations in America. This summary refers to the 2020 edition published by Flatiron Books, a division of Macmillan Publishers.

Summary

Acho’s book consists of a short Introduction followed by three sections: one focusing on history, one consisting of unvarnished discussions, and one offering concrete advice for readers wanting to affect change.

Part 1 addresses racism as it relates to individuals. It raises issues of identity and labels and discusses the damaging effects of implicit bias, White privilege, cultural appropriation, and the myth of the Angry Black Man. This Part ends with a candid discussion about the N-word.

Part 2 focuses on systemic racism. It opens with an explanation of systemic racism and its impact on Black people. Subsequent chapters address the myth of reverse racism, the government’s role in fueling systemic racism, racial inequality in the criminal justice system, and the nefarious effects of systemic racism on Black families.

Part 3 offers ideas for what White people can do to help Black people create a more just society. It provides a history of interracial families in the US, explains civil disobedience past and present, and offers guidelines for allyship. Acho concludes this section with an overview of how to end racism, expressing optimism that the country can achieve this goal if Black and White people work together.