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The Content of Our Character: A New Vision of Race In America
In this controversial essay collection, award-winning writer Shelby Stelle illuminates the origins of the current conflict in race relations--the increase in anger, mistrust, and even violence between black and whites. With candor and persuasive argument, he shows us how both black and white Americans have become trapped into seeing color before character, and how social policies designed to lessen racial inequities have instead increased them. The Content of Our Character is neither "liberal" nor "conservative," but an honest, courageous look at America's most enduring and wrenching social dilemma.
192 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 1990
About the author
Shelby Steele
16 books290 followersShelby Steele (born January 1, 1946) is an African American author, columnist, documentary film maker, and a Robert J. and Marion E. Oster Senior Fellow at Stanford University's Hoover Institution, specialising in the study of race relations, multiculturalism and affirmative action. In 1990, he received the National Book Critics Circle Award in the general nonfiction category for his book The Content of Our Character.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews
October 9, 2023
2020-10-16 I read this book about 22-28 years ago and it made a lasting impression. This Goodreads listed edition is a reprint from 1998, but the first edition, which I read, and has the same jacket artwork, came out in 1991.
The book deals with the difficult issue of racism in America and is grounded by the author's own experiences, insights from his own life and trusted sources and the immortal words of the Rev. Martin Luther King, excerpted in the title. It is NOT a coincidence that these words are nowhere to be seen in the BLM and other "woke" statements of the last few years. That is because they are antithetical to what BLM's Marxist founders' strategy of disrupting society and sowing hate is all about. But these words are what ending racism are all about. A peaceful and productive way forward, NOT a hateful and harmful path.
This is a short book and I urge you to check it out. It is made all the more relevant for today because the author and his filmmaker son release their documentary "What killed Michael Brown?" which has been kept off (fortunately it was just briefly - because of viewer pressure) the Amazon Prime video platform. I just saw the trailer and urge you to do so too. I am planning a viewing and discussion party too. It is that important. For information on and links to the documentary: https://whatkilledmichaelbrown.com/
2023-03-23 I did see the video. It was pretty good. I recommend anyone concerned with the topic see it. I don't agree with everything in the video, but overall it seemed pretty reasonable. I think other factors should have been discussed as contributing to the problem. But overall, the video added important points to discussion of the incident and aftermath.
For additional reading on this topic I recommend two of Shelby Steele's friends' writings very highly: Walter Williams and Thomas Sowell.
The book deals with the difficult issue of racism in America and is grounded by the author's own experiences, insights from his own life and trusted sources and the immortal words of the Rev. Martin Luther King, excerpted in the title. It is NOT a coincidence that these words are nowhere to be seen in the BLM and other "woke" statements of the last few years. That is because they are antithetical to what BLM's Marxist founders' strategy of disrupting society and sowing hate is all about. But these words are what ending racism are all about. A peaceful and productive way forward, NOT a hateful and harmful path.
This is a short book and I urge you to check it out. It is made all the more relevant for today because the author and his filmmaker son release their documentary "What killed Michael Brown?" which has been kept off (fortunately it was just briefly - because of viewer pressure) the Amazon Prime video platform. I just saw the trailer and urge you to do so too. I am planning a viewing and discussion party too. It is that important. For information on and links to the documentary: https://whatkilledmichaelbrown.com/
2023-03-23 I did see the video. It was pretty good. I recommend anyone concerned with the topic see it. I don't agree with everything in the video, but overall it seemed pretty reasonable. I think other factors should have been discussed as contributing to the problem. But overall, the video added important points to discussion of the incident and aftermath.
For additional reading on this topic I recommend two of Shelby Steele's friends' writings very highly: Walter Williams and Thomas Sowell.
March 17, 2010
The reactions to Shelby Steele's The Content of Our Character ) show us another example of the polarization of race and adherence to long-held political positions. A quick analysis of various book review media indicates that comments on the book were predictable depending on the writer's previously held posture. Those who have a commitment to entitlement and affirmative action found much to disparage; those on the traditionally conservative side fighting any kind of preference loved it.
I think that's a shame because Steele, a black English professor, well entrenched in middle class values, in this collection of nine essays, wants blacks to come to grips with the last twenty years and then move on. He argues that those on the bottom rung of the ladder, regardless of color, require development, i.e. assistance in reaching their personal capabilities. Steele suggests that affirmative action has come to be regarded as an entitlement, that is, "they owe it to us for past injustice." The difficulty is that entitlement allows whites to continue to regard blacks as inferior. "They can't do it on their own, haven't got the intelligence, or just aren't capable," are sentiments of many whites who support preferential treatment. He blames blacks as well for holding attitudes reflected in the following statement, "I'm doing well considering my background." Steele declares that what should be expressed is the more positive, "Am I doing everything I can considering my background?"
Language he considers representative of the problem. The use of "Afro-American" v. "Black American" is evidence of "a despair over the possibility of gaining the less conspicuous pride that follows real advancement." I suppose this could also be said of the women's movement and handicapped advocates who theorize that changing the words will change behavior and attitudes, a tenuous argument at best.
Power must not be sought through victimization, asserts Steele, for while it leads to collective entitlement, it demoralizes individuals.
I think that's a shame because Steele, a black English professor, well entrenched in middle class values, in this collection of nine essays, wants blacks to come to grips with the last twenty years and then move on. He argues that those on the bottom rung of the ladder, regardless of color, require development, i.e. assistance in reaching their personal capabilities. Steele suggests that affirmative action has come to be regarded as an entitlement, that is, "they owe it to us for past injustice." The difficulty is that entitlement allows whites to continue to regard blacks as inferior. "They can't do it on their own, haven't got the intelligence, or just aren't capable," are sentiments of many whites who support preferential treatment. He blames blacks as well for holding attitudes reflected in the following statement, "I'm doing well considering my background." Steele declares that what should be expressed is the more positive, "Am I doing everything I can considering my background?"
Language he considers representative of the problem. The use of "Afro-American" v. "Black American" is evidence of "a despair over the possibility of gaining the less conspicuous pride that follows real advancement." I suppose this could also be said of the women's movement and handicapped advocates who theorize that changing the words will change behavior and attitudes, a tenuous argument at best.
Power must not be sought through victimization, asserts Steele, for while it leads to collective entitlement, it demoralizes individuals.
July 7, 2009
This book is almost 20 years old but it should still have influence in the discussion on race today. Unfortunately, I'm not sure that much has changed for the better in the 20 years since Steele wrote this book. If there were no references to specific current events of the late 1980s you would probably have no idea whether this was written last year or 20 years ago.
Steele approaches the issue of race from two perspectives: being human and being black. And I should elaborate on the human perspective because he writes from the perspective of an American human and that is important to his take on race issues. I empathize with the human perspective and I happen to emphatically agree with his assertions about being an individual responsible for your own outcomes. I can only sympathize with his perspective of being black and express compassion for wrongs suffered that I have never had to experience.
Generally, I think that Steele tries to put his membership of the human race ahead of being a member of the black race. His repeated references to individualism makes that clear. There are times, however, when he seems to put being black ahead of being human and I found there to be some inconsistencies when he did. Even though he celebrates the opportunities available to him as an individual he empathizes with the collective black problem of feelings of victimization and entitlement. In other words, there is tension between his being both individual and being a part of the "collective" black American. We all may have tensions in our own lives between individuality and being a member of a group, but he asserts that none of the problems borne by the blacks can be understood by whites (or any other minority race for that matter) and I have no argument to offer to the contrary.
The bottom line is that Steele discusses the matter of race with a sincerity lacking in most public discourse. It would be refreshing to hear his perspective in the nightly news instead of the likes of Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton. Our goal ought to be to view every man and woman as the individuals that they are and to empathize with the struggles that they've endured no matter what the color of their skin.
Steele approaches the issue of race from two perspectives: being human and being black. And I should elaborate on the human perspective because he writes from the perspective of an American human and that is important to his take on race issues. I empathize with the human perspective and I happen to emphatically agree with his assertions about being an individual responsible for your own outcomes. I can only sympathize with his perspective of being black and express compassion for wrongs suffered that I have never had to experience.
Generally, I think that Steele tries to put his membership of the human race ahead of being a member of the black race. His repeated references to individualism makes that clear. There are times, however, when he seems to put being black ahead of being human and I found there to be some inconsistencies when he did. Even though he celebrates the opportunities available to him as an individual he empathizes with the collective black problem of feelings of victimization and entitlement. In other words, there is tension between his being both individual and being a part of the "collective" black American. We all may have tensions in our own lives between individuality and being a member of a group, but he asserts that none of the problems borne by the blacks can be understood by whites (or any other minority race for that matter) and I have no argument to offer to the contrary.
The bottom line is that Steele discusses the matter of race with a sincerity lacking in most public discourse. It would be refreshing to hear his perspective in the nightly news instead of the likes of Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton. Our goal ought to be to view every man and woman as the individuals that they are and to empathize with the struggles that they've endured no matter what the color of their skin.
November 20, 2017
I have always appreciated the author's common sense insights in his essays, and his writing in this book exhibits the same common sense approach to the subject of race in America. Shelby Steele's book, published in 1990, explained the background of present tensions between black and white Americans, encompassing culture and class. Each chapter holds gems of discernment bearing on the current race conflicts and his thoughts on why there is conflict within the black experience and the white experience, together and separately. Chapter 6, On Being Black and Middle Class, was particularly interesting to me, as well as the Epilogue, which ended the book with the way forward, though difficult, using not race and class, but individuality and personhood.
February 27, 2017
Very valuable insights into race relations in America, and the way forward to achieve the dream of MLK to have all judged by the Content of Their Character.
The risk of social entitlement is that "social victims may be collectively entitled, but they are all too often individually demoralized."
We do damage when we seek out victimization - degrades the experiences of actual victimization that needs to be addressed.
Avoid trying to turn your "difference" into power - by that logic, we will all form groups and focus on our differences
The risk of social entitlement is that "social victims may be collectively entitled, but they are all too often individually demoralized."
We do damage when we seek out victimization - degrades the experiences of actual victimization that needs to be addressed.
Avoid trying to turn your "difference" into power - by that logic, we will all form groups and focus on our differences
March 22, 2014
Dated. I read
first and thought it was much better. I still believe that Disintegration is a must read.
first and thought it was much better. I still believe that Disintegration is a must read.
September 28, 2009
Basically Shelby Steele cops to premises (historically, about what happened to black people in America) but then comes to entirely different conclusions than most black people about what the remedies ought to be. He's entitled- I simply disagree. I constantly found myself saying "ok, ok, ok, ok, WTF?" Good read though. Very interesting. And this same review applies to "A Dream Deferred..."
January 3, 2009
Some good and challenging ideas, that I take with a grain of salt, especially given his more recent work, "A Bound Man: Why We are Excited About Obama and Why he Can't Win." WRONG!
July 18, 2015
A highly recommended text on race-holding behavior!
November 14, 2018
One of the most thoughtful, insightful books I've ever read.
