Civil Rights

Rhetoric or Reality?

By: Thomas Sowell

Narrated by: James Bundy

Thomas Sowell takes a tough, factual look at whether the civil rights movement has lived up to its hopes or its rhetoric. In the decades since the historic Supreme Court decision on desegregation, who has gained and who has lost? Which of the assumptions behind the civil rights revolution have stood the test of time, and which have proven to be mistaken or even catastrophic to those who were supposed to be helped?

Armed with vast statistical research, Sowell deftly refutes the key assumptions on which the civil rights movement was erected - "that discrimination leads to poverty and other adverse social consequences and...that adverse statistical disparities imply discrimination." He surgically probes the fundamental racial issues, including affirmative action and busing, as well as women's issues, including the Equal Rights Amendment.

©1984 Thomas Sowell (P)1988 Blackstone Audio Inc.

Critic reviews

"A brutally frank, perceptive, and important contribution to the national debate over the means to achieve equality and social justice for minorities and women." (New York Times)

As current now as when written

A little heavy on statistics at the start but well worth the listen. Great explanation of how those who were supposed to benefit often do not. The rule of unexpected consequences applies.

Truth instead of emotion

Understanding true root cause and finding real solutions is the only way we will heal the fabricated divisions in this country and work to marginalize true racism and prejudice. This book helps in this effort.

Still applies to today.

The discussion that Mr. Sowell presented in this book is still very applicable to today just as it was when it was written.

Excellent as Always.

Thomas Sowell is the best. He is so good at dispelling notions most of us take as axiomatic with ease.
The narrator on this wasn't the best.

Too much background noise

The background noise was very distracting. It sounded like an office building in the background to the point that I couldn’t pay attention for the most part.