Things That Make White People Uncomfortable

by Michael Bennett, Dave Zirin

This sports book, memoir, and manifesto from a Super Bowl Champion elucidates racism in the United States. Michael Bennett is a Super Bowl Champion, a three-time Pro Bowl defensive end, a fearless activist, a feminist, a grassroots philanthropist, an organizer, and a change maker. He’s also one of the most scathingly humorous athletes on the planet, and he wants to make you uncomfortable. Bennett adds his unmistakable voice to discussions of racism and police violence, Black athletes and their relationship to powerful institutions like the NCAA and the NFL, the role of protest in history, and the responsibilities of athletes as role models to speak out against injustice. Following in the footsteps of activist-athletes from Muhammad Ali to Colin Kaepernick, Bennett demonstrates his outspoken leadership both on and off the field. Written with award-winning sportswriter and author Dave Zirin, Things that Make White People Uncomfortable is a sports book for our turbulent times, a memoir, and a manifesto as hilarious and engaging as it is illuminating.A version for Young Adults is also available.“A courageous and compassionate story of a great athlete and grand human being full of deep care for his fellow citizens! Don't miss it!” —Cornel West“There is a revolution underway inside professional sports and Michael Bennett is at ground zero. In this revelatory book, he puts everything on the line to share the reasons, strategy, pain and deep thought behind this historic uprising. And he invites us into a vision of justice and liberation that is simply irresistible. This book is pure fire.” —Naomi Klein, author of No Is Not Enough

Genres: Nonfiction, Race, Memoir, Sports, Politics, Social Justice, Biography

220 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 3, 2018

About the author

Michael Bennett is a three-time Pro Bowler, Pro Bowl MVP, Super Bowl Champion, and two-time NFC Champion. He has gained international recognition for his public support for the Black Lives Matter Movement, women’s rights, and other social justice causes. In 2017, he was named one of the 100 Most Influential African Americans by The Root, was the Seattle Seahawks nominee for the NFL’s Walter Payton Man of the Year award, and was honored along with his brother Martellus with a BET Shine a Light award for exceptional service.

He is the cofounder with Pele Bennett of The Bennett Foundation, which educates underserved children and communities through free, accessible programming. He has held free camps and health clinics in Seattle, in his hometown of Houston, in his current offseason home, Honolulu, and in South Dakota on the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe.
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He donates all of his endorsement money and the proceeds from his jersey sales to fund health and education projects for poor and underserved youth and minority communities, and recently expanded his reach globally to support STEM programming in Africa.
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He is the proud father of three daughters, Peyton, Blake, and Ollie.

Reviews

[Brad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seattle Seahawk Pro Bowler Michael Bennett has an opinion on pretty much everything, and I loved reading every one of them. Just a look at the table of contents will give you a pretty good idea of what this book is about: The NCAA is some BS, NFL Reality, Without Food Your Ass is Doing to Die, Black Lives Matter, Intersectionality Also Matters, Our Daughters Are Changemakers, Athletes United. Michael Bennett boils complicated issues down into simple statements of decency. He pulls no punches and calls bullshit on myriad corrupt, racist, and sexist systems. This guy has done serious work on himself as a human being and should be an inspiration to us all. Damn, I'd love to hang out with this guy. A quick read and highly recommended.

[Jenny (Reading Envy) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Michael Bennett is known for his time in the NFL, but also used his platform as a professional athlete to talk about his experience as a black man in America. His chapter on the NCAA and PTSD should be read by everyone in academia, and his commentary on the NFL (predominantly white men in positions of power, the fact that they call themselves owners, the treatment of Colin K, etc) is also important reading. I may have skimmed some of the sportsing stuff but that's just me. .

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

As an NFL fan who sat during the anthem in solidarity with players like Bennett at the last NFL game I attended, I was hugely excited to be sent an ARC of this book to review. Part personal memoir, part political statement (and it isn't lost on me that how extremely sad it is that a black man standing up for the rights of minorities and women is a political statement instead of widely held and shared belief), Bennett's voice and his passion shine through. His message is an important one, and incredibly timely.

The day I finished this book was the day my library received our copies of the January 15th, 2018 issue of the New Yorker, with Bennett, Kaepernick, and MLK Jr. on the cover. It seemed very fitting.

[Maurissa Mitchem · Rating 4 out of 5]

The “things that make white people uncomfortable” are subtlety addressed throughout. However, anyone who reads this should become uncomfortable and ask him/herself, “Am I doing enough for the betterment of my community, the community at large and mankind?”

He challenges our tendency to believe that as long as “me and mine are fine” we’ve done enough, and are not morally or socially responsible to do something about the rampant injustices domestically and worldwide.

A brilliantly combined memoir and call to action against social injustice.

[Andre(Read-A-Lot) · Rating 3 out of 5]

More like 3.5 REVIEW 👉🏾 Michael Bennett was a defensive end for the Seattle Seahawks, now of the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFL and is a thoughtful and conscious guy, fully woke. He has some thoughts he would like to share with the general public and this book is the result of his missions. Written with the very capable Dave Zirin. Dave has written other books with athletes, his book with Craig Hodges, Long Shot comes to mind. It was really his effort with that work, that led me to this one.

He employs the same zippy smooth prose here in what is essentially Michael Bennett’s memoir. Michael gives the reader an inside look at an NFL locker room, a peek at big time college athletics-he played football at Texas A&M University-, and the life of a professional athlete including the journey to becoming that prominent professional in the big bad NFL.

I am curious about the book’s title, because there is very little discussion about what he believes “makes white people uncomfortable.” Of course there is his full-throated support of Colin Kaepernick and Black Lives Matter movement. And he alludes to how these situations might cause discomfort for some, but he is never explicit in his writing about the discomforts.

Perhaps the title is meant to convey that generally a Black athlete that has something to say, has more on his mind than just the game is what makes white people uncomfortable. Can’t be sure, but he certainly hasn’t said or done anything outlandish enough to be labeled as one who causes discomfort.

Though Micheal surmises that coming out of Texas A&M he was saddled with the moniker of “difficult” leading to him being undrafted. That however actually proved to be a blessing in disguise, allowing him to choose from among several franchises where he should tryout.

Michael talks about growing up in Texas, being very close to his younger brother, who is also a NFL player and partly his inspiration for being outspoken. He talks plenty about his outspokenness and how he developed his voice and the risks and consequences of having a voice that stands out from the crowd.

He shares enough of his life and himself that makes this a very good read especially for sports fans and anyone wanting to know what it’s like to be a NFL professional. Thanks to Edelweiss and Haymarket Books for an advanced DRC. Book is on sale now.

[Lupine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. I don't care one whit about football (and indeed I skipped over parts that were too football-y for me) and, in fact, I admit I really only vaguely knew who Michael Bennett is when I started it. But I'll say this, I am now a huge fan of this human who works for change and understanding and isn't afraid to stand up for what he believes. This book is inspiring, thought provoking and made me teary-eyed more than once.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

I'm going to be biased, I'm a good white liberal in Seattle and Michael Bennett is my favorite Seahawk, purely for his advocacy for literacy programs and his activism. (Also the bike ride.) I knew he was writing a book and I was excited to review it, as I know it's going to be a hot item here.

Bennett (with the help of Dave Zirin) writes with a smart, funny, engaging voice about subjects he's clearly deeply invested in, namely food deserts, intersectionality, Black Lives Matter, and, to a lesser extent, football. Yes, there's some mentions of games that Seahawks fans will remember perfectly, but there's far more about the environment in the locker room and the support from Pete Carroll that makes the team so cohesive.

Maybe it was just my DRC, but the writing and plotting felt a bit scattered, but nothing I can take a star off for. Bennett's passionate about his activism, and it's clear that he'll be an activist long after he leaves the NFL.

[Taryn Haumann · Rating 2 out of 5]

I *really* wanted to like this book, but it was tough for me to get through. The forward and intro are amazing and I had high hopes. Ultimately I think Bennett's thoughts get a bit jumbled and he doesn't make his points clear. It is much more football focused than anticipated, and I love football. Two particular points of frustration: his dismissive nature of teammates who have a history of violence against women and the chapter on intersectionailty.

[Danni Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

I grabbed this one from the New Nonfiction shelf at the library. I have no interest in football and had never heard of the author before, which actually made it really interesting to read because I was able to assess that the author did a really good job of contextualizing the sports references for people who aren’t familiar with that world, without it distracting from the content or feeling condescending. Overall: Michael Bennett has some very important things to say about race and racism, and I would strongly encourage anyone who cares about these things to listen to him.

[Lissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

While what constitutes "whiteness" is a matter of debate, and I don't view myself as being "white" (and as a Jew, I'm sure that racists would agree with that), this book ended up making me a bit uncomfortable anyway.

Watching (American) football has always been a bit of a guilty pleasure of mine. Well, I suppose I'd say that I didn't find it a GUILTY pleasure until I read "League of Denial" by Mark Fainaru-Wada and Steve Fainaru (highly recommended, by the way) and saw just how the NFL (and the NCAA) was NOT handling the concussion crisis. And so watching football became a guilty pleasure - one that I still indulged in, but felt a little bad about doing so every time I had a game on the television.

I supported Kaepernick's, among others', protest of the national anthem. Raised by a secular Jew and a liberal Quaker for most of my life, I was already well-acquainted with those who didn't stand for the national anthem or repeat the pledge of allegiance. My grandfather (the Quaker) was a WW2 vet (non-combat role) and never once said the words to the national anthem or the pledge of allegiance. To him, those things weren't about patriotism or being a "real American" or other such nonsense. He pledged his allegiance to humanity and our shared experience, not to one nation in particular. I myself have never said the pledge of allegiance, either; my grandfather made it abundantly clear that before I could say those words, I had to understand what they meant and what exactly I was promising.

Somehow, in the course of national dialogue, what the players who were protesting against got twisted into something unrecognizable. There seemed to be two camps of people who were angry against the protesters: 1) those who said that they were protesting the military (they aren't) or weren't patriotic (wrong) and 2) those who said that black athletes are all spoiled millionaires who don't give a shit anyway and are just stirring up the pot.

Bennett clearly and concisely explains just why he started protesting. I've heard several interviews given by Bennett, and I've always thought him as a well-spoken man, and this translates well into his book (not sure why he needed a co-author, because it sounds quite a bit like Bennett's interviews and public speeches - maybe the co-author helped guide him to various topics? Not sure.). And he isn't afraid to tackle difficult topics - from his childhood, to racism, to concussions, to college football players enduring life-altering injuries all while not being paid (even though they bring in millions every year for their universities), to Kaepernick being "white balled" by the NFL establishment for daring to speak truth, etc. The only subjects that made me uncomfortable were the football-related topics; like I said, I'm having a difficult time reconciling my love for the game with the injuries that players routinely endure for "entertainment." He also draws attention to the power dynamics between "owners" of teams and the players.

Most often, I found myself saying "yes" and "tell it like it is" as Bennett spoke about these subjects. So, like I said, I wasn't particularly uncomfortable reading this book. But I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to have any and every football fan who thinks the protests are about the military or patriotism or spoiled millionaire athletes "not just sticking to football" read this book. I guarantee that this book would make THEM uncomfortable. Unfortunately, I don't think many will, simply because they have Breitbart and Trump and Fox News to tell them what to think, so why bother using their brains?

As for me, especially the chapter about the NCAA, I'm conflicted even more about football. I don't think I'll watch the NFL anymore, especially because of the new rule not allowing players to kneel anymore (and Trump's ridiculous injection of himself into this manufactured debate about patriotism and the military, as if a draft dodger and someone who MOCKED a gold star family and a POW [John McCain] has ANY RIGHT AT ALL to comment about patriotism or the military - and seriously FUCK every single supporter of Trump's who gets all pissy about athletes protesting police brutality but don't care about Trump's actions).

I like how Bennett isn't about focusing blame on people; he's all about moving forward, about doing as much good as possible for all people, for seeing that we're all members of the human race and we should start acting like it, damn it.

Highly recommended, especially for football fans - but you don't have to be a football fan to enjoy this book.

[jeremy · Rating 4 out of 5]

but it's so much easier to talk shit than to do shit, because once you are out there representing what you believe, people see the real you. most everybody in the world wears a mask, and very rarely do people unveil who they really are. and i've done that. i'm naked here. so i'm going to be judged by strangers on the core of who i am, and, yes, that makes me vulnerable and it can even feel terrifying.

former seattle seahawk defensive end (and now current philadelphia eagle!) michael bennett has racked up a number of accolades and accomplishments on the field (a super bowl ring, 3 pro bowls, pro bowl mvp), but his off-field outspokenness has garnered him just as much attention as his athletic feats. in things that make white people uncomfortable (written with sportswriter dave zirin), bennett recounts his time playing football for the ncaa and nfl, taking aim at the hypocrisy of each organization, before turning his attention pointedly at enduring racial injustice. certainly not one to pull punches, bennett offers a personal, reflective account (as human being, father, american, and pro athlete) of contending with dehumanization, marginalization, stereotyping, silencing, and delegitimization — as well as highlighting his ongoing work to help others, assist the less fortunate, support broader movements of inclusivity (there's a whole chapter called "intersectionality also matters"), and continuing self-education.

bennett's candor and commitment to issues of fairness and justice are impressive to behold. it's evident that bennett both thinks and feels deeply and things that make white people uncomfortable comes across as both salvo and salve. whether addressing women's issues, food deserts, racial slurs, the black lives matter movement, and, perhaps most tellingly, forgiveness, bennett amply conveys his passion and knowledge. in an era where traditional role models seem to have forsaking their responsibility in favor of amassing ever more of that filthy lucre, michael bennett stands tally, boldly as an elder young people can strive to emulate. every american (football fan or otherwise) would benefit from a reading of things that make white people uncomfortable, wherein bennett makes plain the case for acknowledging and addressing the many systemic injustices still plaguing our society today.

my parents raised me to challenge the system and to question facts when they are presented to me. you have to question the way things are, because curiosity is what drives the future. questions are the starting point for making any kind of change. this is how i approach the world, and this is how we are raising our daughters so their future can be whatever they want it to be.

[Erin Bookishness · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am not a sport fan, I root for the Seahawks to go to the Super Bowl because if they do I can have the entire Seattle Aquarium to myself for a day (true story, it was absolutely amazing) but I picked this book up because Michael Bennett was a Seahawks player - any other team and I would not have bothered - and I am constantly looking for books that will explain systemic racism to my conservative family members in a way that is accessible to them without making them just shut down and not engage. And here’s the thing: I need to just make peace with the fact that my father will die a bigoted asshole. He literally moved states so he didn’t have to live in a blue state any more. He is a lost cause. But! If you have moderate relatives, people who are on the fence but not down with the academic language of intersectionality and white privilege, who understand that the history of slavery in America is shameful but don’t quite understand the impacts it still has today and why we should still care this book could be very helpful for them.

The writing style is very accessible, much easier to digest then books like Cast or even How to be an Anti Racist (although both those books are freaking amazing!) and the football trivia in here would probably be very engaging to people who are into sports. I did really enjoy the chapter Football is Soap Operas for Men, even if I didn’t know who Bennett was talking about. And I appreciated that this book also makes an effort to reach out to the men that still need feminism couched in terms of the lives of their wives and daughters, I thought that chapter was nicely handled. All in all I enjoyed this much more than I thought I would and o would definitely recommend it.

[Victor · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fairly introductory primer to some of Michael Bennett's political and social justice thoughts. It's all told in a very conversational and entertaining style by Bennett himself. I'm not sure what Dave Zirin brought in.

I recently read an interview with Zirin in The Jacobin that kind of alluded to some of the things he and Bennett talked about during the writing of this book. Because of that I expected a little more from this thing. Some points of the book had me questioning who this book would be for. Because I've already read books by Michelle Alexander and Angela Davis on mass incarceration, the sections where Bennett discussed that weren't really new to me.

I'm also not sure how many people will read this book who don't already know a bit about Black Lives Matter, NFL players, mass incarceration, the Me Too movement, and others. Maybe there are Seahawks or Michael Bennett fans out there willing to read a book and learn about his views. I'm not sure!

My favorite parts of the book, then, dealt more with Bennett himself and his insider view on how these movements have been received in the NFL. Reading about the Seahawks locker room and all the talks and debates the players had was very interesting. This was the more unique take I was excited for when I first started reading this book.

Bennett is a very entertaining writer which really came through in the sections about the NFL and NCAA and the myriad problems of those leagues. I'm glad they were included. Bennett is definitely onto something in the chapter on Athletes for Impact about the collective power of athletes. He is also a big proponent for intersectionality among the disparate oppressed groups.

[Kimberley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Haymarket and Edelweiss for the opportunity to read an eGalley of Things That Make White People Uncomfortable.

This book is less about what makes “white people uncomfortable”, than it is the ideas and ideals of a man who has spent his life trying to navigate the roads and road blocks of being a black man in America.

Bennett has made a living on the football field, but it’s clear his experience as an NFL and college player influenced his desire to become an activist—both organizations have a long way to go to become more humane and less barbarian.

The book itself doesn’t offer new insight into the Black Lives Matter movement, nor will it appease those who are still looking for a reason behind Colin Kaepernick’s silent protest. Honestly, most of what Bennett talks about will only surprise and shock those who haven’t bothered to remain informed about sociocultural issues.

He does offer some insight into his family, and the importance of fatherhood, but overall it’s a book about a man with a utopian vision for the future: he really believes change is possible if people start to open their minds and respect each other’s differences.

Overall, it was a pretty good read, but because I am up on many of the issues he speaks on, it easily became repetitive for me towards the end.

[Kendall Grey]

My son is a huge Seattle Seahawks fan. Knowing I was very interested in the Black Lives Matter movement and social justice, he told me he heard this book was coming out in 2018. I happened to be at Barnes & Noble one night and went looking for it on a whim. I grabbed the hardback and a coffee, sat down in the Starbucks café, and started reading. Martellus Bennett’s prologue grabbed me. Chapter one hooked me. I bought the book that night, brought it home, and it sat on my shelf for two years until now. I regret not reading it sooner, but maybe it was fate telling me that now was the perfect time to pick it up.

I’ll be straight up. I used to LOVE pro football, but aside from a mild interest in Super Bowl commercials, I haven’t watched it in years. But that didn’t matter when I started reading. Michael Bennett established an easy dialogue in chapter one and kept me rapt until the end with every word. I had no idea who this guy was, but I knew one thing: I LOVED HIM.

Michael Bennett is a self-proclaimed feminist. He’s a social justice warrior. He cares about people. He wants kids—especially economically disadvantaged kids—to eat better so they can grow up to be healthy adults. He’s the kind of man I’d like to be friends with.

I wrote gobs of notes on Post-Its while reading about Michael’s childhood in Louisiana, his parents’ split and the fracture it caused between his siblings, his adventures in college football at Texas A & M with his brother Martellus, having a child with his Hawaiian girlfriend (now wife) Pele while still in college, his NFL draft snub, and his rise to the top after overcoming countless challenges. It was a truly fascinating story, and I rooted from him at every turn.

One line from this book stuck out from the rest. I clung to it because I hear SO MANY WHITE PEOPLE complaining right now about how unfair it is to remove Confederate monuments:

Of course there’s racism in Seattle. But in Texas, it’s right in your face. You’re hearing about people getting hanged. You’re seeing the KKK. There are Confederate monuments to people who owned your great-grandparents that you have to walk by every day. (p. 10, hardback edition)

That last sentence hit me hard. Imagine going to work or school every day and having to pass a giant stone THANK-YOU! to a person who literally owned your great-grandparents. If that’s not enough of a reason to bring these monuments down, I don’t know what is. Bennett further discussed his feelings about the Confederate monuments (and use of the N-word—more on that below) on page 131 when the mayor of New Orleans announced he was going to remove Confederate statues:

I saw those young white men, marching at night with torches to keep these monuments up. I want to say to them that just because it’s history doesn’t make it right. Those monuments stand on top of the blood and backs and genocide of a people. I question whether for them it’s really about their history or an excuse to express their hate. We can’t be scared. We can’t go back. Let’s tear these monuments down, along with the word that gives them life. To me this is what Black Lives Matter is all about—a movement to claim our humanity in a country that would deny it.

I couldn’t agree more.

[T]here is a bloody fight to take down monuments to slavers who fought the Civil War to keep my people in chains. They are held up as heroes. There are three times as many monuments to Confederates in the US Capitol Building as there are Black elected officials. If we mattered to this country, how would that even be possible? (p. 145)

I believe white people in this country need to reevaluate where they stand, and now is the moment of truth. If we truly believe in equal rights for all, we have to stop talking and start listening to people like Michael Bennett.

Bennett also talked about the duality of being a college football star to fans at Texas A & M. “I was half god, half property. But whichever half they were dealing with, I was never fully human.” (p. 32) Later he spoke of what it was like at the NFL combine where he was poked and prodded in his underwear. He said he felt like a piece of meat and “it reminded [him] of descriptions [he’d] read of slave auctions.” (p. 41) I watched the NFL draft a few years ago and got the same kind of vibe, and that didn’t even feature these men in their underwear as the combine does. It’s gross. Really gross.

But Bennett also shared good stuff in the NFL. He spoke of the camaraderie he shared with his teammates and how they came together, across racial divides, to become not only better football players, but also better humans. I love that—seeing the side of these folks we don’t normally see.

There is an entire chapter devoted to use of the N-word by both white and Black people:

Why? Why are you guys using that word? Especially when you have white teammates around, hearing that word get normalized, taking away its sting … It needs to stop. A lot of people have lost their lives because of that word, whether we’re talking about lynchings or Black people killing other Black people. (p. 125)

I’m a white woman, so it’s not my place to determine what words Black people should or shouldn’t say to each other, but I appreciated Bennett’s perspective on the topic.

Bennett included many resources and recommended books for white people to read, which I’ve already purchased and/or added to my TBR lists. I’m looking forward to digging in to those soon.

THINGS THAT MAKE WHITE PEOPLE UNCOMFORTABLE is a must-read book for everyone, not just white people. I truly enjoyed learning about Mr. Bennett and learning from him as well. He was a great teacher!

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Michael Bennett's book is touching, eye-opening and tear-inspiring. Overall it's an homage to what we can be, as a global society. People standing together out of love, not fear, to break down that which oppresses and deprives some many around us.

Highly recommended. It'll inspire you, motivate you, and make you thankful for the opportunity to make a positive change in the world around you.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book. I don't really care about football, but I'm now a fan of Michael Bennett. I wasn't really uncomfortable but I did appreciate his candid discussion of race in America.

[Becca · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5**
I am not a football fan. Professional sports bore me and tbh before reading this I could not have told you who Michael Bennett was or what teams he played for. That being said, I found his book super enlightening! I can think of very few types of people more opposite from myself than a straight black man who plays football for a living, but we truly have so many similar beliefs and values. This book also opened my eyes to so many things that I’ve never taken the time to consider. Great read via audio!

[Meg]

I borrowed this because I thought it was written by a comedian I think (can you tell I don't pay attention to American football?) So! Unexpected and good - criticism of race in sport, Black Lives Matters, intersectionality, food justice (!!) and more. While reading I wrote an email to an elected official about a proposed law that will have racial impact in my province because as Bennet points out posting shit to twitter is not the same as acting. So - do more of that.

[Shannon Callahan · Rating 3 out of 5]

New type of book

One major thing that I like about this book is the author’s unfiltered talks. Many books are either too formal or edited out a lot. However, I’m more of a facts type of guy. I don’t want other readers to think this book isn’t worth reading. Don’t do that, just read it and unpack your thoughts. The author brought up many simple but great points. I did enjoying hear his perspective from inside.

[Leili V. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not as much a book about things that make white people uncomfortable as it is a football and activism memoir. It wasn’t what I thought it would be, but I did enjoy reading it and even learned some things.

[Beatrix · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF. Ik voel me heel ongemakkelijk bij de parallellen die hij steeds trekt tussen PTSS en football-spelers, en ik denk dat ik bepaalde voorkennis op het gebied van professional sports mis om het verhaal goed te kunnen volgen.

[Natalie Park · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. This is a wonderful read filled with a bit of everything - sports, racism, social justice, feminism, etc. it was surprising and illuminating.

[Ariana Sanders · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! There is a young adult version that I bet would be great for my students. This book is far more than the title would suggest. A look at the experience of a college and pro athlete, rising up from humble beginnings, being educated, a little Seahawks locker room talk, and using your platform for good even when people tell you to play football and shut up.

[Kristin Boldon · Rating 4 out of 5]

My husband the Eagles fan recommended this, and it a solid set of essays on one man's awakening and support of social justice. Bennett is deservedly a confident man, and had some excellent insight on the business of sports that chews up and spits out most athletes. There was more on the brotherhood of the Seattle locker room than I needed, and rather more in general of name dropping and self quoting. Nonetheless, a good behind the scenes look into college and professional sports, and how athletes and fans might overthrow that control.

[Wendy Chamberlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

In short, I loved this book. While written by a professional football player it is relevant on so many levels. Professor Bennett (my title for him b/c i felt as if I was i class the whole while) brings so much depth to the topics he discusses around the intersection of race and sports, race and present day social/political discourse, gender, education, etc. He brings his whole self to this piece which means he is both vulnerable and shows he has done a lot of soul searching to draw the conclusions and make the decisions he has made to have the platform he has.

The title refers to his bold speech, but he is not arrogant, he is just calling things as he sees and has experienced them in both his professional and personal life, and frankly his observations are spot on.

[Sam O'H · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book would have really benefited from a better editor. Bennett's thoughts are presented by the book in what appears to be the order in which he thought them. There's a lot of reference to "I'll get to that later" or "We'll cover that in another chapter" and several topics or events are mentioned more than once in separate places throughout the book, which has the effect of making the book seem a little disjointed.
Michael Bennett clearly has strong opinions and is very capable of communicating those opinions to the reader in an easily relatable way. I think there was a lot to be gained by having the structure of the writing better organized into coherent and flowing themes as the reader moves through the book.

I realize that I am not the target audience of this book. I say that because I had no idea who Michael Bennett is before I picked up this book. Turns out he's an NFL player, and a damn good one at that. I might be in the minority here, but I was interested in the book for its racial politics and not for the football backstory. I realize that football is Michael's life, so it would be difficult if not impossible for him to tell his story without relating it to football at every turn. I'm sure a football fan would have benefited much more than I did from these stories. He mentions several people that I had to google, only to realize they're actually very famous and relatable to any remotely-serious football fan.

Bennett discusses race issues through the lens of his life, and that perspective is what I had hoped to gain from this book. I would like to hear more stories written in this way; spiked with honesty and sharp emotion. The football focus lost a little something on me, but the essence of his message remained the same.

I'm glad Michael Bennett is in the spot light of celebrity and I look forward to seeing what great things he'll continue to accomplish with his platform.

[Jason Grossmann-Ferris · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book didn't do what it was supposed to! Although it added a valuable perspective on many of the issues prevalent in American society, it didn't speak to me because it was simply reiterating a lot of things that I hear people complain about on the daily: racism, police violence, poverty, and the NFL. One of the only differences is that he has inside information on the life of an actual NFL player and knows how to communicate it effectively to an audience that may not have lots of experience with American football or the culture surrounding it. I only wish he hadn't framed his good deeds and experiences as if he were bragging.

That being said, Bennett has a real right to brag- the amount of work he has done for many causes (including food justice, victims of police brutality, and gender equality) is astounding, and obviously comes from a place of genuine concern. I do, however, see the legacy of some issues still present in his work- he claims to come from a place of pure intersectionality, but omits almost any mention of LGBT peoples' very existence from his book. Given the general intolerance in black culture, especially that of the South, towards gay and transgender people, I could positively say that Bennett's omission could be a subconscious thing, but his drive towards intersectionality is not yet complete because of it. All in all, the insight that Bennett provides into the NFL is the saving grace of his novel- otherwise, it would come off as a virtue-signalling account of his rise to greatness, interspersed with excuses for his actions during the national anthem.

[Cynthia (Bingeing On Books) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this was a very interesting read and the author made some great points about football, the NFL, and the problem with TBI's in his sport. I also liked hearing about life lessons he has learned along the way and his views on Colin Kaepernick. My main issue with the book though is that the topic didn't really seemed to fit the title. I don't think there was anything in here that inherently made me uncomfortable. In fact, there were a few chapters where he didn't mention race at all and he just talked about his time playing football with his teammates. Since I am not big into professional football (or reading about it), that is why I am giving this book three stars. I just wasn't that interested in specific plays at important games. But I do still think he makes a lot of good points about racism and there BLM movement and I think it's a worthwhile read.

[Tim Mccaskey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I recommend the book especially for those looking for thoughtful takes on sports, BLM, or other social justice-related issues (a friend told me this book introduced the term "intersectionality" to him, so that's a plus.) Maybe a 3.5 - I didn't rate it higher because the chapters shift focus quickly and I felt toward the end of the book he did less of the style of writing I liked at the beginning and more promotion of all the (admittedly admirable) things he does and promotes. Came away respecting the guy a lot.