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Say It Louder!: Black Voters, White Narratives, and Saving Our Democracy
A breakout media and political analyst delivers a sweeping snapshot of American Democracy and the role that African Americans have played in its shaping while offering concrete information to help harness the electoral power of the country’s rising majority and exposing political forces aligned to subvert and suppress Black voters.
Black voters were critical to the Democrats’ 2018 blue wave. In fact, 90 percent of Black voters supported Democratic House candidates, compared to just 53 percent of all voters. Despite media narratives, this was not a fluke. Throughout U.S. history, Black people have played a crucial role in the shaping of the American experiment. Yet still, this powerful voting bloc is often dismissed as some “amorphous” deviation, argues Tiffany Cross.
Say It Louder! is her explosive examination of how America’s composition was designed to exclude Black voters, but paradoxically would likely cease to exist without them. With multiple tentacles stretching into the cable news echo chamber, campaign leadership, and Black voter data, Cross creates a wrinkle in time with a reflective look at the timeless efforts endlessly attempting to deny people of color the right to vote—a basic tenet of American democracy.
And yet as the demographics of the country are changing, so too is the electoral power construct—by evolution and by force, Cross declares. Grounded in the most-up-to-date research, Say It Louder! is a vital tool for a wide swath of constituencies.
Black voters were critical to the Democrats’ 2018 blue wave. In fact, 90 percent of Black voters supported Democratic House candidates, compared to just 53 percent of all voters. Despite media narratives, this was not a fluke. Throughout U.S. history, Black people have played a crucial role in the shaping of the American experiment. Yet still, this powerful voting bloc is often dismissed as some “amorphous” deviation, argues Tiffany Cross.
Say It Louder! is her explosive examination of how America’s composition was designed to exclude Black voters, but paradoxically would likely cease to exist without them. With multiple tentacles stretching into the cable news echo chamber, campaign leadership, and Black voter data, Cross creates a wrinkle in time with a reflective look at the timeless efforts endlessly attempting to deny people of color the right to vote—a basic tenet of American democracy.
And yet as the demographics of the country are changing, so too is the electoral power construct—by evolution and by force, Cross declares. Grounded in the most-up-to-date research, Say It Louder! is a vital tool for a wide swath of constituencies.
176 pages, Hardcover
First published July 6, 2020
180 people are currently reading
1843 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 120 reviews
August 13, 2022
I really liked this book. It looks at the narratives for people of color (particularly but not only African American women). In my mind it's an updated version of Melissa Harris-Perry's Sister Citizen: Shame, Stereotypes, and Black Women in America. Cross's book analyzes the current media and its cohesion to narratives that are counterproductive toward an equitable and harmonious nation. Cross has a show on Saturdays for MSNBC and this book displays her rapier wit and intellect. It is steeped in current events, but unlike Sister Citizen, I think this book will age better. In other words, Cross's examples are things that I think will remain in the public consciousness for a very long time. She also talks a great deal about history and how these ideas carried forward in the current decades. Her examples are not arbitrary or obscure. Particularly about the current day Republican party and Trump. But mostly, she looks at white nationalism in its many disparate forms and its impacts on life in America. Remember Cross is speaking about the narrative, not the specific acts, but how Americans perceive these acts. For example, her is her assessment of how the media tends to cover poverty in America:
I thought Cross was effective, interesting, and not overly partisan (could be that I agree with her so YMMV). She's quite witty, seems to be able to reach cross generations in communicating with her audiences and she's a very good writer.
4+ Stars
Listened to the audio book. Tiffany Cross expertly narrated her book, with the right amount of emphasis and emotion expressed where she intended. A wonderful way to consume this book.
"But most were cloaked in color, rendering them invisible to the white media elites assigned to perpetuate two mythical tales of poverty: one for white folks—undeserved and confounding; the other for us—self-inflicted and to be expected."
I thought Cross was effective, interesting, and not overly partisan (could be that I agree with her so YMMV). She's quite witty, seems to be able to reach cross generations in communicating with her audiences and she's a very good writer.
"White supremacy in America is like the iPhone that way: new versions keep coming out."Indeed!! Enlightening, smart, informative, and occasionally funny; I'm looking forward to more from Cross. She is a needed voice for watching the watchers. Keep an eye out for who is describing history. It's almost as important as history itself.
4+ Stars
Listened to the audio book. Tiffany Cross expertly narrated her book, with the right amount of emphasis and emotion expressed where she intended. A wonderful way to consume this book.
July 10, 2020
My mom and I listened to Tiffany read it herself and it was great. Really smart, insightful, educational, and interesting. We learned a lot and reaffirmed a lot of what we already know/believe. Some of it is really upsetting and infuriating but still educational and enlightening. I kept thinking of the Kimberly Jones who said, "You're lucky we just want equality and not revenge."
Hopefully Tiffany Cross will get Joy Ann Reid's morning spot since Joy replaced the barf inducing Chris Matthews in the weeknight slot. Yay!
Hopefully Tiffany Cross will get Joy Ann Reid's morning spot since Joy replaced the barf inducing Chris Matthews in the weeknight slot. Yay!
July 20, 2020
Come on MSNBC, please give Joy Reid’s weekend slot to Tiffany Cross! Her wealth of knowledge about news media, ability to present thoughtful, important conversations about race and politics is the perfect combination for a news show! Loved her voice here in the audiobook.
October 17, 2020
Civic duty, voter engagement/representation, democracy, and the Black Vote are all terms that are heard in varying degrees during a major election cycle, but what does it mean? Why should a Black person participate in an political system that has repeatedly shown itself to not be for them? These are some of the topics discussed in Say It Louder! Black Voters, Voices, & the Shaping of American Democracy by Tiffany Cross. This book reads like a conversation between friends, a sacred space where you feel safe sharing your thoughts, where it's ok to disagree, where you learn from discourse and hopefully by the end you feel enlightened. At the end you know that your voice is as important as any other person and one way to make your voice heard by the government at the local, state, and federal levels is to vote. To be an active participant means to be aware, to be critical, to hold yourself as well as elected officials accountable for all actions taken. This isn't a book that assumes all Black people are loyal Democratic voters, but explains why Black people's beliefs tend to agree with the party platform. This book heavily criticizes the Republican party and rightfully so considering the actions of Trump to MAGA. When was America great for African Americans, Latinx, Asian Americans, women, any one that not a wealthy white man? Adhering to conservative values is one thing, upholding white supremacy is another. The line between the two have become blurred for many while some try to elevate personal status by repeating and agreement with racist rhetoric. I'm all for working hard to achieve your wildest dreams, selling your soul is not it though. In the end, the answer remains the same, say it louder. James Brown made it clear in the 1969 that we were proud to be Black, that should be the same and more in 2020.