May 23, 2020
Informative perspective, but…
African-American Steele notes how “proper” talk about race has become so formulaic and rehearsed as to become incapable of resolving real problems. Steele’s view comes from the standpoint of a minority who experienced real discrimination and witnessed the imitation angst he saw whites get away with by pretending the “way they’re supposed to.” Like “diversity” training in our corporations and government branches, we all know what we’re “supposed to say,” how we‘re “supposed to act,” with the result being that farcical role playing simply kills time and another charge number to waste when something of merit could have been accomplished instead. Steele holds the position that “racial victimization is not the real problem.” He writes, “It’s a formula that binds the victim to their victimization by linking their power to status as a victim… Since the social victim has been oppressed by society they come to feel their individual life will be improved more by changes in society than by their own initiative. To admit this fully would cause us to lose that innocence derived from our victimization. We are in the odd and self-defeating position in which taking responsibility for bettering ourselves feels like a surrender to white-power.” Steele expands and elaborates in myriad ways through his style as a storyteller and by that method makes for a fast paced read. He also wrote this in 1998, long before the now common videotaped homicides of those like Eric Garner strangled by police on Staten Island, NY after been stopped for selling cigarettes without a tax stamp, Walter Scott shot in the back in Charleston, South Carolina for running from a traffic stop, and Ahmaud Arbery shot while jogging by two white men (Travis McMichael and his father, Gregory McMichael) just driving around town with their guns in Brunswick, Georgia. One wonders how many murders have gone unaccounted before everyone had a video camera in their pocket, and how Steele views that aspect of American life.
African-American Steele notes how “proper” talk about race has become so formulaic and rehearsed as to become incapable of resolving real problems. Steele’s view comes from the standpoint of a minority who experienced real discrimination and witnessed the imitation angst he saw whites get away with by pretending the “way they’re supposed to.” Like “diversity” training in our corporations and government branches, we all know what we’re “supposed to say,” how we‘re “supposed to act,” with the result being that farcical role playing simply kills time and another charge number to waste when something of merit could have been accomplished instead. Steele holds the position that “racial victimization is not the real problem.” He writes, “It’s a formula that binds the victim to their victimization by linking their power to status as a victim… Since the social victim has been oppressed by society they come to feel their individual life will be improved more by changes in society than by their own initiative. To admit this fully would cause us to lose that innocence derived from our victimization. We are in the odd and self-defeating position in which taking responsibility for bettering ourselves feels like a surrender to white-power.” Steele expands and elaborates in myriad ways through his style as a storyteller and by that method makes for a fast paced read. He also wrote this in 1998, long before the now common videotaped homicides of those like Eric Garner strangled by police on Staten Island, NY after been stopped for selling cigarettes without a tax stamp, Walter Scott shot in the back in Charleston, South Carolina for running from a traffic stop, and Ahmaud Arbery shot while jogging by two white men (Travis McMichael and his father, Gregory McMichael) just driving around town with their guns in Brunswick, Georgia. One wonders how many murders have gone unaccounted before everyone had a video camera in their pocket, and how Steele views that aspect of American life.
May 26, 2023
Published in the 1990s, Shelby Steele, a black professor, tackles the complexity of race relations in America post-60s.
It is unfortunate that Steele is hardly read and discussed as his approach I believe is fair and honest. He doesn't pander to any group, and instead gives a really deep insight to what is really behind our inability as a country to move forward from the original sin of slavery.
This is such a great book. It challenged my own thinking and attitudes and anxieties.
It is unfortunate that Steele is hardly read and discussed as his approach I believe is fair and honest. He doesn't pander to any group, and instead gives a really deep insight to what is really behind our inability as a country to move forward from the original sin of slavery.
This is such a great book. It challenged my own thinking and attitudes and anxieties.
April 23, 2021
Spectacular.
Read
April 8, 2009I have always had a problem with affirmative action yet have always had a hard time expressing my dislike of this practice out of fear of appearing racist. Shelby Steele does a beautiful job of describing why this is a horrible law. One, affirmative action and any type of government welfare encourages negative behavior. The way affirmative action was described to me was if there is a minority who is equally qualified as a non minority, the company should hire the minority. Human nature alone makes it impossible to make that assumption, not to mention it is highly improbable that there could be two individuals equally qualified in every way. Affirmative action only reinforces the misconception that people should be treated differently according to their outward appearance.
August 26, 2008
This book was controversial when published in 2990- and is still probably the most relevant and thought-provoking discussion of race I've ever read. Steele's discussion of the tension between self-doubt and self-belief, how we navigate, struggle against, or succumb to this tension, as the fundamental shaper of our character and personalities, is illuminating . . . the entire book explores an understanding of the human condition that is menaningful above and beyond race.
June 17, 2012
Though written some time ago, still some worthwhile considerations on how we react to race whether it be our own or someone else's. Shelby Steele makes valid points about affirmative action. During the transition from absolute discrimination to outlawing discrimination, affirmative action was necessary but now you basically have to work hard, try hard and don't give up on where you want to get to. At least in America.
December 19, 2016
I think this is a pretty good book. It paints a good picture and has a typical Steele point of view. Often you'll not read pro-black writing that takes an objective non-blame game view. Steele tends to do that and does it again in this book.
Its not a must read, but its a pretty consistent Steele write-up. Anyone who feels white guilt or bad about their "racial privilege" should examine this book and other Steele books for a better perspective.
Its not a must read, but its a pretty consistent Steele write-up. Anyone who feels white guilt or bad about their "racial privilege" should examine this book and other Steele books for a better perspective.
January 9, 2018
I appreciated the intent, Shelby discussed towards the conflict of race relations, as it pertains to blacks and whites. This intent, on bridging a connection based on situational factors, not race, as being a main contributor to our nations wrenching social dilemma. This connection is far reaching, regardless if you are from a poor country side village or a poor inner city hood. Every race, gender, has to get past the victimization status in order to succeed.
March 2, 2007
This is a remarkable book. Painfully honest, and meticulously written, this series of essays skewers many of the post-modern truths that we are subjected to regularly. Although the book can seem redundant or repetitive(it is a collection of his previously published articles) points he makes are remarkable. A must read for anyone curious about racial politics in America.
January 26, 2008
Very interesting psychological and social investigation of racism in America. Steele was interviewed on the PBS show Bill Moyer's Journal recently concerning Barack Obama's candidacy for President. I am looking forward to reading Steele's recent book, "A Bound Man", about why Obama cannot win the Presidential Election.
February 1, 2008
Amazing book by an amazing author. Jesse Jackson shakes down industry, Al Sharpton hogs the media spotlight at every turn, but Shelby Steele simply turns his brilliant analytical skills and insight on race relations in a way that neither of the race-baiting "reverands" ever could. This guys is the real deal. I highly recommend reading him.
April 29, 2012
Separate essays by Steele all dealing with race, and while I don't agree with everything he writes, I respect his point of view. The book was written twenty years ago and a lot has changed. I'll have to look for something current by the author. He has an engaging way of writing that allows you to enjoy it even when you do not agree.
August 10, 2012
Written over 20 years ago, this book delves into the problem of race relations--including why race relations have not dramatically improved since the Civil Rights era, and how social policies like affirmative action have not helped blacks achieve equality. Steele is black and much of his writing is based on personal experience. Thoughtful and controversial.
October 24, 2007
I read this in high school and believe it or not, it really influence my thinking about policy and race issues. That and The Nation. Don't worry. . . I didn't go the way the author intended but it was probably the first policy-type book I read.
August 2, 2008
Shelby Steele is a black scholar who advocates individual responsibility over race and entitlements, even arguing against affirmative action. This book is well-written, thought-provoking and refreshing.
March 17, 2009
I knew nothing about Shelby Steele when I read this in 1997. It was interesting and the first book I read from a Black conservative. I don't always see things the way Mr. Steele does, but he makes some valid points.
April 24, 2007
I enjoy the honesty and clarity of Steele's ideas. I'm also impressed by his thoroughness. It's almost a rant, but his perspective offers an opportunity for reflection and personal growth.
January 26, 2008
A fascinating psychological and social analysis of racism in America. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in learning more about this important social issue.
June 24, 2015
I honestly think Shelby Steele is one of our most brilliant writers.
October 14, 2008
Powerful, inflammatory, and relevant.
Race is still a dividing issue, and such open discussion is hard to find.
Race is still a dividing issue, and such open discussion is hard to find.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews