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ego trip's Big Book of Racism!
Ferociously intelligent one moment, willfully smart-ass the next, ego trip's Big Book of Racism is a glorious, hilarious conflation of the racial undercurrents that affect contemporary culture at every turn. This one-of-a-kind encounter with the absurdities, complexities, and nuances of race relations is brought to you by five writers of color whose groundbreaking independent magazine, ego trip, has been called "the world's rawest, stinkiest, funniest magazine" by Spin. Filled with enough testifying and truth to satisfy even the good Reverend Sharpton, ego trip's Big Book of Racism is a riotous and revolutionary look at race and popular culture that's sure to spark controversy and ignite debate.
304 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2002
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189 people want to read
About the author
Sacha Jenkins
14 books6 followersSacha Jenkins was an American television producer, filmmaker, writer, musician, artist, curator, and chronicler of hip-hop, graffiti, punk, and metal cultures. While still in his teens, Jenkins published Graphic Scenes & X-Plicit Language, one of the earliest 'zines solely dedicated to "graffiti" art. In 1994, Jenkins co-founded Ego Trip magazine. In 2007, he created the competition reality program ego trip's The (White) Rapper Show, which was carried by VH1. Jenkins was the creative director of Mass Appeal magazine
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
October 23, 2007
After the magazine sadly shut down their relentless attack on all things race-y and hip hop and before they slightly tarnished their reputation with VH1's White Rapper Show (not on some race shit but on some wack shit), the Ego Trip crew dropped 2 paperback/coffee table sized gems that substantiated their legacy as the most hilarious and timely of hip hop journalists.
Full Disclosure: I once drunkenly chatted up Sacha Jenkins like a little fan boy. I embarrassed and disappointed myself (jokes!) to the point I had to force myself to drink many a 10 dollar Absolut Citron on the rocks, which resulted in my harassment of a couple of Japanese tourists that were giving me no attention and were looking to just scoop glances from some cats they thought looked more authentically hip hop than me (whatever, real recognize real!). All this on the same dance floor that a pack of Berkeley midgets (The Pack, to be exact) performed ‘Vans’ while being shadowed by their bodyguard/chaperones. Upon my delayed arrival home after circumnavigating Brooklyn on 3 different subway lines, I wrote the following email to the editor of a local hip hop magazine that – in the night's finest move - I never sent:
“Honestky I dont know what tghe fuck happne! Isaw Coney $ Japan, then what?”
I grew up reading Ego Trip magazine. These cats greatly influenced my decision to move to New York when I graduated high school and consequentially set me up for disappointment. Upon my arrival, I realized most people here are just as stupid as everywhere else and they do not radiate humor like the illustrations and articles that populated the E. Trip. Too bad the publication died before the hyphy movement because that would have been hilarity of Biz Markee proportions. Through all this madness, wack Hip Hop in ’07, and potential regime change in ’08 – EGO Trip remains relevant while Hip Hop and Race not so much.
Full Disclosure: I once drunkenly chatted up Sacha Jenkins like a little fan boy. I embarrassed and disappointed myself (jokes!) to the point I had to force myself to drink many a 10 dollar Absolut Citron on the rocks, which resulted in my harassment of a couple of Japanese tourists that were giving me no attention and were looking to just scoop glances from some cats they thought looked more authentically hip hop than me (whatever, real recognize real!). All this on the same dance floor that a pack of Berkeley midgets (The Pack, to be exact) performed ‘Vans’ while being shadowed by their bodyguard/chaperones. Upon my delayed arrival home after circumnavigating Brooklyn on 3 different subway lines, I wrote the following email to the editor of a local hip hop magazine that – in the night's finest move - I never sent:
“Honestky I dont know what tghe fuck happne! Isaw Coney $ Japan, then what?”
I grew up reading Ego Trip magazine. These cats greatly influenced my decision to move to New York when I graduated high school and consequentially set me up for disappointment. Upon my arrival, I realized most people here are just as stupid as everywhere else and they do not radiate humor like the illustrations and articles that populated the E. Trip. Too bad the publication died before the hyphy movement because that would have been hilarity of Biz Markee proportions. Through all this madness, wack Hip Hop in ’07, and potential regime change in ’08 – EGO Trip remains relevant while Hip Hop and Race not so much.
September 30, 2007
books with pictures are more rad
December 2, 2018
ego trip's Big Book of Racism! is more than the sum of its parts, and certainly much more than a humor book. Like the best humor and satire, it touches a nerve and speaks to larger truths within society, even as this particular volume leaves no holds barred and no victim of bigotry exempt.
ego trip was an alternative hip-hop magazine that appeared during the mid-1990s, and was spearheaded by founders Sacha Jenkins and Elliott Wilson, along with freelancers, editors, and designers "Chairman" Jefferson Mao, Gabriel Alvarez, and Brent Rollins. Their approach to hip-hop and what was alternative culture in the 1990s in particular and pop culture in general was irreverence and a tongue-in-cheek tone, and Jenkins went on to edit Vibe magazine. To that end, while I really can't quote many of the pieces in the book on a family website, The Big Book of Racism! is very much akin to a long-form, thematic collection of the best of ego trip, including lists on "Notable Mexican Jews" and essays both humorous (notable Mexican-American Gomez Addams doing well for himself) and matter-of-fact (the MC5's Wayne Kramer discussing the inclusive idea behind the MC5). However, where The Big Book of Racism! shines the most—and makes the book as a whole of vital value in really examining race relations, at least as they were in 2002—is in Chapter 5, on sports. Chris Houghton provides some truly revealing examples of racism in professional sports, as well as a serious analysis of the racism behind discussions of African-Americans as athletes, but there's also an essay on the history of African-Americans in boxing that's just as illustrative of white supremacy in the United States; I, for one, found this chapter the most poignant in the entire book.
