Breakthrough: Politics and Race in the Age of Obama

ISBN: 1598878727

Author: Ifill, Gwen

Condition: New

Product Description A veteran journalist surveys the American political landscape and illuminates the evolution of the African-American politician-and the future of American democracy. Gwen Ifill began her journalism career at the Boston Herald in 1977, covering race riots by telephone. It was too risky for a young black reporter to venture onto the grounds of South Boston High School. Thirty years later, a black man announced his candidacy for president of the United States.Obama is the leading edge of a sea change in American politics, but his is by no means the only story. Ifill offers incisive, detailed profiles of other prominent black leaders including Newark Mayor Cory Booker, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, and U.S. Congressman Artur Davis of Alabama. She also covers up-and-coming figures from across the nation. Drawing on interviews with power brokers like Obama, former Secretary of State Colin Powell, Vernon Jordan, the Reverend Jesse Jackson, and many others, as well as her own razor-sharp observations and analysis, Ifill shows why now is a pivotal moment in American history. From Publishers Weekly Journalist and broadcaster Ifill offers a stellar analysis of the black political structure and its future in American politics. President Obama is featured but does not dominate the text; Ifill focuses more intently on such figures as Rev. Jesse Jackson and Newark, N.J., mayor Cory Booker, as well as Gov. Deval Patrick of Massachusetts. As a reader, Ifill is professional, authoritative but never stuffy, impassioned but never biased. Listeners will be rewarded by a well-researched, well-narrated take on the implications of President Obama's election on the strongholds of African-American political power. A Doubleday hardcover (PW Daily, Jan. 16). (Feb.) Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. From School Library Journal Former New York Times reporter Ifill explores the role of race, racism, and identity politics as played out in the 2008 election, offering striking criticism and intriguing insight as to how one can examine these ideas in light of Barack Obama's presidential victory. As narrator, however, Ifill is arguably less successful. She has the intense, assertive, projecting voice of a news reporter, which can get tiresome, and a significant number of page turns can be heard throughout. Though the subject matter will impress and provoke political junkies and lay readers alike, some may find Ifill's performance overwhelming. [Audio clip available through www.highbridgeaudio.com; includes a bonus interview with the author.-Ed.]-Lance Eaton, Peabody, MA Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Review a strongly reported book, with some broad conclusions drawn from scores of interviews and peppered with interesting, revealing profiles. . . . Yet this is more than a book of connected profiles and narratives. Ifill bores at varying depths into race, class, gender and generational change.-Los Angeles Times (Publishers Weekly)Ifill reports beyond [the] luminaries, drilling down to less-well-known African-American politicians on the state and local levels.-The New York Times (AudioFile)Listeners will be rewarded by a well-researched, well-narrated take on the implications of President Obamas election on the strongholds of African-American political power.-Publishers WeeklyIfills great warmth, clear voice, and uncommon insights are sure to keep listeners engaged.-AudioFile About the Author GWEN IFILL is moderator and managing editor of Washington Week and senior correspondent of The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer. Before coming to PBS, she was chief congressional and political correspondent for NBC News, and had been a reporter for The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Baltimore Sun, and Boston Herald American. She lives in Washington, D.C. From AudioFile