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We Have Overcome: An Immigrant's Letter to the American People
As Seen on Tucker Carlson Tonight
A black immigrant’s eloquent appreciation of the American Dream, and why his adopted nation remains the most noble experiment in enabling the pursuit of happiness.
It has been more than fifty years since the Civil Rights Act enshrined equality under the law for all Americans. Since that time, America has enjoyed an era of unprecedented prosperity, domestic and international peace, and technological advancement. It’s almost as if removing the shackles of enforced racial discrimination has liberated Americans of all races and ethnicities to become their better selves, and to work toward common goals in ways that our ancestors would have envied.
But the dominant narrative, repeated in the media and from the angry mouths of politicians and activists, is the exact opposite of the reality. They paint a portrait of an America rife with racial and ethnic division, where minorities are mired in a poverty worse than slavery, and white people stand at the top of an unfairly stacked pyramid of privilege.
Jason D. Hill corrects the narrative in this powerfully eloquent book. Dr. Hill came to this country at the age of twenty from Jamaica and, rather than being faced with intractable racial bigotry, Hill found a land of bountiful opportunity—a place where he could get a college education, earn a doctorate in philosophy, and eventually become a tenured professor at a top university, an internationally recognized scholar, and the author of several respected books in his field.
Throughout his experiences, it wasn’t a racist establishment that sought to keep him down. Instead, Hill recounts, he faced constant naysaying from so-called liberals of all races. His academic colleagues did not celebrate the success of a black immigrant but chose to denigrate them because this particular black immigrant did not embrace their ideology of victimization.
Part memoir, part exhortation to his fellow Americans, and, above all, a paean to the American Dream and the magnificent country that makes it possible, We Have Overcome is the most important and provocative book about race relations to be published in this century.
A black immigrant’s eloquent appreciation of the American Dream, and why his adopted nation remains the most noble experiment in enabling the pursuit of happiness.
It has been more than fifty years since the Civil Rights Act enshrined equality under the law for all Americans. Since that time, America has enjoyed an era of unprecedented prosperity, domestic and international peace, and technological advancement. It’s almost as if removing the shackles of enforced racial discrimination has liberated Americans of all races and ethnicities to become their better selves, and to work toward common goals in ways that our ancestors would have envied.
But the dominant narrative, repeated in the media and from the angry mouths of politicians and activists, is the exact opposite of the reality. They paint a portrait of an America rife with racial and ethnic division, where minorities are mired in a poverty worse than slavery, and white people stand at the top of an unfairly stacked pyramid of privilege.
Jason D. Hill corrects the narrative in this powerfully eloquent book. Dr. Hill came to this country at the age of twenty from Jamaica and, rather than being faced with intractable racial bigotry, Hill found a land of bountiful opportunity—a place where he could get a college education, earn a doctorate in philosophy, and eventually become a tenured professor at a top university, an internationally recognized scholar, and the author of several respected books in his field.
Throughout his experiences, it wasn’t a racist establishment that sought to keep him down. Instead, Hill recounts, he faced constant naysaying from so-called liberals of all races. His academic colleagues did not celebrate the success of a black immigrant but chose to denigrate them because this particular black immigrant did not embrace their ideology of victimization.
Part memoir, part exhortation to his fellow Americans, and, above all, a paean to the American Dream and the magnificent country that makes it possible, We Have Overcome is the most important and provocative book about race relations to be published in this century.
192 pages, Hardcover
Published July 10, 2018
60 people are currently reading
222 people want to read
About the author
Jason D. Hill
10 books29 followersJason Damian Hill is a Jamaican-American professor of philosophy at DePaul University in Chicago.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
June 2, 2019
So outstanding that the last chapter even made me cry. What this man has traipsed and yet survived!
6 stars for the personal memoir deep openness and revealing Jason. Honestly, I love his essence and his will even more than I love his philosophy. Or his love of America.
5 stars for the philosophical ability and integrated expression to his theory and career exactness in terms and their definition. The bullying and vitriol used against him! And the lack of open many faceted dialogue (not allowed and told often why that is so) in our upper education systems has become more than appalling. Hill's is one of the worse treatments of a human in that arena that I've ever read.
As a human answer to leftist and formerly liberal left in general and to all those elite authors, professors and drawn in the sand until it is cement "sure" foundation dogma holders in particular (Coates is one)- his is a 6 star level reply.
Highly, highly recommend this intensely personal read. Despite all levels of interest in politics or in America, you will be surprised at what you find here. This is a person quite beyond the politico. Whole and exposed within his powerful good intent.
6 stars for the personal memoir deep openness and revealing Jason. Honestly, I love his essence and his will even more than I love his philosophy. Or his love of America.
5 stars for the philosophical ability and integrated expression to his theory and career exactness in terms and their definition. The bullying and vitriol used against him! And the lack of open many faceted dialogue (not allowed and told often why that is so) in our upper education systems has become more than appalling. Hill's is one of the worse treatments of a human in that arena that I've ever read.
As a human answer to leftist and formerly liberal left in general and to all those elite authors, professors and drawn in the sand until it is cement "sure" foundation dogma holders in particular (Coates is one)- his is a 6 star level reply.
Highly, highly recommend this intensely personal read. Despite all levels of interest in politics or in America, you will be surprised at what you find here. This is a person quite beyond the politico. Whole and exposed within his powerful good intent.
July 20, 2019
Jason D. Hill wins the award for one of the most under-appreciated intellectuals in America. I would include Thomas Sowell in that category... both black men whose voices don't exactly harmonize with the narrative that is 'expected' from them in a society which prefers thinkers to fit within its racialized political templates.
I was first made aware of Hill after his open letter to Ta-Nehisi Coates entitled "The Dream is Real", published in Commentary Magazine in Sept '17. I've probably reread that article 10 times since then. That article was Hill's inspiration to write this book, and dammit I'm glad he did. I think I said this about Jonathan Haidt's "The Righteous Mind" but it also needs to be said here: everyone in this country needs to read this book now. The current state of identity politics and race relations demands it.
Hill—a gay man—details his immigration to the US in 1985 from Jamaica, a country he described as having the most homophobic culture in the world. He describes the sacred covenant that he made with his adopted country upon his arrival: he promised to cultivate the noblest virtues in his character and use only them as his currency for a good life. And 2, there would be no obstacles that his indefatigable spirit could not overcome. And 3, there would be no prejudice or racism that a philosophy of individualism could not obliterate. This is a philosophy that reminds me of my parents, and one I wish to continue.
His covenant stood fast and Hill went on to be a professor of philosophy, an author of multiple books, and a lecturer across the world. Because the dream is real. The only real obstacles he faced in capturing his dream, which he details later in the book, came from unexpected actors: "progressive" intellectuals in academia which almost cost him his career, and himself... which almost cost him his life.
That's as short as I can make this review for a phenomenal book that I will surely read again.
"America encourages human beings not to search for their origins, but rather, their destiny." -Jason D. Hill
I was first made aware of Hill after his open letter to Ta-Nehisi Coates entitled "The Dream is Real", published in Commentary Magazine in Sept '17. I've probably reread that article 10 times since then. That article was Hill's inspiration to write this book, and dammit I'm glad he did. I think I said this about Jonathan Haidt's "The Righteous Mind" but it also needs to be said here: everyone in this country needs to read this book now. The current state of identity politics and race relations demands it.
Hill—a gay man—details his immigration to the US in 1985 from Jamaica, a country he described as having the most homophobic culture in the world. He describes the sacred covenant that he made with his adopted country upon his arrival: he promised to cultivate the noblest virtues in his character and use only them as his currency for a good life. And 2, there would be no obstacles that his indefatigable spirit could not overcome. And 3, there would be no prejudice or racism that a philosophy of individualism could not obliterate. This is a philosophy that reminds me of my parents, and one I wish to continue.
His covenant stood fast and Hill went on to be a professor of philosophy, an author of multiple books, and a lecturer across the world. Because the dream is real. The only real obstacles he faced in capturing his dream, which he details later in the book, came from unexpected actors: "progressive" intellectuals in academia which almost cost him his career, and himself... which almost cost him his life.
That's as short as I can make this review for a phenomenal book that I will surely read again.
"America encourages human beings not to search for their origins, but rather, their destiny." -Jason D. Hill
August 22, 2018
This book is not at all what I expected, and it will take some time to digest. The academic intolerance for independent thought as described here is much worse even than I already suspected. But the overlay of the author's personal story, as courageous as it appears to be, is so personal that I feel like an intruder to read it. Somehow he manages, with sheer determination, to think with clarity as he struggles to find truth in the changing environments of his life. Perhaps that is why he pursued a doctorate degree in philosophy.
If an honest reading of classic philosophers helped him to analyze conundrums by empirical observation and reasoning, however, the poison of modern academic rhetoric to which he was necessarily exposed over years of required coursework seems to have superimposed some muddled expressions. For example, he repeatedly refers to a person's "agency" as something each must "own" for himself. After consulting four different dictionaries, I think he means for us to disallow anyone else (i.e., one's "agent") to tell us how or what to believe.
In any case, that would certainly fit the theme of the book, which is a worthy beginning of what I hope will be followed by others who may be inspired by this author's bravery to refute the nonsensical identity politics so dominating the writing and speaking of hordes of journalists, politicians, school teachers, and uncountable ordinary citizens who have been indoctrinated for perhaps three generations now by university professors who distort American history. Professor Hill urges us to renounce expressions of blame, pity, or vengeance for past transgressions, and to look for examples of inspiration for our peace in the present and our goals for the future. Amen.
If an honest reading of classic philosophers helped him to analyze conundrums by empirical observation and reasoning, however, the poison of modern academic rhetoric to which he was necessarily exposed over years of required coursework seems to have superimposed some muddled expressions. For example, he repeatedly refers to a person's "agency" as something each must "own" for himself. After consulting four different dictionaries, I think he means for us to disallow anyone else (i.e., one's "agent") to tell us how or what to believe.
In any case, that would certainly fit the theme of the book, which is a worthy beginning of what I hope will be followed by others who may be inspired by this author's bravery to refute the nonsensical identity politics so dominating the writing and speaking of hordes of journalists, politicians, school teachers, and uncountable ordinary citizens who have been indoctrinated for perhaps three generations now by university professors who distort American history. Professor Hill urges us to renounce expressions of blame, pity, or vengeance for past transgressions, and to look for examples of inspiration for our peace in the present and our goals for the future. Amen.
July 23, 2018
Flipping channels recently, I stumbled across Tucker Carlson interviewing Jason D. Hill, author of “We Have Overcome: An Immigrant’s Letter To The American People”. The interview peaked my curiosity and caused me to purchase Mr. Hill’s book. Like myself, Mr. Hill is a black conservative and I found his writings a breath of fresh air! Many who purport to speak for black America today, expound endless drivel about how horrible America is and whatever ills exist within the black community, are the fault of white America. Mr. Hill’s life story is of a young man who immigrated to America from Jamaica and through years of hard work became successful. I found it to be a very uplifting and powerful story, with a message that young black Americans need to hear and take into consideration. The take-away, “each person, ultimately, is responsible for his or her own fate”. Thank you Professor Hill – Well Done!
November 7, 2023
In this uplifting memoir, Jason Hill offers rare moral clarity about the essence of the United States, particularly regarding immigration, race, and the ethic of individualism. He critiques the academic bastion of moral-political hypocrisy and fraud, and recounts the trial he endured under it. Eloquently embracing Western liberal values, he provides a counterpoint to the BLM movement and Ta-Nehisi Coates, often through reflections about his circle of immigrant friends. Such thoughts he submits under the larger writing arc of his "covenant" journey—his evolving, loving relationship with America and his promise to himself upon arriving here decades ago. While I sometimes felt his writing overwrought in style, I found it also beautiful and profound. Given today’s assaults on liberal values and sense-making and the national mania over race, a clarion voice like Dr. Hill’s is welcome and grounding.
(4.5 stars.)
—————
"I remain convinced that until that sense of the psychological irrelevance of race is internalized, and, thus, becomes part of one’s schema for being in the world, that one will be compromised not by so-called structural and systemic racism, but, rather, by the psychic and deterministic hindrances that inflate the importance of race at the cost of an intransigent individualism…” - Jason Hill
(4.5 stars.)
—————
"I remain convinced that until that sense of the psychological irrelevance of race is internalized, and, thus, becomes part of one’s schema for being in the world, that one will be compromised not by so-called structural and systemic racism, but, rather, by the psychic and deterministic hindrances that inflate the importance of race at the cost of an intransigent individualism…” - Jason Hill
August 17, 2020
Dr. Hill demonstrates great intellectual strength and commitment to honestly, integrity and scholarship in writing this deeply personal defense of America's founding and greatness. The account is his, the observations are his but the truths about which he writes are ours...the good and the bad. For those seeking to find an understanding of the diabolical, incessant attack on our founding and our culture, this is a book for you. Hill reveals the nature and objectives of those who seek to remake our nation in a political, cultural, social and economic sense. His reasoning is sound and his articulation clear, comprehensible.
November 2, 2020
Nonfiction. I saw Professor Hill on Tucker Carlson one evening and was intrigued to read his book. This was a challenging book to read but well worth the struggle. I’ve learned many new vocabulary words! Professor Hill provides his perspective as a former immigrant from Jamaica, along with his friends, of the greatness of our country and it’s values. He is a Professor of Philosophy and has studied various subjects extensively, primarily US History and the principles and values it was founded upon. His knowledge is amazing! He considers himself a liberal conservative, so he should appeal to a wide audience. This is a very relevant book for our turbulent times.
April 20, 2021
A fascinating story of a young, poor, gay Jamaican emigre' who came to the land of opportunity and did very well. I totally agree with his commentary on the current state of our college professors and wonder why the "system" doesn't try to balance out the ideology. Dr. Hill's command of English is amazing, to the point where at times I had to confer with my trusty dictionary to understand the subtle nuances of his point. This fact expanded my own vocabulary! A very, very good read...
December 30, 2020
If you give money to a University or College - you should read this!
I am buying another copy of this book and sending it to my college’s new president! A must read! Very thought provoking...
I am buying another copy of this book and sending it to my college’s new president! A must read! Very thought provoking...
October 6, 2018
"Attitude is everything"
On the wheelhouse of Captain "Wild Bill" Wichrowki's new Bering Sea crab fishing boat he emblazoned the phrase, "Attitude is everything," that encapsulates his advice for undertaking perhaps the world's most hazardous profession: a Bering Sea crabber. Upon beginning this book one can initially react, " This guy has gone too far." But once you get past his paean to the glass is half full narrative of what the United States offers not only to its citizens but also to its immigrants, one begins to appreciate his perspective. Hill's account is sometimes erudite. So keep your dictionary handy. Hill's attitude in one that reflects a highly experienced sense of life. Song with Lisa See's "On Golden Mountain," the reader confronts a world devoid of the America bashing negativity and enters the positive facing attitudes of one's own self-reliance. Colin Powell said he never allowed other people's negative attitudes about him become his attitude toward himself. Hill gives the reader an innoculation against disowning oneself.
On the wheelhouse of Captain "Wild Bill" Wichrowki's new Bering Sea crab fishing boat he emblazoned the phrase, "Attitude is everything," that encapsulates his advice for undertaking perhaps the world's most hazardous profession: a Bering Sea crabber. Upon beginning this book one can initially react, " This guy has gone too far." But once you get past his paean to the glass is half full narrative of what the United States offers not only to its citizens but also to its immigrants, one begins to appreciate his perspective. Hill's account is sometimes erudite. So keep your dictionary handy. Hill's attitude in one that reflects a highly experienced sense of life. Song with Lisa See's "On Golden Mountain," the reader confronts a world devoid of the America bashing negativity and enters the positive facing attitudes of one's own self-reliance. Colin Powell said he never allowed other people's negative attitudes about him become his attitude toward himself. Hill gives the reader an innoculation against disowning oneself.
February 2, 2025
Short read. Well worth it.
“The basic core principles and foundational structures that keep the United States intact, the ones that provide our citizens with their civic personalities and national identities, are being annihilated not apocalyptically, but in thousands of daily scratches. This is happening in the revisionism that passes as correctives to past social ills but that end up denigrating those very principles that were themselves responsible for the amelioration and destruction of the social and political evils that dehumanize and denigrate human lives.”
—direct quote from book
“The basic core principles and foundational structures that keep the United States intact, the ones that provide our citizens with their civic personalities and national identities, are being annihilated not apocalyptically, but in thousands of daily scratches. This is happening in the revisionism that passes as correctives to past social ills but that end up denigrating those very principles that were themselves responsible for the amelioration and destruction of the social and political evils that dehumanize and denigrate human lives.”
—direct quote from book
September 22, 2018
Thought provoking and compelling
My intellect and education were stretched to the limit. I simply didn't understand a lot of the words Mr. Hill uses. But I was compelled to keep reading and found myself uplifted and enlightened by Hill's ideas and experiences. He gives words to my own views.
My intellect and education were stretched to the limit. I simply didn't understand a lot of the words Mr. Hill uses. But I was compelled to keep reading and found myself uplifted and enlightened by Hill's ideas and experiences. He gives words to my own views.
February 24, 2021
He bravely, enthusiastically, persuasively, challenges the perceived wisdom of college humanities departments. He reaffirms my faith in the American ideal. Read it to the end. The epilogue is the best part.
March 16, 2019
A book of hope
This book has an incredibly positive point of view for America in these turbulent times. This is a much-needed perspective.
This book has an incredibly positive point of view for America in these turbulent times. This is a much-needed perspective.
November 20, 2019
A truly inspiring and poetic story of the author's journey as an immigrant from Jamaica to America, and his struggle with the "progressives" among us who despised him for refusing to be categorized as a helpless minority victim of a racist nation. In many ways, his experience is a celebration of America's inclusive Conservative values where race is of little importance compared to human character and brotherhood.
March 9, 2019
Interesting counter-point to Coates.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews