Black Days: Racism and Riots in the U.S.

by John L. Betcher

In the fabric of American history, there are threads that bind us together in shared triumphs and struggles, and there are threads that tear at the seams of our nation's conscience. Among these threads are the stories of racism and violent civil unrest that have scarred our collective memory, leaving wounds that still ache with the pain of injustice and inequality.

This book is for you, a well-meaning White adult seeking to deepen your understanding and empathy concerning the plight of Black people in the United States. And it’s also for you, a person of any color, race, creed or sexual orientation, if you simply want to learn more about the history of racism and riots in the United States.

Genres: Nonfiction

223 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 24, 2024

About the author

Amazon Kindle TOP 100, B&N Nook TOP 100 and USAToday Bestselling author, John L. Betcher, holds a Bachelor's Degree, cum laude, in English from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Minnesota Law School in Minneapolis. He has practiced law for more than twenty-five years in the Mississippi River community of Red Wing, Minnesota.

Mr. Betcher has published an award-winning series of "Becker" suspense/thriller novels. The first five are THE 19TH ELEMENT, THE MISSING ELEMENT, THE COVERT ELEMENT, THE EXILED ELEMENT. and THE CRITICAL ELEMENT. He has also authored the award-winning spiritual phenomenon, A HIGHER COURT.

Most recently, John has published BLACK DAYS: Racism and Riots in the U.S. which explores systemic racism in America viewed through the lens of civil unrest from 1863 to present.

Reviews

[Lily A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Black Days: Racism and Riots in the United States" by J. L. Betcher is a potent and sobering book that aims to increase the reader's empathy and understanding of the systematic racism that continues to plague Black people in the United States. In examining the brutal realities and long-lasting effects of this social injustice, Betcher seeks to debunk misconceptions and ingrained assumptions while bringing to light how White privilege has shielded a significant number of Black people from opportunities for upward mobility. 
Black people have suffered disproportionately, according to Betcher, while White people have unfairly profited from institutionalized racism-based laws, customs, and cultural norms. In contrast to white community schools, black community schools have unequal funding, and the working class faces prejudiced hiring practices. In addition, the black population is constantly subjected to a high level of racial profiling and discriminatory law enforcement. 
Adroitly transporting the reader back in time, Betcher covers such historical events and eras as the New York City Draft Riots (1863), where Black residents were attacked by White mobs, leading to at least 119 deaths; the Atlanta Race Riot (1906), which claimed the lives of dozens of people; and the Chicago Race Riot (1919), which left over 500 injured and 38 dead. These and other periods, including the Miami Riot (1980), the Watts Riots (1965), and the Tulsa Race Massacre (1921), look at the events that preceded the different disturbances, their causes, and their short- and long-term impacts. The fact that he examines both the unique and recurring aspects of each incident is crucial because it sheds light on the complex relationships between racial tensions, economic rivalry, sensationalized media, police brutality, and structural injustices that have stoked these riots over time. 
This book not only details moments of intense racial violence, unrest, and persecution of Black Americans in the US, but it also demonstrates the tenacity, fortitude, grit, and victory of Black communities throughout these trying times. Along with explaining how benefits that are available to everyone, regardless of race, are the essential distinction, it also provides a full analysis of the methods by which real racial justice may be attained. It is courageous, amazing, thrilling, and honest of the author—a White person—to speak out against a system that labeled Black people victims while giving preference to White people. This book's standing in the canon of Afro-American struggle literature is confirmed by his unrelenting call for action and persistent efforts to confront systemic racism. 
"Black Days: Racism and Riots in the United States" is a must-have book for every patriotic person's collection. It is an audacious, creative, grounded, and compelling voice that makes a strong case for change to build a society that is more fair and just. Bravo, Betcher! 

[Polly · Rating 2 out of 5]

First, let me say that this book contained some very interesting information but in spite of that it took me a long time to read it. The biggest flaw with this book was the reliance on headings and subheadings which created a jarring prose as there is often a heading of some type in the middle related information. Unfortunately, this created an experience more like reading a very lengthy Wikipedia page than reading a book.

Second, I struggled to find the actual purpose in writing this book. Although, as I said, much of the information was interesting but I failed to see any new take on any of it. And, since the author made a point of telling us he is white, I was looking for a more profound purpose in writing this book -- other than proving an understanding of these ongoing racial issues -- especially in light of the events of the last decade in this country. There are no new or interesting observations or suggestions offered that would make this a "must read" book.

In conclusion, this book might prove useful to someone who knows nothing (or very little) about this topic. However, it lacks any real substantial reason for being when there are so many books out there that cover these same topics.