What caught my attention:
"The racism on which America was founded didn't push us away from participating in democracy. It never let us in at the onset. The United States was never founded with Black people in mind. It was as if the framers were designing a house. And even though the bricklayers, plumbers, electricians, and architects-who were forced to endure backbreaking labor without compensation-were also going to be living in this house, their input was never even a thought. These designers could only their vision, not the people actually bringing it to life. So later, those representing the power structure chose to enforce something they never even considered in the first place: keeping African Americans, the builders of this nation, from participating in representative government. Still Black people saved this nation many times fighting with and for the very system designed for our demise. We are not just participants in the American experiment. We are also every bit as much its architects as the framers. Our blood stripes the American flag red, straining the white backdrop. Yet that white backdrop still dominates so much" (3).
The history lessons of 1919, Red Summer, Fannie Lou Hamer, Russian interference in US elections going back to the early half of the 20th century...all things that are framed around the point of view of those in power. Think how different it may be to consider the perspective of those who are silenced.
What caught my attention:
"The racism on which America was founded didn't push us away from participating in democracy. It never let us in at the onset. The United States was never founded with Black people in mind. It was as if the framers were designing a house. And even though the bricklayers, plumbers, electricians, and architects-who were forced to endure backbreaking labor without compensation-were also going to be living in this house, their input was never even a thought. These designers could only their vision, not the people actually bringing it to life. So later, those representing the power structure chose to enforce something they never even considered in the first place: keeping African Americans, the builders of this nation, from participating in representative government. Still Black people saved this nation many times fighting with and for the very system designed for our demise. We are not just participants in the American experiment. We are also every bit as much its architects as the framers. Our blood stripes the American flag red, straining the white backdrop. Yet that white backdrop still dominates so much" (3).
The history lessons of 1919, Red Summer, Fannie Lou Hamer, Russian interference in US elections going back to the early half of the 20th century...all things that are framed around the point of view of those in power. Think how different it may be to consider the perspective of those who are silenced.
September 15, 2020
To inspire Black people by the masses, we must reimagine America.
June 10, 2020
Say it Louder! explores how black people changed the political landscape. Tiffany Cross explains how the voting process was created to silence black voters such as racism and voter suppression. The Civil rights movement helped increase black voter turnout and expanding voter rights. This book is informative and important. Everyone should read this book Most importantly, We must vote and register people to vote! Your vote is your voice!.
July 26, 2020
If you have any interest in the media and politics -- especially the ways the media influence politics -- this book is a must. I would've never thought a book about Black voters could be so engaging. Much of the enjoyment stems from the author's injection of humor and "sophisticated sass," as Michael Eric Dyson says in the foreword. And it's the sharp insights that already has me quoting the book to friends.
The best way to consume this book is the audio version. The author clearly has great fun reading her own words. I was loving the book so much that half-way through I bought the Kindle version in order to start highlighting passages and ideas. There was one tiny part that took a star off for me, but almost anyone who has any interest in the media, politics, and race will love it even if they have the same issue.
Just a few of the points the author explains well:
* How Russian disinformation campaigns were able to target real racial grievances to depress Black voter turnout in 2016, just as the Russians used real racial grievances to target Black people in the 1950s.
* How after Obama left office, major media outlets quietly got rid of or diminished Black on-air talent.
* How the media and politicians were draconian toward Blacks during the crack epidemic but when the opioid epidemic hit whites, all of a sudden there were calls for compassion and diversion programs rather than prison.
Where the author lost a star from me? She calls Melania Trump "FLO-TITS" -- that's messed up.
Here are a couple of excerpts to give a feel:
White anchors and reporters consistently center much of their campaign reporting around white Republicans. The consistent question to candidates running at the federal level is “How will you appeal to swing voters/Trump voters/Midwest voters/working-class voters” or whatever other euphemism they want to use for white members of the GOP. It’s a strange obsession the media has with Trump Republicans. They routinely invite on his hardcore supporters and parade them as swayable voters—which they clearly are not. Viewers suffer through these internet conspiracy theorists trying to clumsily talk through policy, about which they are painfully ignorant. It’s baffling because I don’t recall that kind of anthropological case study on Obama voters across the cable news media landscape. After all, they too disrupted the political terrain and toppled a political dynasty. And they did it without yelling racial epithets and xenophobic rhetoric at campaign rallies. Were they never interesting enough for a cable news panel?
And here's a long excerpt but I want to include it because it's so anger-inducing. It sounds like something out of the 1950s, but it involves the current governor of Georgia and how, for years, he's been trying to keep Black citizens from registering to vote, actually voting (even having Black seniors pulled off a bus being driven to a voting station), and even being represented in political office.
When Brooks County, Georgia, elected a majority-Black school board for the first time in 2010, Kemp sent investigators to interrogate Black residents in the county about their unprecedented use of absentee ballots in the election. Law enforcement officials, at Kemp’s direction, had registration activist Nancy Dennard arrested. She was taken from her home in handcuffs, placed in a squad car, and marched into the police station. Eleven of her political allies were also arrested and charged with 120 separate felonies. Among the arrestees were three newly elected Black school board members, who were stripped of their positions because of the allegations. The Quitman 10 + 2, as they came to be known, had their mugshots, all of them wearing orange jumpsuits, blanketed across the media as evidence of voter fraud. Their images were splashed across the front pages of newspapers, played on a loop on local TV news, and shown on Fox News as a talking point to prove voter fraud was real. The intent was not just to suppress but also to humiliate. In fact, Kemp has routinely sent the Georgia Bureau of Investigations to raid the offices of voter registration groups on trumped-up charges. Then Georgia Republican governor Nathan Deal removed the newly elected Black members from the Brooks County School Board in January 2012, two months after the indictments were filed. Dennard had been elected president of the board but was stripped of that title as well. As the court case against them moved forward, Dennard won reelection in the fall of 2012, along with the other African American member of the school board, Frank Thomas, and in early 2013 Dennard, Troutman, and Diane Thomas were reinstated according to the law. They served together for twenty-two months. Four years after the election, the accused were acquitted of all charges, but their lives had been devastated. And Black voters there decided civic engagement was not worth the vicious white backlash. In 2014, not long after their term, the board switched back to majority white.
The best way to consume this book is the audio version. The author clearly has great fun reading her own words. I was loving the book so much that half-way through I bought the Kindle version in order to start highlighting passages and ideas. There was one tiny part that took a star off for me, but almost anyone who has any interest in the media, politics, and race will love it even if they have the same issue.
Just a few of the points the author explains well:
* How Russian disinformation campaigns were able to target real racial grievances to depress Black voter turnout in 2016, just as the Russians used real racial grievances to target Black people in the 1950s.
* How after Obama left office, major media outlets quietly got rid of or diminished Black on-air talent.
* How the media and politicians were draconian toward Blacks during the crack epidemic but when the opioid epidemic hit whites, all of a sudden there were calls for compassion and diversion programs rather than prison.
Where the author lost a star from me? She calls Melania Trump "FLO-TITS" -- that's messed up.
Here are a couple of excerpts to give a feel:
White anchors and reporters consistently center much of their campaign reporting around white Republicans. The consistent question to candidates running at the federal level is “How will you appeal to swing voters/Trump voters/Midwest voters/working-class voters” or whatever other euphemism they want to use for white members of the GOP. It’s a strange obsession the media has with Trump Republicans. They routinely invite on his hardcore supporters and parade them as swayable voters—which they clearly are not. Viewers suffer through these internet conspiracy theorists trying to clumsily talk through policy, about which they are painfully ignorant. It’s baffling because I don’t recall that kind of anthropological case study on Obama voters across the cable news media landscape. After all, they too disrupted the political terrain and toppled a political dynasty. And they did it without yelling racial epithets and xenophobic rhetoric at campaign rallies. Were they never interesting enough for a cable news panel?
And here's a long excerpt but I want to include it because it's so anger-inducing. It sounds like something out of the 1950s, but it involves the current governor of Georgia and how, for years, he's been trying to keep Black citizens from registering to vote, actually voting (even having Black seniors pulled off a bus being driven to a voting station), and even being represented in political office.
When Brooks County, Georgia, elected a majority-Black school board for the first time in 2010, Kemp sent investigators to interrogate Black residents in the county about their unprecedented use of absentee ballots in the election. Law enforcement officials, at Kemp’s direction, had registration activist Nancy Dennard arrested. She was taken from her home in handcuffs, placed in a squad car, and marched into the police station. Eleven of her political allies were also arrested and charged with 120 separate felonies. Among the arrestees were three newly elected Black school board members, who were stripped of their positions because of the allegations. The Quitman 10 + 2, as they came to be known, had their mugshots, all of them wearing orange jumpsuits, blanketed across the media as evidence of voter fraud. Their images were splashed across the front pages of newspapers, played on a loop on local TV news, and shown on Fox News as a talking point to prove voter fraud was real. The intent was not just to suppress but also to humiliate. In fact, Kemp has routinely sent the Georgia Bureau of Investigations to raid the offices of voter registration groups on trumped-up charges. Then Georgia Republican governor Nathan Deal removed the newly elected Black members from the Brooks County School Board in January 2012, two months after the indictments were filed. Dennard had been elected president of the board but was stripped of that title as well. As the court case against them moved forward, Dennard won reelection in the fall of 2012, along with the other African American member of the school board, Frank Thomas, and in early 2013 Dennard, Troutman, and Diane Thomas were reinstated according to the law. They served together for twenty-two months. Four years after the election, the accused were acquitted of all charges, but their lives had been devastated. And Black voters there decided civic engagement was not worth the vicious white backlash. In 2014, not long after their term, the board switched back to majority white.
August 2, 2020
Cross shows how racial inequality and lack of representation propagates through our democracy – what stories gets reported in the media and how community members are portrayed, inform the decisions that voters make to elect lawmakers and ratify policies that will influence every aspect of the administration. Despite being a major contributor to the demographic composition, media continues to represent the Black public as minority and thereby weakens the influence of their vote. Author Tiffany Cross, in sharing her experiences, tells her own story, in language that is at once engaging and intelligent, stimulating but sisterly, with puns and phrases that allude to pop culture but that also demonstrates the range of her talking points where she can just as easily invoke a literary reference as she could say a line made popular by a reality TV star. What Ms. Cross has to say is important, and how she says it will make it easier to listen, even if the truths she shares are hard to hear.
Note: I received a complimentary copy of the book from the publishers in order to complete a review
Note: I received a complimentary copy of the book from the publishers in order to complete a review
August 31, 2020
Tiffany Cross, thank you... Thank you for making me feel validated. As a black educated millennial female who first voted in the Obama election this is history told from my point of view in which I am currently living through.
I wish I had the type of platform that could truly lift up this book as it so necessarily deserves. However that will not stop me from sharing it with friends, professional acquaintances and strangers on the street.
This book made me look back on the sliver of time where I thought I wanted to be a journalist at one of the country's top schools for journalism, The University of Missouri-Columbia. It's laughable now that I think about me ever suggesting that it was as simple as enrolling when I never indulged in the craft. However this book makes me appreciate the profession in ways that I had not before. I hope that this book will become a pillar of influence for members of undergraduate NABJ, as it sheds a light into the journey that graduates will soon embark on. It foreshadows their struggles while also referencing the power that lies within their representation.
I wish the book could be handed to every black and brown 18 year old who registers to vote. Showing them the significance of their registration. Say it Louder! allowed me to reflect on my first voting experience with the 2008 Obama election. How it felt to complete my first civic duty at such a pivotal time in history. This can be said of young adults who will get to vote in the Biden/Harris vs Trump/Pence election. Say it Louder! will help them understand the magnitude of what will transpire in November 2020 and how their vote will make the difference.
Tiffany Cross did a fantastic job of interweaving historical events such as the 1919 Red Summer with the political strife of today 2020 election. She compacted over a 100 years of political and socioeconomic history into 176 pages that left me amazed. It was done with wit and flare that only a black woman could posses while providing data and context on heavy and complicated matters. As a person who has recently started taking a look at politics a little deeper, it filled in a number of gaps to questions I had such as how Stacy Abrams lost her election, what Russia's potential stake in the presidential elections were, why Flint's water crisis wasn't constant streaming news and more.
This book is timely and necessary. Not enough good words can be said about it.
I wish I had the type of platform that could truly lift up this book as it so necessarily deserves. However that will not stop me from sharing it with friends, professional acquaintances and strangers on the street.
This book made me look back on the sliver of time where I thought I wanted to be a journalist at one of the country's top schools for journalism, The University of Missouri-Columbia. It's laughable now that I think about me ever suggesting that it was as simple as enrolling when I never indulged in the craft. However this book makes me appreciate the profession in ways that I had not before. I hope that this book will become a pillar of influence for members of undergraduate NABJ, as it sheds a light into the journey that graduates will soon embark on. It foreshadows their struggles while also referencing the power that lies within their representation.
I wish the book could be handed to every black and brown 18 year old who registers to vote. Showing them the significance of their registration. Say it Louder! allowed me to reflect on my first voting experience with the 2008 Obama election. How it felt to complete my first civic duty at such a pivotal time in history. This can be said of young adults who will get to vote in the Biden/Harris vs Trump/Pence election. Say it Louder! will help them understand the magnitude of what will transpire in November 2020 and how their vote will make the difference.
Tiffany Cross did a fantastic job of interweaving historical events such as the 1919 Red Summer with the political strife of today 2020 election. She compacted over a 100 years of political and socioeconomic history into 176 pages that left me amazed. It was done with wit and flare that only a black woman could posses while providing data and context on heavy and complicated matters. As a person who has recently started taking a look at politics a little deeper, it filled in a number of gaps to questions I had such as how Stacy Abrams lost her election, what Russia's potential stake in the presidential elections were, why Flint's water crisis wasn't constant streaming news and more.
This book is timely and necessary. Not enough good words can be said about it.
maybe
August 6, 2020
Through all of us, the voices of all the dead corpses they buried begin to speak...cry...shout. Our ancestors. Of course there's a concerted effort to muzzle our voices, mute our outrage, & silence our pain. But as the mothers knew...and sang...we shall not be moved.
January 18, 2021
CWs:
Explorations of racism (both incurred and documented); allusions to racist speech; quoting of racial slurs; discussions of police violence and the murder of Black people at the hands of police; in-depth discussions of white supremacy; mentions of suicide, lynching, and racist killings
January 10, 2021
Listened to the audiobook.
I think Cross did just what she set out to do, giving a deeper understanding of the dynamics underlying what is deemed “the black vote”.
She does a great job explaining party loyalties, or rather the lack there of amongst black voters, the way the media fails to understand, explore or accurately represent black voters and my favorite part- highlights the absolutely tribal and nepotistic nature of media and politics.
I think her voice was clear, authentic and has the earned confidence of having put into the work behind her takes.
Glad I listened to this book.
I think Cross did just what she set out to do, giving a deeper understanding of the dynamics underlying what is deemed “the black vote”.
She does a great job explaining party loyalties, or rather the lack there of amongst black voters, the way the media fails to understand, explore or accurately represent black voters and my favorite part- highlights the absolutely tribal and nepotistic nature of media and politics.
I think her voice was clear, authentic and has the earned confidence of having put into the work behind her takes.
Glad I listened to this book.
January 26, 2023
I am a fan of Tiffany Cross and her book was very inspiring. She is an excellent Author
November 21, 2020
Excellent Book about African Americans Demanding to be Heard
This is a short book about African Americans gathering and demanding to be heard. Cross is best known to me as the journalist subbing on AM Joy on MSNBC and whom I hope to be named the host. She is forthright looks at history and concerns of many eligible African American voters in the USA. She urges in a gentle way to gather a vote and demand their right to be heard.
This is a short book about African Americans gathering and demanding to be heard. Cross is best known to me as the journalist subbing on AM Joy on MSNBC and whom I hope to be named the host. She is forthright looks at history and concerns of many eligible African American voters in the USA. She urges in a gentle way to gather a vote and demand their right to be heard.
July 24, 2020
Thank You!
It is really great to read from an African American woman perspective. I candefinitely can relate. You were honest, unapologetic speaking truth to power. I do truly agree that we should stop catering to folks that are not on board with us. We are always neglecting our wants and needs to others. We must say what we want and stay firm. We must not be silent anymore. We must speak up and speak truth. You give me hope. Thanks for your insight and keep reaching for the stars.
It is really great to read from an African American woman perspective. I candefinitely can relate. You were honest, unapologetic speaking truth to power. I do truly agree that we should stop catering to folks that are not on board with us. We are always neglecting our wants and needs to others. We must say what we want and stay firm. We must not be silent anymore. We must speak up and speak truth. You give me hope. Thanks for your insight and keep reaching for the stars.
August 2, 2020
I found this book so helpful in how it spells out how journalists shape our democracy, from deciding which stories to report to how they contextualize these stories for the viewer. I also loved the parts of her personal story she shares, as well as the deep dive into different parts of US history.
November 2, 2020
The author's bias is obvious, but that doesn't mean the content wasn't incredibly valid. I really enjoyed listening to her narration in particular. She brought life to the words so that I could really feel what she was trying to say.
While a lot of her points I've become more familiar with through a lot of reading of black authors in the last few months, there were definitely some new insights that I appreciated, especially with the impending election within just a couple of weeks. I liked her pointing out how the media is still stuck on outdated modes of interpreting election results, and indeed of predicting them. She points out that while states like Ohio get a lot of focus from the media for seemingly pointing out the way the country is going, it's a predominantly white area, and is no longer representative of the majority of the country, and not a good scale for how the rest of the country is thinking. She's critical of the media in several other areas as well, which helps me be very mindful of the lens all of them present, no matter which direction they happen to swing (and make no mistake, they all swing one way or another, it's just a matter of how far out the pendulum is extended!)
If you're not into politics it may not be your thing, however, it's not a dry read, and certainly gives some different points of view that you may not have considered before, so just for some alternative thinking, it's very valuable. If you're at all interested in broadening your horizons and especially cutting through the media bias of politics, this is a good way to get you started.
While a lot of her points I've become more familiar with through a lot of reading of black authors in the last few months, there were definitely some new insights that I appreciated, especially with the impending election within just a couple of weeks. I liked her pointing out how the media is still stuck on outdated modes of interpreting election results, and indeed of predicting them. She points out that while states like Ohio get a lot of focus from the media for seemingly pointing out the way the country is going, it's a predominantly white area, and is no longer representative of the majority of the country, and not a good scale for how the rest of the country is thinking. She's critical of the media in several other areas as well, which helps me be very mindful of the lens all of them present, no matter which direction they happen to swing (and make no mistake, they all swing one way or another, it's just a matter of how far out the pendulum is extended!)
If you're not into politics it may not be your thing, however, it's not a dry read, and certainly gives some different points of view that you may not have considered before, so just for some alternative thinking, it's very valuable. If you're at all interested in broadening your horizons and especially cutting through the media bias of politics, this is a good way to get you started.
September 6, 2020
Excellent. Excellent. Excellent. I loved Tiffany Cross's conviction in both her writing style and her narration of the audioibook.
Despite a media narrative that states otherwise, Black voters are not a monolith. And the criticism that they blindly vote for Democrats because there's some sort of unspoken rule in the Black community is incredibly disingenuous and lacks any sort of intellectual curiosity when it comes to Black America's motivations. The fact of the matter is, the Black community recognizes that all politics and systems in America seek to harm them in some way; they just choose to vote for the party that harms them the least. They are under no delusions that voting for Democrats is also not going to harm them in some way. They're just choosing the path of least resistance and least harm.
I love how Tiffany Cross provides readers (and listeners) with historical context and supplants that sense of intellectual curiosity that has been lacking in the media as to why Black America votes the way they do.
Despite a media narrative that states otherwise, Black voters are not a monolith. And the criticism that they blindly vote for Democrats because there's some sort of unspoken rule in the Black community is incredibly disingenuous and lacks any sort of intellectual curiosity when it comes to Black America's motivations. The fact of the matter is, the Black community recognizes that all politics and systems in America seek to harm them in some way; they just choose to vote for the party that harms them the least. They are under no delusions that voting for Democrats is also not going to harm them in some way. They're just choosing the path of least resistance and least harm.
I love how Tiffany Cross provides readers (and listeners) with historical context and supplants that sense of intellectual curiosity that has been lacking in the media as to why Black America votes the way they do.
February 18, 2023
A very in-depth look at how Black voters are overlooked in media in front of & behind the camera. She also provided a brief overview of how she got started in the business. Very insightful. Definitely recommended.
December 26, 2020
4.5 stars. This is a really fast, smart book that’s a really good mix of history, personal memoir, and current events. The book illustrates a different side of broadcast journalism and mass media that isn’t often covered in books like this, but it’s a necessary perspective. I wish it could have been longer-I would read a book by Tiffany Cross any day.
July 17, 2020
Too Easy !!
I absolutely LOVED this book ! It was an easy read to complete in just a few days. Tiffany is unapologetic in her delivery which I totally related to. I am vowing to read more black authors and if they write like Tiffany, I'm sold !! Her references caused me to do further study into the people and topics she included. I am more fortified as result of this !! My mom would be proud of you Tiffany so I'm certain your mom is !! Keep the good work up in saying things louder to those of us that are captivated by your no nonsense style. This book teaches us that the informative does not have to be boring 😎
I absolutely LOVED this book ! It was an easy read to complete in just a few days. Tiffany is unapologetic in her delivery which I totally related to. I am vowing to read more black authors and if they write like Tiffany, I'm sold !! Her references caused me to do further study into the people and topics she included. I am more fortified as result of this !! My mom would be proud of you Tiffany so I'm certain your mom is !! Keep the good work up in saying things louder to those of us that are captivated by your no nonsense style. This book teaches us that the informative does not have to be boring 😎
November 7, 2020
Ironically I read this while votes were coming in and I couldn't put it down! When people tell you how great America is, here are facts of Americans prohibiting Americans. One of the main reasons for a need for everyone to vote is a need for equal representation. "white men comprise 30 percent of the population but still hold 62 percent of elected offices at the local, state, and federal levels. The political structure still overwhelmingly favors white men as the ruling class"(191).
I especially enjoyed the chapters on voter suppression. For example, Detroit in 2016 did not count over 75,000 ballots. Cross makes an excellent comparison that if this many people had had their flights cancelled, it would have been all over the news but because this was a majority black city, it was not. Moreover, in Michigan 80 voting machines had issues on election day and an old law was used to avoid recounting those votes. Also Michigan Republicans prior to 2016 did not pass a no reason absentee voting bill (114-115).
Ohio has a chapter here, with its 81% white population that has a low population growth, yet is given much focus in elections as a deciding state (144). Cross points out that Ohio's status will fall after the census, taking its electoral college power to that of North Carolina (146). Ohio has been purging voters since 1994 (144). In 2015 40,000 voters from Cuyahoga County were purged (145). In 2012 1 million voters were purged in Ohio (145). Kasich signed strict voting laws and "refuse dot voice opposition"(148).
The chapter on Georgia was utterly disheartening-- to read about the Georgia Secretary of State visibly going after voters and organizations registering voters- from arresting senior citizens taking a van to vote, to putting in handcuffs and charging with felonies groups that registered voters. The attack of the elected black school board was jaw dropping. If I had to suggest one chapter, it'd be this one.
Many facts astounded me, such as how "leading up to the 2016 presidential election, only a few dozen out of more than 2,300 elected prosecutors nationwide were black"(67). George Soros invested about $21 million to aid in solving this injustice of unfair representation and of prosecutors not invested in reducing incarceration (68). In 2013 in Ferguson "outstanding fines and fees made up one-fifth of Ferguson's entire revenue base--an 80 percent increase over just two years prior"(69). I was sad to learn that our local Cleveland Public Dealer "chose to permanently shut down their comments section [regarding officer Timothy Loehmann and Tamir Rice's murder] to avoid the racist diatribes that peppered their site rather [than to] take on the responsibility of holding racist people accountable by letting others see their unfiltered thoughts"(82-83).
She points out how when there were more newspapers, and "more decentralized media coverage"(90) say in 1919, there were African American newspapers and the coverage focused on blacks. I learned about the Red Summer of 1919 where many African Americans were killed. "In the 1910s and 1920s, violence committed by whites was so abhorrent and detestable that civil rights commissions had to be set up in cities to pressure local and federal governments to address it. This is in part how police became the intermediary for what the white community wanted"(91). I was further fascinated to learn how Russia got interested around this time in our problem with racism, seeking to capitalize on it to promote communism(106-108).
She mentions a political science study out of UCLA, Riverside that examined Obama-Trump switchers and "found that these voters tended to score high on measures of racial hostility and xenophobia--and they were not likely to be suffering economically" and this refers to about 6.7 to 9.2 million voters like this (123)
I especially enjoyed the chapters on voter suppression. For example, Detroit in 2016 did not count over 75,000 ballots. Cross makes an excellent comparison that if this many people had had their flights cancelled, it would have been all over the news but because this was a majority black city, it was not. Moreover, in Michigan 80 voting machines had issues on election day and an old law was used to avoid recounting those votes. Also Michigan Republicans prior to 2016 did not pass a no reason absentee voting bill (114-115).
Ohio has a chapter here, with its 81% white population that has a low population growth, yet is given much focus in elections as a deciding state (144). Cross points out that Ohio's status will fall after the census, taking its electoral college power to that of North Carolina (146). Ohio has been purging voters since 1994 (144). In 2015 40,000 voters from Cuyahoga County were purged (145). In 2012 1 million voters were purged in Ohio (145). Kasich signed strict voting laws and "refuse dot voice opposition"(148).
The chapter on Georgia was utterly disheartening-- to read about the Georgia Secretary of State visibly going after voters and organizations registering voters- from arresting senior citizens taking a van to vote, to putting in handcuffs and charging with felonies groups that registered voters. The attack of the elected black school board was jaw dropping. If I had to suggest one chapter, it'd be this one.
Many facts astounded me, such as how "leading up to the 2016 presidential election, only a few dozen out of more than 2,300 elected prosecutors nationwide were black"(67). George Soros invested about $21 million to aid in solving this injustice of unfair representation and of prosecutors not invested in reducing incarceration (68). In 2013 in Ferguson "outstanding fines and fees made up one-fifth of Ferguson's entire revenue base--an 80 percent increase over just two years prior"(69). I was sad to learn that our local Cleveland Public Dealer "chose to permanently shut down their comments section [regarding officer Timothy Loehmann and Tamir Rice's murder] to avoid the racist diatribes that peppered their site rather [than to] take on the responsibility of holding racist people accountable by letting others see their unfiltered thoughts"(82-83).
She points out how when there were more newspapers, and "more decentralized media coverage"(90) say in 1919, there were African American newspapers and the coverage focused on blacks. I learned about the Red Summer of 1919 where many African Americans were killed. "In the 1910s and 1920s, violence committed by whites was so abhorrent and detestable that civil rights commissions had to be set up in cities to pressure local and federal governments to address it. This is in part how police became the intermediary for what the white community wanted"(91). I was further fascinated to learn how Russia got interested around this time in our problem with racism, seeking to capitalize on it to promote communism(106-108).
She mentions a political science study out of UCLA, Riverside that examined Obama-Trump switchers and "found that these voters tended to score high on measures of racial hostility and xenophobia--and they were not likely to be suffering economically" and this refers to about 6.7 to 9.2 million voters like this (123)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 8, 2021
This book is an absolute inspiration and tool that can be used to move the needle on political involvement in our community.
September 21, 2020
Whew, Tiffany Cross knows how to give a read in the classiest, most erudite way! In this book Tiffany takes white mainstream media (the "master narrator") to task for the continued collective failure to consider and value the impact of Black voters in US politics - to the detriment of our democracy.
Say It Louder! is an intelligent book as well as an accessible read - like having an elevated discussion about politics and race with a friend who knows her stuff! On TV, Tiffany is admirably outspoken and that same straight-talk, pull no punches spirit translates very well in her writing.
I recommend this book to anyone who wonders why people say "listen to Black women" when it comes to politics. I recommend this book to anyone interested in an easy-to-digest analysis of current US politics from a viewpoint that is too often devalued in sociopolitical discussions - that of a Black woman writing about Black people. Black voters are more than one large voting block of single-minded people. We are a complex collection of individuals with a variety of wants, needs, and desires. It's refreshing to read a book that acknowledges and examines these differences as they pertain to politics.
Say It Louder! is an intelligent book as well as an accessible read - like having an elevated discussion about politics and race with a friend who knows her stuff! On TV, Tiffany is admirably outspoken and that same straight-talk, pull no punches spirit translates very well in her writing.
I recommend this book to anyone who wonders why people say "listen to Black women" when it comes to politics. I recommend this book to anyone interested in an easy-to-digest analysis of current US politics from a viewpoint that is too often devalued in sociopolitical discussions - that of a Black woman writing about Black people. Black voters are more than one large voting block of single-minded people. We are a complex collection of individuals with a variety of wants, needs, and desires. It's refreshing to read a book that acknowledges and examines these differences as they pertain to politics.
March 25, 2021
5/5 stars.
Tiffany Cross is one of my favorite pundits on television and her book is a clear reminder that while progress in America has been made, we are still so terribly short of our goal. She lays out the history of black america, their successes, their oppression and suppression, and points to how we can right the wrongs of the past and create a country that treats each citizen with the respect and dignity they deserve. She is blunt because our history is blunt, it is something each American must live with everyday. No matter who you are or where you come from, once you are an American citizen, the American legacy is a part of YOUR legacy, and it is in your power to vote and to protest, it is in your power to make this country a true paramount of not just equality, but equity, accessibility, and justice.
Tiffany Cross is one of my favorite pundits on television and her book is a clear reminder that while progress in America has been made, we are still so terribly short of our goal. She lays out the history of black america, their successes, their oppression and suppression, and points to how we can right the wrongs of the past and create a country that treats each citizen with the respect and dignity they deserve. She is blunt because our history is blunt, it is something each American must live with everyday. No matter who you are or where you come from, once you are an American citizen, the American legacy is a part of YOUR legacy, and it is in your power to vote and to protest, it is in your power to make this country a true paramount of not just equality, but equity, accessibility, and justice.
February 19, 2022
Good information
Good book lots of interesting information, that is useful especially with the political and racial climate of today's world. Liked MS Cross!!
Good book lots of interesting information, that is useful especially with the political and racial climate of today's world. Liked MS Cross!!
January 3, 2023
This review is a little all over the place. I suspect the reason why is that I'm reacting to the content and broader argument of the book in the context of our political reality. As such, I didn't really feel the need to censor myself in terms of including material outside of the book, as I feel that's relevant to my feelings about the book. This book is about how Black people have been both overlooked and poorly treated in so many ways, especially in terms of representation. Addressing this treatment is essential to maintain the democracy we, as Americans, claim to love.
--
Prior to listening to this audiobook, I knew very little about Tiffany Cross. I'd seen her on a few programs in the past, and I'm pretty sure I caught a couple of her episodes. I also heard when she was suddenly and immediately canned from MSNBC. (For more info: Brian Steinberg's Variety article, as well as Melanie McFarland's commentary on Salon. Dan Abrams seems to think Cross was not fired for being a woman of color because 1.) she was fired by Rashida Jones (herself a woman of color), because of course that can't happen, and 2.) her ratings weren't really that good in comparison to FOX.
You might say "listen, this isn't relevant to the review of her book", and to that I would say it's incredibly relevant to her book. Cross herself makes the argument that there aren't enough Black women as news anchors or in the news at all, and while we might say "well, there are certainly quite a few now", it's not nearly enough.
Cross mentions in the last chapter of her book that she'd initially thought to write a book detailing the ways that Black people have been put down in US history, but she quickly realizes that's a lengthy endeavor and not entirely what she wants to cover in the book. Her own biography is quite short: she spends her time addressing several significant examples and events, especially those that are related to recent history related to voting and folks running for office. Did you know that 75,000 ballots were discounted in Detroit, Michigan, in the 2016 Presidential election? "More than 80 voting machines in Detroit malfunctioned on Election Day, officials say, resulting in ballot discrepancies in 59% of precincts that raise questions about the reliability of future election results in a city dominated by Democratic and minority voters." (Source: Charlotte Alter at TIME.) A 1954 Michigan law prevented recounting votes if there was any discrepancy in the ballots. WHAT?
One of Cross's strongest arguments deals with debunking the myth that Black people didn't turn out in the 2016 election. She addresses Russia's attempts to demoralize Black voters via social media, and she also mentions just how friggin hard a lot of states made it for people of color to vote. But what does it even matter how hard some places make it to vote when they might not even count your ballot? In the end, though, she does encourage Black people to vote, because what else is the alternative? It's not the only solution.
Another argument is that mainstream media (and most politicians) are constantly addressing the concerns and needs of white people and talk about "the Black vote" as if it is its own entity. She thoroughly explains why there's no such thing as "the Black vote" and further argues that a consistent source of Democratic votes is the Black audience (not a unique voting block, but one that consistently votes Democrat). And yet, politicians and MSM spend most of their time attending to and courting white folks. The amount of time that MSM has spent looking at MAGA, for example, is... extensive.
I feel like this audiobook really sort of called me to action. I've been in the mindset for a few years now. When Stacey Abrams started getting more attention for her advocacy for voting rights (after the cluster that was the 2016 election), I was convinced that voting rights is a primary issue for the country.
I don't know where Tiffany Cross is now. Her website hasn't been updated since she left MSNBC, and Wikipedia also doesn't have any updates. (I'm also kind of eh about Twitter; I could check that.) Wherever she goes, I'd love to hear more from her.
--
Prior to listening to this audiobook, I knew very little about Tiffany Cross. I'd seen her on a few programs in the past, and I'm pretty sure I caught a couple of her episodes. I also heard when she was suddenly and immediately canned from MSNBC. (For more info: Brian Steinberg's Variety article, as well as Melanie McFarland's commentary on Salon. Dan Abrams seems to think Cross was not fired for being a woman of color because 1.) she was fired by Rashida Jones (herself a woman of color), because of course that can't happen, and 2.) her ratings weren't really that good in comparison to FOX.
You might say "listen, this isn't relevant to the review of her book", and to that I would say it's incredibly relevant to her book. Cross herself makes the argument that there aren't enough Black women as news anchors or in the news at all, and while we might say "well, there are certainly quite a few now", it's not nearly enough.
Cross mentions in the last chapter of her book that she'd initially thought to write a book detailing the ways that Black people have been put down in US history, but she quickly realizes that's a lengthy endeavor and not entirely what she wants to cover in the book. Her own biography is quite short: she spends her time addressing several significant examples and events, especially those that are related to recent history related to voting and folks running for office. Did you know that 75,000 ballots were discounted in Detroit, Michigan, in the 2016 Presidential election? "More than 80 voting machines in Detroit malfunctioned on Election Day, officials say, resulting in ballot discrepancies in 59% of precincts that raise questions about the reliability of future election results in a city dominated by Democratic and minority voters." (Source: Charlotte Alter at TIME.) A 1954 Michigan law prevented recounting votes if there was any discrepancy in the ballots. WHAT?
One of Cross's strongest arguments deals with debunking the myth that Black people didn't turn out in the 2016 election. She addresses Russia's attempts to demoralize Black voters via social media, and she also mentions just how friggin hard a lot of states made it for people of color to vote. But what does it even matter how hard some places make it to vote when they might not even count your ballot? In the end, though, she does encourage Black people to vote, because what else is the alternative? It's not the only solution.
Another argument is that mainstream media (and most politicians) are constantly addressing the concerns and needs of white people and talk about "the Black vote" as if it is its own entity. She thoroughly explains why there's no such thing as "the Black vote" and further argues that a consistent source of Democratic votes is the Black audience (not a unique voting block, but one that consistently votes Democrat). And yet, politicians and MSM spend most of their time attending to and courting white folks. The amount of time that MSM has spent looking at MAGA, for example, is... extensive.
I feel like this audiobook really sort of called me to action. I've been in the mindset for a few years now. When Stacey Abrams started getting more attention for her advocacy for voting rights (after the cluster that was the 2016 election), I was convinced that voting rights is a primary issue for the country.
I don't know where Tiffany Cross is now. Her website hasn't been updated since she left MSNBC, and Wikipedia also doesn't have any updates. (I'm also kind of eh about Twitter; I could check that.) Wherever she goes, I'd love to hear more from her.
August 8, 2020
I wanted to read this book because I liked Tiffany’s personality when she appeared as a commentator on MSNBC and usually agreed with her arguments. Although she doesn’t write as eloquently as she speaks, her prose is clear, and her word play is at times humorous. Only once did she use jargon that confused me. I assume “black direct reports” means black executives who report directly to the CEO of the media company. As with her television commentary, I agreed with Tiffany’s points about voter suppression, the lack of diversity both in the media personalities and in the stories they cover, the two voter suppressing Trump cultists who are the illegitimate governors of Florida and Georgia, and black Trump supporters like Candace Owens and Senator Tim Scott, who I call “racism apologists.” Speaking of those two (I also call them “Uncle Tim” and “Aunt Candace), I had one amusing disagreement with Ms. Tiffany. She called my tribe—unmarried, childless, well-educated (although I’m not well-travelled) black female professionals—“aunties.” As I said to my two nieces, who are also X-generation (they’ve lived in Atlanta most of their lives, which might be the problem), I am not a servant who has to wear an apron and a headscarf. Ms. Tiffany, who is usually clever with words, needs to find another designation for us single, professional black women. How about “Grand Mistresses,” “Legends,” or “Mams”? I also had a different view of the Northam mess. I don’t remember if Tiffany was on the panel that discussed that conservative-generated fake scandal on MSNBC, but I know her mentor Dr. Jason Johnson was. In fact, I mean-tweeted to and about Johnson when he initially smugly said that Northam, who had won an election fair and square, should resign so that the black lieutenant governor could finish out his term and then run for a full term himself. When the conservatives then found a couple of women (one of whom teaches in the town where I live) to METOO the black man (and don’t start me on the racism of using sexual misconduct to bring down black men; that crap has to stop), the hypocritical Dr. Johnson changed his tune, saying that we have to investigate, etc. That episode led me to tell all Democrats not to resign until Trump resigned. I couldn’t believe that the so-called liberal media and the Democrats would allow themselves to be played by the conservatives again after the Al Franken debacle. I wouldn’t be surprised if Roger Stone wasn’t behind the attack on Northam, who was expanding the vote for blacks. I also disagree with Tiffany’s take on Lupita’s involvement in the Weinstein mess. I think she was being used as a token the way the two black women were used by racist Gloria Allred in what I see as the anti-BLM attack on Bill Cosby (for pawing white women) that probably led to nine black people being killed in a South Carolina church. Lupita’s experience with Weinstein was not as traumatic or as vividly described as Rose McGowan’s, so, of course, people ignored it. One difference between most baby boomer black women and too many of the younger generations is that we’re not as easily sucked in by politically correct nonsense as they are. We don’t take off our hoop earrings (black women don’t generally wear pearls) over someone wearing blackface almost forty years ago or even now or some Jewish or black man behaving badly when white women try to use their assets (their youth and beauty) to gain an advantage in their careers. We ask why these women think Weinstein or Cosby would want to hang out with them. What are they offering those two powerful men? We also ask why the media promoted this METOO movement after a white supremacist was elected by the majority of white women and the overwhelming majority of white evangelicals who heard that insane bigot bragging about grabbing women’s genitals. Tiffany is correct in saying that blacks should not be grouped together, and we shouldn’t just look at class, gender, and generations but also at regions (a black female baby boomer born in Kentucky in 1949 will be very different from one born in Chicago in 1964). I hope Tiffany gets the anchor position on the MSNBC morning weekend show previously hosted by Joy Reid so that I can enjoy tweeting to her, mostly to second her emotions but occasionally to set her straight.
September 25, 2022
Black voters are consistently taken for granted in America. It’s assumed that they will vote for Democratic candidates so those candidates don’t really make much of an effort to include them in their platforms. At the same time, Republicans make every effort to keep them from voting. Then when they don’t turn up to vote, people wonder why.
Say It Louder! is an examination in the media’s role of both how Black people are represented in the media and how they are represented in politics. Why is it that we break down every sub-group of white voters when analyzing how they voted on issues – educated, rural, suburban, etc. but we assume that all Black people think and vote the same way?
Cross writes a lot about assumptions that people make when thinking about Black voters. For instance, it’s just assumed that Black people will vote for any Black candidate running. But they are strategic, just like any other voting bloc. This is why a lot of them supported Biden in the 2020 presidential primary over Corey Booker or Kamala Harris – they wanted a candidate they felt confident could beat Trump and weren’t confident that the rest of America would vote for a Black woman. And some of them had other issues with Kamala as a candidate.
Cross shows us how time and time again, the media ignores Black issues in favor of centering white people. I think that all white women should read her section on feminism and how white women leave Black women out of the conversation while still expecting their support.
Cross writes in a conversational style and she’s pretty funny, making this a quick read even though it’s packed with great information. I think Say It Louder! will be eye-opening for a lot of readers who may take what the media puts out there at face value. Highly recommended.
Say It Louder! is an examination in the media’s role of both how Black people are represented in the media and how they are represented in politics. Why is it that we break down every sub-group of white voters when analyzing how they voted on issues – educated, rural, suburban, etc. but we assume that all Black people think and vote the same way?
Cross writes a lot about assumptions that people make when thinking about Black voters. For instance, it’s just assumed that Black people will vote for any Black candidate running. But they are strategic, just like any other voting bloc. This is why a lot of them supported Biden in the 2020 presidential primary over Corey Booker or Kamala Harris – they wanted a candidate they felt confident could beat Trump and weren’t confident that the rest of America would vote for a Black woman. And some of them had other issues with Kamala as a candidate.
Cross shows us how time and time again, the media ignores Black issues in favor of centering white people. I think that all white women should read her section on feminism and how white women leave Black women out of the conversation while still expecting their support.
Cross writes in a conversational style and she’s pretty funny, making this a quick read even though it’s packed with great information. I think Say It Louder! will be eye-opening for a lot of readers who may take what the media puts out there at face value. Highly recommended.
July 21, 2020
I've seen and heard of Tiffany Cross but as someone who doesn't watch political talk shows or cable news or the like, I didn't really know much about her and ended up borrowing this on a whim. Author Cross takes us through her background, how we got here to this point in time and where we go from here.
The book was decidedly mixed. Some of it was really interesting (since I didn't know much of her career reading up on her history, how hard it can be to find representation or even a reasonable boss was compelling) and some of it wasn't. After she talks about some of her experiences with cable news (which should really emphasize the need for hiring from all backgrounds, genders, experiences) she talks about current events which was quite topical (see Gov. DeSantis of Florida) but since I do a reasonable job with keeping up the news, it was rather boring.
For me, perhaps as because I wasn't familiar with her history, the best part was the commentary about the 2020 race. The elections, the Democratic Party, commentary about the candidates, etc. This is something I'm familiar with but it was nice to see and read her POV on the states of these things and people. I thinks he had some good, insightful commentary on the nomination process for the Democrats and the party and I'd like to read more about her.
If you like her or her work, this is probably a good pick up. As some who wasn't overly familiar with her I enjoyed the first part and the political commentary but not so much on what seemed like a lot of topical but repetitive information. In a few years, however, when looking back on this text might be a useful reference for historians, political scientists, election junkies, etc.
Borrowed from the library and that was best for me.
The book was decidedly mixed. Some of it was really interesting (since I didn't know much of her career reading up on her history, how hard it can be to find representation or even a reasonable boss was compelling) and some of it wasn't. After she talks about some of her experiences with cable news (which should really emphasize the need for hiring from all backgrounds, genders, experiences) she talks about current events which was quite topical (see Gov. DeSantis of Florida) but since I do a reasonable job with keeping up the news, it was rather boring.
For me, perhaps as because I wasn't familiar with her history, the best part was the commentary about the 2020 race. The elections, the Democratic Party, commentary about the candidates, etc. This is something I'm familiar with but it was nice to see and read her POV on the states of these things and people. I thinks he had some good, insightful commentary on the nomination process for the Democrats and the party and I'd like to read more about her.
If you like her or her work, this is probably a good pick up. As some who wasn't overly familiar with her I enjoyed the first part and the political commentary but not so much on what seemed like a lot of topical but repetitive information. In a few years, however, when looking back on this text might be a useful reference for historians, political scientists, election junkies, etc.
Borrowed from the library and that was best for me.
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