Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man

By: Emmanuel Acho

Narrated by: Emmanuel Acho

Length: 4 hrs and 26 mins

Publisher's summary

"Acho’s gregariously pragmatic delivery educates with clarity and makes the book come alive." -- Booklist

"Narrated by the author, this audio program feels like an evening with a good friend who doesn't shy away from awkward questions.... A personal interview with his editor, great production standards, and his personality make this an accessible listen. Listeners may become uncomfortable but will want to keep listening." - AudioFile Magazine on Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man

This program is read by the author, and includes a bonus conversation.

An urgent primer on race and racism, from the host of the viral hit video series “Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man”

“You cannot fix a problem you do not know you have.” So begins Emmanuel Acho in his essential guide to the truths Americans need to know to address the systemic racism that has recently electrified protests in all fifty states. “There is a fix,” Acho says. “But in order to access it, we’re going to have to have some uncomfortable conversations.”

In Uncomfortable Conversations With a Black Man, Acho takes on all the questions, large and small, insensitive and taboo, many white Americans are afraid to ask—yet which all Americans need the answers to, now more than ever. With the same open-hearted generosity that has made his video series a phenomenon, Acho explains the vital core of such fraught concepts as white privilege, cultural appropriation, and “reverse racism.” In his own words, he provides a space of compassion and understanding in a discussion that can lack both. He asks only for the listener’s curiosity—but along the way, he will galvanize all of us to join the antiracist fight.

A Macmillan Audio production from Flatiron Books

©2020 Flatiron (P)2020 Macmillan Audio

America needs this book!

Thank you Emmanuel for writing this book. People need to have uncomfortable conversations so that we can change and learn to hear each other. I hope this book serves as a beacon to all who read it.

Conversational and Uniquely Informative

This book is incredibly informative and helpful. I appreciated the way it was structured and the conversational tone of the author, which came across with the impact of a great teacher. Hearing Emmanuel Acho speak these words as the narrator was powerful, and I learned a lot through his explanations and examples. I'm thankful he recognized the need and took the time to create these lessons for us.

Excellent introduction to anti-racism

Very timely and informative to a white man with limited self-awareness around white privilege about the lives of black people; with well-sourced historical references and suggestions for further reading.

Thank you!

This book has been a great eye opener! Thank you for helping us all be better humans trying to create a better world! These difficult conversations MUST happen!

Powerful insights

As a white woman who often finds myself humbled by my ignorance, I appreciated the tone and insight Emmanuel approached these important topics with. Thank you

Beautifully Written and Read

Emmanuel Acho writes and speaks beautifully about a topic/topics that are often difficult to express, and uncomfortable to talk about. He encourages the readers to engage with black culture and learn to be an ally to the black community. As a white man, I feel this book was an extremely important stepping stone for me to learn about black culture and history, which has long been pushed into the background.

Fantastic and important

As a middle aged white woman I am grateful to Emmanuel Acho for writing this book and lending his voice to the audiobook. I hope that it will be designated as required reading for all high school students. He speaks with compassion and understanding to those of us who have spent most of our lives in white silence and are eager to change now. This book is both an inspiration and a practical call to action and I would so much rather be uncomfortable now than complicit to further acts of injustice and racism. Acho’s book will help me move forward in this plan with resolve.

required reading

I've rarely been so taken by a book. so educated. so eye-opened. this is necessary.

An important conversation

I appreciate the way Emmanuel’s immersion into Black and white culture shows up in the book- as well as his intention to be a positive force for change. I have new understandings about the violence that occurred around George Floyd’s murder as well as a list of resources and concrete ways I can move forward for change. My next step is to buy the book in print for myself and people in my world. I want to take time to pause and think and engage in conversations with the luxury of reading at my own pace. Thank you for the invitation to stand alongside and for taking action. The grace and love you talk about is evident throughout the book, Emmanuel.

Made me think

This book gave me a lot to acknowledge and think on about my own experience of racism. I think Emmanuel is truly changing the world, one reader/listener at a time.