It's worth noting Jenkins and company's statement in the beginning that "[d]ue to our strong personal convictions, we wish to stress that this book in no way endorses a belief in racism. We just hate everybody" [p.v, emphasis mine]; this is suggestive of ego trip's equal opportunity for offense—and their taking a serious look at all aspects of racism, including the privilege inherent in any number of demographic populations. The Big Book of Racism! made me profoundly uncomfortable in more than a few places, but such is the way of effective satire; goodness knows "The Simpsons" used to do that on a regular basis. The Big Book of Racism! ends up quite good, and when it ends on a note of hope that people of all races, creeds, and colors can interact peaceably (ego trip, of course, reduces this peaceable interaction to an orgy), it tells you all you really need to know about Jenkins et al.'s motivations in coming out with this book.
ego trip was an alternative hip-hop magazine that appeared during the mid-1990s, and was spearheaded by founders Sacha Jenkins and Elliott Wilson, along with freelancers, editors, and designers "Chairman" Jefferson Mao, Gabriel Alvarez, and Brent Rollins. Their approach to hip-hop and what was alternative culture in the 1990s in particular and pop culture in general was irreverence and a tongue-in-cheek tone, and Jenkins went on to edit Vibe magazine. To that end, while I really can't quote many of the pieces in the book on a family website, The Big Book of Racism! is very much akin to a long-form, thematic collection of the best of ego trip, including lists on "Notable Mexican Jews" and essays both humorous (notable Mexican-American Gomez Addams doing well for himself) and matter-of-fact (the MC5's Wayne Kramer discussing the inclusive idea behind the MC5). However, where The Big Book of Racism! shines the most—and makes the book as a whole of vital value in really examining race relations, at least as they were in 2002—is in Chapter 5, on sports. Chris Houghton provides some truly revealing examples of racism in professional sports, as well as a serious analysis of the racism behind discussions of African-Americans as athletes, but there's also an essay on the history of African-Americans in boxing that's just as illustrative of white supremacy in the United States; I, for one, found this chapter the most poignant in the entire book.
It's worth noting Jenkins and company's statement in the beginning that "[d]ue to our strong personal convictions, we wish to stress that this book in no way endorses a belief in racism. We just hate everybody" [p.v, emphasis mine]; this is suggestive of ego trip's equal opportunity for offense—and their taking a serious look at all aspects of racism, including the privilege inherent in any number of demographic populations. The Big Book of Racism! made me profoundly uncomfortable in more than a few places, but such is the way of effective satire; goodness knows "The Simpsons" used to do that on a regular basis. The Big Book of Racism! ends up quite good, and when it ends on a note of hope that people of all races, creeds, and colors can interact peaceably (ego trip, of course, reduces this peaceable interaction to an orgy), it tells you all you really need to know about Jenkins et al.'s motivations in coming out with this book.
November 9, 2009
This book, which touts itself as being incredibly funny and intelligent, falls short on both accounts. The writers and editors always seem to be missing something. Not to sound to nitpicky, but how are you going to write about race in the world of pro wrestling and not mention "Hakeem The African Dream", who was supposed to be an African prince, but was actually an Italian guy from Queens? The humor usually just kind of reads like a racially motivated Mad Magazine. 4 pages are taken up with a TV Guide parody including such 'hilarious' fake programs as "The Jews Brothers", "Family Don't Matter" and "The Wonderbread Years". I think this book was written a little prematurely, as Dave Chappell took a far more intelligent and hilarious take on race and turned it into a classic TV show. Also, Vice Magazine did a better job of skewering race conceptions with fewer pages in their "Race Issue", several years ago. The mission of this book is great, lets celebrate our differences and look at all the completely messed up things that we've been through in this country, but it falls short of being funny most of the time and it constantly feels like something is missing. A strictly mediocre book that aimed high and missed its target.
July 19, 2007
I love this book!!! I can not stress how brilliant it is. It will have you crying with laughter and crying with shame at the same time.
February 19, 2008
One of my favorites. I'm definitely going to have to read this one agiain. I second one of the reviewers on the back of the book when he says it's "serious on the low" (or something like that anyway). It approaches racism in America in a humorous way, which makes it barely bearable to read about.
August 6, 2007
A great book. Comments on culture and cultural stereotypes in the media in a humourous and easy to read way. Fans of the Daily Show and The Colbert Report might enjoy.
April 1, 2008
This is funny! The guys who put this together are good writers, and they collectively have an eye for punning celebrity names into their sentences.
October 1, 2008
...that my future live partner will have this on their coffee table.
June 17, 2009
one of the funniest reads out there. pretty much pick a page and start away :D
May 7, 2020
Pretty good before-bed or crapper read, although the layout is somewhat annoying at times. Not nearly as great as Ego Trip's Big Book of Rap Lists.
February 26, 2019
This book is entertaining, not quite as good as the book of lists
March 6, 2007
A nice coffee table book to add some humor to your life.
October 30, 2015
Great book. Still one of my favorites to read.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews