It's the Little Things: Everyday Interactions That Anger, Annoy, and Divide the Races

By Lena Williams

Book Overview

New York Times veteran Lena Williams candidly explores the everyday occurrences that strain racial relations, reaching a conclusion that "no one could disagree with" (The New York Times Book Review)... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0156013487
• ISBN13: 9780156013482
• Release Date: January 2002
• Publisher: Mariner Books
• Length: 304 Pages
• Weight: 0.81 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.0" x 0.8" x 5.3"

Customer Reviews

Reality

This book encompasses various experiences from invidivuals who have expereinced racism first handedly. While racism has been demonstrated by society as a struggle between blacks and whites, but other cultures have experienced racism in the United States. This book includes different ethnic groups however the two dominating racial groups are blacks and whites. This is a must read book for all who wants to make a difference in society and make changes to the already damaging United States.

Telling Like It Is, With Gusto and Humor!

This is an exceptionally interesting book, written with style and energy, using none of the pretentious sociological terms that clutter many sincere but overly-reserved works on this same subject. As a middle-aged white male, I suppose I expected the book to be a rant against all us over-privileged folk, and certainly there are lots of reasons to rant, but it's refreshing to read a straightforward essay that places both sides--black and white--in the middle, so that a decent discussion of race can take place. It's a difficult subject, but scholarly writers could learn a thing or two about communication without rancor from this author. There has to be a place for narratives on complicated subjects--narratives that try to keep balance and wit while teaching great and important lessons. I learned a lot from this book, and I hope I have an opportunity to hear more from this author.--Jim Reed, author, DAD'S TWEED COAT: SMALL WISDOMS, HIDDEN COMFORTS, UNEXPECTED JOYS (learn more about Reed's writings and reviews: jimreedbooks.com)

Lighten Up People!

I was astonished to read the other reviews, but I suppose I shouldn't have been. As a nation, I think we are all a little bit too serious sometimes. This book was a great read. I really don't think Ms. Williams was attempting to speak for every black person and condemn every white person. She was (in my mind at least) simply shedding a little light into her perception of the encounters she has with the people around her. If this book makes you think about your actions and increases your ability to have meaningful relationships with other people, what is the harm? If nothing else, she certainly instigated conversation and judging from the previous reviews, she must have hit a defensive nerve with quite a few people.

Eye-opening

Judging from the caustic comments in some of the reviews here, Williams seems to have hit a nerve! Yeah, it's one-sided and opinionated, but it's a the best source I've seen for learning about what blacks have to put up with in American society (right now, in 2002). And her explanation of what the "OJ thing" is all about is worth the price of the book.

A Breakthrough in Improving Mutual Understanding

"This book is about perception -- how blacks and whites perceive not only their own individual expressions but one another's." " . . . the answer to our racial malaise may be as simple as getting to know one another." After having read this book, I couldn't agree more with Ms. Williams' statement. And the book is a great help in making that process easier. Ms. Williams has done a major service here as a follow-up to a provocative article she wrote in the New York Times on how some blacks and whites perceive and misperceive each other. She extended those observations by conducting focus groups around the country to find out what questions and attitudes black and white people in these focus groups have about each other that provide social friction and personal annoyances. She has taken the unspoken and put it out in the open where everyone can see it, and learn to be more considerate. A major benefit of having a book like this is that it will encourage discussions about these issues. I look forward to learning from those discussions as well.Ms. Williams starts out by telling some of her experiences as a black person growing up. There is a poignant story about her first experience in going to a circus. This day at the circus turned out to be a disgraceful example of discrimination when a clown treated white children on both sides of the black students in the audience with balloons while ignoring the black students. She later tells about going to the circus as an adult, and only then being able to enjoy it . . . comforted in part by seeing that some of the clowns are now black. She had little contact with anyone who was not black when she was very young. Her initial attitude towards white people was to want to be one. That attitude was later turned into fear, and even later into contempt based on her personal experiences. She now seems to have moved beyond those initial reactions, but they are fresh enough in her awareness for her to recognize them in others. The bulk of the book is divided into 8 chapters that each deal with a social setting in which perceptions of some blacks and whites differ. These are issues that can cause discomfort to blacks with what happens in public places, school, home, work, social settings, and the mass media; things that can cause discomfort for some white people; and the special issues that other minorities like hispanics experience. Each chapter takes up several different perspectives. For example, the 'home' chapter addresses reluctance of some whites to own or visit homes that blacks have owned or lived in, and discrimination in polling and providing free goods to predominately black residential areas.The nature of a focus group is to create a dialogue, because the moderator throws out a subject and draws out the respondent. Often, someone else in the focus group will respond. Ms. Williams does a very nice job of capturing these exchanges, and juxaposing oth