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How We Can Win: Race, History and Changing the Money Game That's Rigged
Shortlisted for the SABEW Best in Business Book Awards
Winner of the 2022 AAMBC Literary Award for Non-Fiction/Self Help Book of the Year
A breakdown of the economic and social injustices facing Black people and other marginalized citizens inspired by political activist Kimberly Jones' viral video, “How Can We Win.”
“So if I played four hundred rounds of Monopoly with you and I had to play and give you every dime that I made, and then for fifty years, every time that I played, if you didn't like what I did, you got to burn it like they did in Tulsa and like they did in Rosewood, how can you win? How can you win?"
When Kimberly Jones declared these words amid the protests spurred by the murder of George Floyd, she gave a history lesson that in just over six minutes captured the economic struggles of Black people in America. Within days the video had been viewed by millions of people around the world, riveted by Jones’s damning―and stunningly succinct―analysis of the enduring disparities Black Americans face.
In How We Can Win , Jones delves into the impacts of systemic racism and reveals how her formative years in Chicago gave birth to a lifelong devotion to justice. Here, in a vital expansion of her declaration, she calls for Reconstruction 2.0, a multilayered plan to reclaim economic and social restitutions―those restitutions promised with emancipation but blocked, again and again, for more than 150 years. And, most of all, Jones delivers strategies for how we can effect change as citizens and allies while nurturing ourselves―the most valuable asset we have―in the fight against a system that is still rigged.
Winner of the 2022 AAMBC Literary Award for Non-Fiction/Self Help Book of the Year
A breakdown of the economic and social injustices facing Black people and other marginalized citizens inspired by political activist Kimberly Jones' viral video, “How Can We Win.”
“So if I played four hundred rounds of Monopoly with you and I had to play and give you every dime that I made, and then for fifty years, every time that I played, if you didn't like what I did, you got to burn it like they did in Tulsa and like they did in Rosewood, how can you win? How can you win?"
When Kimberly Jones declared these words amid the protests spurred by the murder of George Floyd, she gave a history lesson that in just over six minutes captured the economic struggles of Black people in America. Within days the video had been viewed by millions of people around the world, riveted by Jones’s damning―and stunningly succinct―analysis of the enduring disparities Black Americans face.
In How We Can Win , Jones delves into the impacts of systemic racism and reveals how her formative years in Chicago gave birth to a lifelong devotion to justice. Here, in a vital expansion of her declaration, she calls for Reconstruction 2.0, a multilayered plan to reclaim economic and social restitutions―those restitutions promised with emancipation but blocked, again and again, for more than 150 years. And, most of all, Jones delivers strategies for how we can effect change as citizens and allies while nurturing ourselves―the most valuable asset we have―in the fight against a system that is still rigged.
192 pages, Hardcover
First published January 18, 2022
72 people are currently reading
5829 people want to read
About the author
Kimberly Jones
5 books738 followersKimberly Jones is a former bookseller, and now she Hosts the Atlanta Chapter of the popular Well Read Black Girl book club, as well as the infamous, viral sensation the YA Truth or Dare author panel at the Decatur Book Festival. She has worked in film and television with trailblazing figures such as Tyler Perry, Whitney Houston, and 8Ball & MJG. Currently, in addition to writing YA novels, she is a director of feature films and cutting-edge diverse web series. She also regularly lectures on working and succeeding in the Atlanta film market.
Kim's book roots run deep. She served on the Selection Committee for Library of Congress' 2016-2017 National Ambassador for Young People's Literature, the 2015 Children’s Choice Illustrator Committee for The Children's Book Council, and the advisory board that created the Creative and Innovative Education Master’s Degree program at Georgia State University. She has been featured in Redbook, Publisher’s Weekly, School Library Journal, and was Book Brahmin in an issue of Shelf Awareness. James Patterson and the American Booksellers Association chose her out of over 3,000 booksellers to receive a bonus for her outstanding work as an indie bookseller.
She resides in Atlanta and is the proud mother of a gifted boy. She lives for synthetic wigs and nail art, as her style icons are Dolly Parton, Chaka Khan, and Diana Ross. Her forthcoming YA novel, I’M NOT DYING WITH YOU TONIGHT, co-authored with Gilly Segal, is due out from Sourcebooks Fire October, 1 2019.
Kim's book roots run deep. She served on the Selection Committee for Library of Congress' 2016-2017 National Ambassador for Young People's Literature, the 2015 Children’s Choice Illustrator Committee for The Children's Book Council, and the advisory board that created the Creative and Innovative Education Master’s Degree program at Georgia State University. She has been featured in Redbook, Publisher’s Weekly, School Library Journal, and was Book Brahmin in an issue of Shelf Awareness. James Patterson and the American Booksellers Association chose her out of over 3,000 booksellers to receive a bonus for her outstanding work as an indie bookseller.
She resides in Atlanta and is the proud mother of a gifted boy. She lives for synthetic wigs and nail art, as her style icons are Dolly Parton, Chaka Khan, and Diana Ross. Her forthcoming YA novel, I’M NOT DYING WITH YOU TONIGHT, co-authored with Gilly Segal, is due out from Sourcebooks Fire October, 1 2019.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 111 reviews
March 31, 2022
I felt like I had to race to finish this book, before my reading slump came back.
Kimberly Jones is a Young Adult author who became a internet sensation amid the 2020 George Floyd protests. I didn't see the viral video until I started reading this but I instantly saw what got the internet talking.
How We Can Win is a more fleshed out version of her viral speech and it's all about how we as Black people can fight back against systematic racism. Each chapter gives you both a history lesson and a way forward. This book is for Black people, if you're not Black you can read it but just know this ain't for you. Ms. Jones is talking to, for and about Black folks and I loved it.
Once again if I wasn't in a months long reading slump, I would have read it so much faster. In another time I would read this I'm one sitting. I won this copy but I plan on donating this copy to a Little Free Library and buying another copy for my shelves.
A Must Read!
Kimberly Jones is a Young Adult author who became a internet sensation amid the 2020 George Floyd protests. I didn't see the viral video until I started reading this but I instantly saw what got the internet talking.
How We Can Win is a more fleshed out version of her viral speech and it's all about how we as Black people can fight back against systematic racism. Each chapter gives you both a history lesson and a way forward. This book is for Black people, if you're not Black you can read it but just know this ain't for you. Ms. Jones is talking to, for and about Black folks and I loved it.
Once again if I wasn't in a months long reading slump, I would have read it so much faster. In another time I would read this I'm one sitting. I won this copy but I plan on donating this copy to a Little Free Library and buying another copy for my shelves.
A Must Read!
January 11, 2022
Have you watched Kimberly’s viral video? Comparing the financial issues of the race relations of the last 400 years to the board game Monopoly? It’s brilliant. Go watch it now. I’ll wait.
After that impressive rant (which by the way, was 100% unscripted and off the top of her head. Wow.), she went on to expand on those ideas in this book, How We Can Win. She stays on topic, has done her research, and doesn’t blather on until you’re bored. She keeps it tight and on point. From practically Day 1 of this country, it’s been based on the theft of labor (and of land), and race relations between Blacks and whites in America have had an underpinning of money that we don’t acknowledge. And everything else we try to do to fix the racial situations, will never be fixed until we address that foundational problem.
She takes us back through the history, and up until now. She takes it personal at times, including talking about a time when she was violently arrested over an $85 unpaid parking ticket, and ended up spending 3 days in jail away from her infant and potentially losing her job (luckily she worked at a badass independent bookstore so she did not but most other people in her situation would have.) You don’t think police brutality of Blacks has a financial underpinning? Think again. She addresses reparations, and I think her plan for them is incredibly sound (she’s opposed to direct payouts and instead thinks basic underpinnings of our society need to be leveled, such as not basing school money on property taxes but instead funding schools equally.)
This book will really make you think. It might make you mad. It might spur you to action. But it will definitely wake you up and reframe one of the biggest issues in this country in a way that can be addressed. This is a vitally important book that I think should be a part of the political conversations in America for years to come.
After that impressive rant (which by the way, was 100% unscripted and off the top of her head. Wow.), she went on to expand on those ideas in this book, How We Can Win. She stays on topic, has done her research, and doesn’t blather on until you’re bored. She keeps it tight and on point. From practically Day 1 of this country, it’s been based on the theft of labor (and of land), and race relations between Blacks and whites in America have had an underpinning of money that we don’t acknowledge. And everything else we try to do to fix the racial situations, will never be fixed until we address that foundational problem.
She takes us back through the history, and up until now. She takes it personal at times, including talking about a time when she was violently arrested over an $85 unpaid parking ticket, and ended up spending 3 days in jail away from her infant and potentially losing her job (luckily she worked at a badass independent bookstore so she did not but most other people in her situation would have.) You don’t think police brutality of Blacks has a financial underpinning? Think again. She addresses reparations, and I think her plan for them is incredibly sound (she’s opposed to direct payouts and instead thinks basic underpinnings of our society need to be leveled, such as not basing school money on property taxes but instead funding schools equally.)
This book will really make you think. It might make you mad. It might spur you to action. But it will definitely wake you up and reframe one of the biggest issues in this country in a way that can be addressed. This is a vitally important book that I think should be a part of the political conversations in America for years to come.
September 26, 2022
I don't usually listen to audio books, but I'm so glad that's how I experienced this text. It would've still been incredibly powerful reading a physical book like I normally would, but hearing it read by the author was even better. This is essential reading, folks -- highly recommend!
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January 24, 2022The following book reviews have been shared by Text Publishing – publisher of How We Can Win
‘In a voice that is equal parts clear, unflinching and hopeful, Kimberly Jones fills in the missing pieces to the puzzle of Black American economic disparity. So much of the truth has been (purposely) hidden in the dark, but Kimberly brings the light. A must-read for everyone ready to fight for true equity.’
Layla F. Saad
‘Kimberly truly took my breath away the first time I heard her speak. Learning from all of her work continues to be such a privilege. No punches pulled, no opportunities for change missed, and no lies told. I am so grateful this generation has a voice like hers to guide us.’
Jameela Jamil
‘Kimberly’s message is as clarion in How We Can Win as it was when it erupted from her being in her now-famous viral video. There is a way forward in this rigged system, but it will take us knowing how we got here and working as a community to get out. Kimberly, like Mother Harriet is saying, If we hear the dogs, keep going. If we want to get to freedom, keep going. This book is a liberatory map I desperately pray we all follow.’
Sonya Renee Taylor
‘Kimberly Jones hits as hard as Serena Williams and has the intellectual range of Angela Davis. How We Can Win is genius—written with the cadence of hip-hop and the intellectual energy of jazz. Jones understands the relationship between America’s streets and its boardrooms, and she delivers her lessons with heart, nuance and a complexity that belie the simplicity of her prose. This book is both a praise song for Black life and a manual for humanity.’
Sisonke Msimang
'How We Can Win teaches us that we will not be free until we change the systems that oppress Black people, not out of revenge, but by understanding our history and taking collective action.’
Akuch Anyieth
‘A fierce, poignant, poetic, and necessary examination of race, class, and what it means to be a Black female activist up against the colonial mindset of modern America.’
Maxine Beneba Clarke
'Edifying, instructive and vital reading.’
Stylist (UK)
'Jones expands on the logic of her viral speech with verve and poetic flair.’
Happy Mag
‘In a voice that is equal parts clear, unflinching and hopeful, Kimberly Jones fills in the missing pieces to the puzzle of Black American economic disparity. So much of the truth has been (purposely) hidden in the dark, but Kimberly brings the light. A must-read for everyone ready to fight for true equity.’
Layla F. Saad
‘Kimberly truly took my breath away the first time I heard her speak. Learning from all of her work continues to be such a privilege. No punches pulled, no opportunities for change missed, and no lies told. I am so grateful this generation has a voice like hers to guide us.’
Jameela Jamil
‘Kimberly’s message is as clarion in How We Can Win as it was when it erupted from her being in her now-famous viral video. There is a way forward in this rigged system, but it will take us knowing how we got here and working as a community to get out. Kimberly, like Mother Harriet is saying, If we hear the dogs, keep going. If we want to get to freedom, keep going. This book is a liberatory map I desperately pray we all follow.’
Sonya Renee Taylor
‘Kimberly Jones hits as hard as Serena Williams and has the intellectual range of Angela Davis. How We Can Win is genius—written with the cadence of hip-hop and the intellectual energy of jazz. Jones understands the relationship between America’s streets and its boardrooms, and she delivers her lessons with heart, nuance and a complexity that belie the simplicity of her prose. This book is both a praise song for Black life and a manual for humanity.’
Sisonke Msimang
'How We Can Win teaches us that we will not be free until we change the systems that oppress Black people, not out of revenge, but by understanding our history and taking collective action.’
Akuch Anyieth
‘A fierce, poignant, poetic, and necessary examination of race, class, and what it means to be a Black female activist up against the colonial mindset of modern America.’
Maxine Beneba Clarke
'Edifying, instructive and vital reading.’
Stylist (UK)
'Jones expands on the logic of her viral speech with verve and poetic flair.’
Happy Mag
February 29, 2024
Really liked this book. I should have been read/listened this book. I have liked her since here viral post during the George Floyd protests. I listened to the audio but will probably end up getting the physical book.
February 27, 2022
When I requested this ARC I didn't realize that it was written by the same person who had also spoken in a video that I had watched during the BLM protests in 2020. That video was so impactful, and is something that I'm still thinking about 2 years later.
Kimberly's writing is accessible and compelling, much like the video was.
She lays out the systemic issues at work, and counters them with changes that can and should be made in order to move the country forward.
This is a great primer into educating yourself about the obstacles and harm that Black folx in the USA have endured, and yet despite all that they still are making strides to rise above and making a positive impact on culture, the community, and country.
The last third is targeted to a Black audience and gives practical tips to help them thrive even within circumstances that try desperately to hold them back. The biggest take away from that section is just how important it is to build generational wealth. It creates a lot of stability and advantage that just hasn't been achievable for so many because of systemic racist policies and actions.
Would definitely recommend both the physical and audiobook.
Kimberly's narration holds your attention and the passion you read in the words is even more powerful when she speaks them.
***Thank you to Macmillan Audio for providing me with the Audiobook for free via NetGalley for an unbiased review
Kimberly's writing is accessible and compelling, much like the video was.
She lays out the systemic issues at work, and counters them with changes that can and should be made in order to move the country forward.
This is a great primer into educating yourself about the obstacles and harm that Black folx in the USA have endured, and yet despite all that they still are making strides to rise above and making a positive impact on culture, the community, and country.
The last third is targeted to a Black audience and gives practical tips to help them thrive even within circumstances that try desperately to hold them back. The biggest take away from that section is just how important it is to build generational wealth. It creates a lot of stability and advantage that just hasn't been achievable for so many because of systemic racist policies and actions.
Would definitely recommend both the physical and audiobook.
Kimberly's narration holds your attention and the passion you read in the words is even more powerful when she speaks them.
***Thank you to Macmillan Audio for providing me with the Audiobook for free via NetGalley for an unbiased review
December 29, 2021
How We Can Win is a book that makes a number of valid statements about race and racism in the United States, but it unfortunately gets bogged down by a number of problems. The first problem is that the author basically admits in the book's introduction that it was written in order to capitalize on her popularity from being in a viral video. There are also a number of places where she boasts about her influence or about how famous people like Lebron James have interacted with her. This isn't a deal breaker for the book, since many people write books to make money and increase their influence or popularity, but it does distract from the message she is trying to convey.
A second and more severe problem is that while the author makes a number of claims throughout the book, she very rarely supports these claims with evidence or by citing her sources (not even when referencing actual social science research). Often, the only support offered are anecdotal comments and observations by the author. Since the author doesn't cite which of her sources are based on empirical facts and which are anecdotes, it's difficult to tell the two apart. The writing style itself is somewhat disorganized and more stream of consciousness, like what you might find in a blog (I'll admit that I'm not a fan of this writing style).
The self-help/ advice section near the end reads like it's from another book and it doesn't connect well to the earlier parts of the book that focus on racism. Some of the advice is also questionable and comes off as kind of patronizing.
Despite all of these criticisms, the author does have valid commentary on racism, especially in regard to discussion on how generations of racism have prevented Black Americans from building generational wealth and how a wealth-based education system results in continuing racism. This review is based on an ARC received from the Publisher and NetGalley.
A second and more severe problem is that while the author makes a number of claims throughout the book, she very rarely supports these claims with evidence or by citing her sources (not even when referencing actual social science research). Often, the only support offered are anecdotal comments and observations by the author. Since the author doesn't cite which of her sources are based on empirical facts and which are anecdotes, it's difficult to tell the two apart. The writing style itself is somewhat disorganized and more stream of consciousness, like what you might find in a blog (I'll admit that I'm not a fan of this writing style).
The self-help/ advice section near the end reads like it's from another book and it doesn't connect well to the earlier parts of the book that focus on racism. Some of the advice is also questionable and comes off as kind of patronizing.
Despite all of these criticisms, the author does have valid commentary on racism, especially in regard to discussion on how generations of racism have prevented Black Americans from building generational wealth and how a wealth-based education system results in continuing racism. This review is based on an ARC received from the Publisher and NetGalley.
November 22, 2021
Part anti-racism work, part self-care, this book is all heart.
January 31, 2022
Very good read. Good teaching points. I recommend this.
January 10, 2022
Short but powerful.
December 2, 2021
This book is important and should be broadly read. While I don't agree with everything Jones shares, I think her perspective is useful. She tactfully provides historical context for the inequities experienced by Black Americans and provides straightforward, tangible techniques for improving your own life and your community.
I won this advance reader copy as part of a Goodreads Giveaway.
I won this advance reader copy as part of a Goodreads Giveaway.
January 5, 2022
If you've watched Kimberly Jones's viral video during the protests after George Floyd's murder, you will be familiar with the analogy of the game of Monopoly to help understand the economic hardships Black Americans have faced. If you haven't watched her video, spend 2 seconds searching, and you'll find it right away. Then watch it.
Her plea at the end of the video is "How can we WIN?" This book is a search into American history, economy, politics, systems, and race. If you've ever heard the old "pull themselves up by the bootstraps" saying, and you've believed it to be true, or you are a firm believer in meritocracy, then please pick up this book. It starts by understanding how Blacks have never been given the chance at generational wealth, even though they were brought her forcibly 400 years ago. She discusses, very simply and straightforwardly, the need to de-fund the police (and what it REALLY means), to instill national academic/educational standards so that students in both rich and poor neighborhoods receive the same education, to really examine the need for reparations (and what this could look like), and to find ways to re-create the systems that have purposely cheated and harmed Black individuals and families for generations.
Her writing is fierce and poignant, yet simple and easy to digest. I flew through this book. I'm not going to quote from the book here since I did read an ARC, but I outlined and made so many notes throughout this book--it'll save you all about 10 minutes if I don't start typing out all the vastly important points she made.
Get this book. Pre-order it. Mark it on your calendars. It's a positive spin on how generations of harm can be reversed.
THANK YOU to Henry Holt & Co. for the advanced review copy.
Her plea at the end of the video is "How can we WIN?" This book is a search into American history, economy, politics, systems, and race. If you've ever heard the old "pull themselves up by the bootstraps" saying, and you've believed it to be true, or you are a firm believer in meritocracy, then please pick up this book. It starts by understanding how Blacks have never been given the chance at generational wealth, even though they were brought her forcibly 400 years ago. She discusses, very simply and straightforwardly, the need to de-fund the police (and what it REALLY means), to instill national academic/educational standards so that students in both rich and poor neighborhoods receive the same education, to really examine the need for reparations (and what this could look like), and to find ways to re-create the systems that have purposely cheated and harmed Black individuals and families for generations.
Her writing is fierce and poignant, yet simple and easy to digest. I flew through this book. I'm not going to quote from the book here since I did read an ARC, but I outlined and made so many notes throughout this book--it'll save you all about 10 minutes if I don't start typing out all the vastly important points she made.
Get this book. Pre-order it. Mark it on your calendars. It's a positive spin on how generations of harm can be reversed.
THANK YOU to Henry Holt & Co. for the advanced review copy.
January 30, 2022
Thank you Henry Holt Books and Goodreads (I was a giveaway winner!) - I highly recommend this book. I thought I understood systematic racism but this book really helped me get the economics (and it's very readable both in language and length, 169 pages).
January 31, 2022
I liked the beginning of this book, though much of it was history I already knew. I loved the middle of the book and her ideas around reparations. The last part veered a bit into self help, which wasn't really what I was there for. The center of the book gets a big five stars from me.
March 27, 2022
Amazing! Recommend to everyone.
August 28, 2021
Another for the ever growing Pantheon of anti-racism books, this one stands out because the author's voice and tone are very well known. She's the "f*go your Target" lady from the George Floyd protests. She also is an exceptional teen author. I love that this book hits so many notes, like she's leaving things for you to read while she goes on vacation. It starts with a semi-autobiographical portion about the state of Black lives in America, then goes into her plans for Reconstruction 2.0 (brilliant!), and ends with some general rules for life. I think her writing is delightful, her passion for the topic and the people is inspiring, and her message is succinct and direct. Working in organizing, I can fully appreciate her angle and I feel the same way. I also love her part about white allies: it's always good to have a reminder to do work for your own edification and to improve the situation, not to make Black people proud of you. Ain't no one got time for that! This is fast, conversational, and definitely worth picking up.
December 9, 2021
Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced copy of the audiobook!
Wow! What an amazing book! This is a must read as a person of color! I love how each chapter builds to the next. This book is so needed during these times of such unrest. I’m not sure I can put into words what this book means to me at this point, but such an amazing read! I’m recommending this read to all of my friends and family!
Wow! What an amazing book! This is a must read as a person of color! I love how each chapter builds to the next. This book is so needed during these times of such unrest. I’m not sure I can put into words what this book means to me at this point, but such an amazing read! I’m recommending this read to all of my friends and family!
March 8, 2023
"But we also have to hold this country accountable for repairing all the damage done. America is only America because of what it could become by standing on our backs. This country owes us everything. We should never be ashamed or embarrassed to name that truth." (Page 81)
How we can Win is an must read to fight for true equity and justice. Kimberly Jones shares strategies for effective change as citizens and allies.
How we can Win is an must read to fight for true equity and justice. Kimberly Jones shares strategies for effective change as citizens and allies.
December 30, 2021
I won a giveaway!
Thank you to Holt publishing for an ARC.
I'm still digesting, but whoa. What a fantastic book, written in a way that even I, with little knowledge about how economics work, get how Black people are continually harmed by the system. I knew about redlining, race massacres, Jim Crow, slave patrols turn police force. I didn't know about Black Codes or how northern abolitionists didn't see Black people as equals--they were really just against slavery, but didn't want to lift up newly freed Black people? That's some guts right there.
I'm officially a Kimberly Jones devotee and I will be passing this book around for others to read as well.
Thank you to Holt publishing for an ARC.
I'm still digesting, but whoa. What a fantastic book, written in a way that even I, with little knowledge about how economics work, get how Black people are continually harmed by the system. I knew about redlining, race massacres, Jim Crow, slave patrols turn police force. I didn't know about Black Codes or how northern abolitionists didn't see Black people as equals--they were really just against slavery, but didn't want to lift up newly freed Black people? That's some guts right there.
I'm officially a Kimberly Jones devotee and I will be passing this book around for others to read as well.
December 3, 2021
Inspired by the authors viral YouTube video released during the protests spurred by the murder of George Floyd (which I hadn't seen), this book discusses the social and economic history of Black people in America, the authors ideas on restitution which she calls Reconstruction 2.0, and actions that can be taken to effect change. I thought the author's monopoly analogy when discussing economic issues was effective and the way she worked personal stories into the discussion demonstrated her perspective on the topics she covered. I received a free ARC of this book through the Goodreads First Reads giveaways. I would rate this book 3.5 stars if Goodreads allowed half stars.
November 28, 2021
If you don't know, now you know…(sry -got Hamilton on the brain) -Kimberly Jones’ new book (maybe you’ve read her co-authored YA book I’m Not Dying With You Tonight) expounds upon her viral YouTube video which builds a brilliant analogy of historical lack of generational wealth opportunities for Black Americans to the game of Monopoly. She’s blunt, she’s fearless, and well, she’s right. The book goes much further though, giving this dynamic activist another forum to ask the community to support Black banks & businesses, and to present a history of the US governmental policies and policing which created many of the problems we face, mostly through an economic lens. The audiobook is narrated by Jones herself, and presents her arguments in a comprehensible and comprehensive manner. Succinct and recommended.
January 13, 2022
There is only one word I can use to describe this book: impactful.
I had not heard of the author or listened to her vital speech prior to reading this but it sure inspired me to go watch it afterwards. I am as white as they come at 100% western European descent, but I was raised by a liberal mother and grew up with friends from all walks of life, so I have always tried to more aware of the social conversations happening around me. I knew about a lot of what was talked about in the book, but had never heard it described through personal experiences or through the POV of someone who has lived their entire life with these experiences. So much of the book made me mad as hell and really inspired me to want to educate myself more so I can help further the conversation amongst other white people. This book will make you think in ways you probably never have if you've never had to before. It may inspire you to even take action. I know it has for me. I will be recommending this to all of my friends and family because I think it's incredibly important to broaden your perspective and lean into empathy. I think this book will continue to be talked about for years, as it should. It offers so many solutions to so many longstanding problems in this country and even suggests simple things we can do in our own lives every day.
I had not heard of the author or listened to her vital speech prior to reading this but it sure inspired me to go watch it afterwards. I am as white as they come at 100% western European descent, but I was raised by a liberal mother and grew up with friends from all walks of life, so I have always tried to more aware of the social conversations happening around me. I knew about a lot of what was talked about in the book, but had never heard it described through personal experiences or through the POV of someone who has lived their entire life with these experiences. So much of the book made me mad as hell and really inspired me to want to educate myself more so I can help further the conversation amongst other white people. This book will make you think in ways you probably never have if you've never had to before. It may inspire you to even take action. I know it has for me. I will be recommending this to all of my friends and family because I think it's incredibly important to broaden your perspective and lean into empathy. I think this book will continue to be talked about for years, as it should. It offers so many solutions to so many longstanding problems in this country and even suggests simple things we can do in our own lives every day.
January 21, 2022
I cannot recommend this enough.
I mean, I knew I was looking forward to this book from the day I saw it announced, but...WHEW.
It starts off with that viral video we all saw of her explaining how in the US we're all playing a game of Monopoly that has been rigged against Black folks, and how that ties into what's going on right now. Then it breaks it all down, not just the board game analogy (which makes so many things click), but how we got here and what needs to be done (individually by Black folks, individually by allies, in society, etc.) to make a fair and rightful state of being.
Equity vs equality, why understanding finance is a huge part of, well, everything. There's so much. So much. I just kept going back to listen again to her explanations, stories, guidance to make sure it sinks allll the way in. I'm also going to buy a physical copy so I can take more notes.
At the end there is a whole section of her advice that's life advice for wellbeing on all the levels and it is fantastic. Clear, honest, explained actions to take.
I am going to keep thinking about and recommending this book for a long time.
I mean, I knew I was looking forward to this book from the day I saw it announced, but...WHEW.
It starts off with that viral video we all saw of her explaining how in the US we're all playing a game of Monopoly that has been rigged against Black folks, and how that ties into what's going on right now. Then it breaks it all down, not just the board game analogy (which makes so many things click), but how we got here and what needs to be done (individually by Black folks, individually by allies, in society, etc.) to make a fair and rightful state of being.
Equity vs equality, why understanding finance is a huge part of, well, everything. There's so much. So much. I just kept going back to listen again to her explanations, stories, guidance to make sure it sinks allll the way in. I'm also going to buy a physical copy so I can take more notes.
At the end there is a whole section of her advice that's life advice for wellbeing on all the levels and it is fantastic. Clear, honest, explained actions to take.
I am going to keep thinking about and recommending this book for a long time.
August 16, 2022
So I have always thought that the question of reparations was just laziness and a quick way to milk the system, BUT Kimberly Jones laid it out in a way that I could get behind. I also rolled my eyes at the ide aof Buy local from black businesses But again Jones lays it out in a way that makes sense and makes me want to encourage others. I read this and thought at the the end that I get it. I may not agree with everything in this book but her rationale and arguments methods make me rethink my POV and values. I would support her because to me she is a Bring herself and other by their Bootstraps type person (even thought she doesn't like that saying). Her methods, ideas, and reasoning makes me want to put this book in more hands. We may not agree on everything but we can agree that the social contract has been broken. We can agree that black people in America for too long have been held back economically. We can agree that more needs to be done to bring equity and equality to America. I really enjoyed this book and how she made me think now as she says in this book, we need to DO something as well.
February 1, 2022
في هذا الكتاب "كيف يمكننا الفوز"، تناقش المؤلفة/ كيمبرلي جونز، التأثيرات السلبية للعنصرية و"للممارسات المنهجية"، لها في الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية، مع التطرق للنتائج السلبية لتلك الممارسات على كامل اقتصاد تلك البلاد؛
وتستعرض المؤلفة في هذا الكتاب، "النضالات الاقتصادية"، للسود وغيرهم من الأقليات هناك، والنتائج الإيجابية التي عادت وستعود على كامل اقتصاد تلك البلاد من النجاحات الاقتصادية للسود وغيرهم من الأقليات.
وتكشف المؤلفة بين ثنايا الكتاب، كيف تأثرت من خلال نشأتها في مدينة شيكاغو، وما زرعته فيها تلك النشأة من الإخلاص مدى الحياة للعدالة.
يتضمن الكتاب استعراضاَ لتاريخ العنصرية في الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية منذ نشأة تلك البلد وصولا إلى الحاضر مع سرد وقائع مؤلمة، منها ما تعرضت لها المؤلفة شخصياً وكيف تم القبض عليها بفظاظة وسجنها 3 أيام لتخلفها عن دفع غرامة قدرها 85 دولاراً مقابل وقوف سيارتها في مكان ممنوع، وذلك على الرغم من مسؤليتها آنذاك عن طفلتها الر��يعة، وكيف أدى ذلك الاعتقال لفقدها لعملها.
في الرابط المرفق فيديو لكلمة هذه المؤلفة، إبان الاحتجاجات التي أثارتها واقعة مقتل الأمريكي من أصل أفريقي، "جورج فلويد" بتاريخ 25 مايو 2020، والذي كان ظلما على يد البوليس الأمريكي، والذي تواتر آنذاك أن تلك الواقعة كانت نموذجا للعدائية الممنهجة من الشرطة الأمريكية ضد ذوي البشرة السوداء هناك - مدة الفيديو أقل من 7 دقائق لكنها تستعرض بإيجاز الظلم الاقتصادي الحاصل على السود في الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية، على مدار 450 عاما، منذ جلبهم إلى تلك البلاد مستعبدين للعمل في الزراعة بولاياتها الجنوبية، وفي مصانع النسيج في ولاياتها الشمالية .. 400 عاما من العبودية، تلاها 50 عاما من القهر الاقتصادي، وتحليل المؤلفة للاضطرابات والمظاهرات التي حصلت بعد جريمة قتل جورج فلويد.
https://youtu.be/llci8MVh8J4
وتستعرض المؤلفة في هذا الكتاب، "النضالات الاقتصادية"، للسود وغيرهم من الأقليات هناك، والنتائج الإيجابية التي عادت وستعود على كامل اقتصاد تلك البلاد من النجاحات الاقتصادية للسود وغيرهم من الأقليات.
وتكشف المؤلفة بين ثنايا الكتاب، كيف تأثرت من خلال نشأتها في مدينة شيكاغو، وما زرعته فيها تلك النشأة من الإخلاص مدى الحياة للعدالة.
يتضمن الكتاب استعراضاَ لتاريخ العنصرية في الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية منذ نشأة تلك البلد وصولا إلى الحاضر مع سرد وقائع مؤلمة، منها ما تعرضت لها المؤلفة شخصياً وكيف تم القبض عليها بفظاظة وسجنها 3 أيام لتخلفها عن دفع غرامة قدرها 85 دولاراً مقابل وقوف سيارتها في مكان ممنوع، وذلك على الرغم من مسؤليتها آنذاك عن طفلتها الر��يعة، وكيف أدى ذلك الاعتقال لفقدها لعملها.
في الرابط المرفق فيديو لكلمة هذه المؤلفة، إبان الاحتجاجات التي أثارتها واقعة مقتل الأمريكي من أصل أفريقي، "جورج فلويد" بتاريخ 25 مايو 2020، والذي كان ظلما على يد البوليس الأمريكي، والذي تواتر آنذاك أن تلك الواقعة كانت نموذجا للعدائية الممنهجة من الشرطة الأمريكية ضد ذوي البشرة السوداء هناك - مدة الفيديو أقل من 7 دقائق لكنها تستعرض بإيجاز الظلم الاقتصادي الحاصل على السود في الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية، على مدار 450 عاما، منذ جلبهم إلى تلك البلاد مستعبدين للعمل في الزراعة بولاياتها الجنوبية، وفي مصانع النسيج في ولاياتها الشمالية .. 400 عاما من العبودية، تلاها 50 عاما من القهر الاقتصادي، وتحليل المؤلفة للاضطرابات والمظاهرات التي حصلت بعد جريمة قتل جورج فلويد.
https://youtu.be/llci8MVh8J4
February 9, 2022
How We Can Win is an exploration of how we move toward a more just future for Black people. While the author provides a detailed overview of what specifically must be done, I found her personal story compelling.
Early on in the book, Jones discusses the 761st tank battalion from WW2, an all-black unit that liberated concentration camps because prisoners would know immediately that Black liberators were American and thus the “good guys.“
I searched and couldn’t find much information online and found only quick mentions without connecting this idea that Black soldiers were considered the most obvious Americans. WW2 was one of my special interests about five years ago and I’ve watched an entire 17-hour video collection about it. I’d never heard of this. It’s particularly galling because of how terribly these heroes were treated upon their return home. No GI Bill benefits. Segregation. Compare and contrast how white vets moved ahead in a very different way.
In terms of the plan to win, the author connects a lot of dots toward building intergenerational wealth, specifically through home ownership. When you look at not just well known housing discrimination like red-lining, but a whole host of other factors that make buying a house difficult, it’s very obvious why this specific wealth is nearly impossible to achieve without a lot of luck.
There was a big section about incarceration and policing. The author has a personal story here too and it brought to life the human cost of continuing with the status quo.
This book is not targeted at white people but to my fellow whites considering buying this book, definitely take the plunge.
Early on in the book, Jones discusses the 761st tank battalion from WW2, an all-black unit that liberated concentration camps because prisoners would know immediately that Black liberators were American and thus the “good guys.“
I searched and couldn’t find much information online and found only quick mentions without connecting this idea that Black soldiers were considered the most obvious Americans. WW2 was one of my special interests about five years ago and I’ve watched an entire 17-hour video collection about it. I’d never heard of this. It’s particularly galling because of how terribly these heroes were treated upon their return home. No GI Bill benefits. Segregation. Compare and contrast how white vets moved ahead in a very different way.
In terms of the plan to win, the author connects a lot of dots toward building intergenerational wealth, specifically through home ownership. When you look at not just well known housing discrimination like red-lining, but a whole host of other factors that make buying a house difficult, it’s very obvious why this specific wealth is nearly impossible to achieve without a lot of luck.
There was a big section about incarceration and policing. The author has a personal story here too and it brought to life the human cost of continuing with the status quo.
This book is not targeted at white people but to my fellow whites considering buying this book, definitely take the plunge.
March 5, 2022
🔥📚✊🏾 BOOK REVIEW 🔥📚✊🏾
How We Can Win: Race, History & Changing The Money Game That’s Rigged” by Kimberly Jones (@kimberlylatricejones)
I have so many highlighted, margin written remarks about this book, but most important is the call to action Kimberly extends to Black America to walk in our greatness, while simultaneously taking care of our bodies, finances, mental space and community. Moreover, she extends a call of action to non-Black folk to call out racism, police brutality and oppression against Black bodies and culture.
Through telling her own story and origins behind her now viral “How Can We Win / Monopoly” video that was posted during the George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery protests, she weaves together a playbook of how the Black community can address the ills that plague us in terms of financial gain, building generational wealth, sustaining our communal bonds and investing in inner peace.
In, How We Can Win, i internalized the concept that as an educator, I have a responsibility to my community. As a black man, I have a responsibility to my community and as a father/husband, I have a responsibility to my community, and there is no me without the Black women who have birthed me, loved me and supported me. This book is one that should be required reading for all of us.
How We Can Win: Race, History & Changing The Money Game That’s Rigged” by Kimberly Jones (@kimberlylatricejones)
I have so many highlighted, margin written remarks about this book, but most important is the call to action Kimberly extends to Black America to walk in our greatness, while simultaneously taking care of our bodies, finances, mental space and community. Moreover, she extends a call of action to non-Black folk to call out racism, police brutality and oppression against Black bodies and culture.
Through telling her own story and origins behind her now viral “How Can We Win / Monopoly” video that was posted during the George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery protests, she weaves together a playbook of how the Black community can address the ills that plague us in terms of financial gain, building generational wealth, sustaining our communal bonds and investing in inner peace.
In, How We Can Win, i internalized the concept that as an educator, I have a responsibility to my community. As a black man, I have a responsibility to my community and as a father/husband, I have a responsibility to my community, and there is no me without the Black women who have birthed me, loved me and supported me. This book is one that should be required reading for all of us.
June 30, 2025
I liked the concept of this book more than I actually enjoyed the book itself, but I’m still glad I supported the author. I like her as a person and her community engagement and motivations are well-thought out and lived.
That said, the “How We can Win” part felt a bit thin. A lot of the ideas are ones we’ve heard repeatedly, and many of them hinge on a level of government cooperation that just doesn’t exist right now. For example, while she advocates defunding the police, the kinds of reforms she advocates—like better training and expanded social services—would actually require FUNDING the police. Either way, her proposals rely on a government willing to collaborate, and if that’s missing, none of it moves forward.
A few key steps were missing from her strategy. Before we can get to the “winning,” we need strategies like better media representation, stronger grassroots organizing, identifying and supporting young leaders, and building community motivation. Without that groundwork, the policy goals feel out of reach.
In the end, the book reads more like a personal manifesto, as in “this is how I live my life, and here are some ideas”, rather than a concrete roadmap for systemic change. Still, her writing is accessible and compelling, and I’m happy to support her voice in the broader conversation.
That said, the “How We can Win” part felt a bit thin. A lot of the ideas are ones we’ve heard repeatedly, and many of them hinge on a level of government cooperation that just doesn’t exist right now. For example, while she advocates defunding the police, the kinds of reforms she advocates—like better training and expanded social services—would actually require FUNDING the police. Either way, her proposals rely on a government willing to collaborate, and if that’s missing, none of it moves forward.
A few key steps were missing from her strategy. Before we can get to the “winning,” we need strategies like better media representation, stronger grassroots organizing, identifying and supporting young leaders, and building community motivation. Without that groundwork, the policy goals feel out of reach.
In the end, the book reads more like a personal manifesto, as in “this is how I live my life, and here are some ideas”, rather than a concrete roadmap for systemic change. Still, her writing is accessible and compelling, and I’m happy to support her voice in the broader conversation.
April 25, 2022
Halfway through the book there is a chapter titled "How We Can Win," and it's the shortest in the book. What I remember about it is that it essentially says we can't win through conventional means and have to think in terms of different questions. Those questions are "What does winning look like?" and "How can we get there?" That latter question sounds like it's answered by saying...how we can win.
I'm frustrated by circuitous talk like this throughout the book, as well as some redundancies. Kimberly Jones knows her history and makes strong points, but I didn't enjoy getting to where she was going. It makes it hard to recommend the book for others and more of a, "Let me just write out the bullets for you." Because what's in there is important. But I don't blame her. There was an editor involved.
I received a promotional copy of the book through a Goodreads giveaway, so I can't tell if this is the final form that was released. Let's be honest, about 99% is. But I hope the editor ironed out some redundancies I encountered. I hope they took care of a typo I found within the first few pages. With something like this, you want it to exist in the best form possible. Unfortunately, important works can be undercut by their delivery.
I'm frustrated by circuitous talk like this throughout the book, as well as some redundancies. Kimberly Jones knows her history and makes strong points, but I didn't enjoy getting to where she was going. It makes it hard to recommend the book for others and more of a, "Let me just write out the bullets for you." Because what's in there is important. But I don't blame her. There was an editor involved.
I received a promotional copy of the book through a Goodreads giveaway, so I can't tell if this is the final form that was released. Let's be honest, about 99% is. But I hope the editor ironed out some redundancies I encountered. I hope they took care of a typo I found within the first few pages. With something like this, you want it to exist in the best form possible. Unfortunately, important works can be undercut by their delivery.
February 18, 2022
This was a quick read, but admirably straightforward and honest. There wasn't a lot for me personally--I already knew most of the information being conveyed here, and this really threw into stark relief the generational differences between the Gen X author and my crunchy millennial self, especially evident in our stances on "cancel culture" and respectability politics. I disagree with a lot of the stated end goals of the movement (e.g. defunding vs. abolition, or banking Black vs. dismantling capitalism), and the final section of priorities to keep in mind felt more like self-care tips than real actionable steps for social justice. Still, I found the author's message to be refreshing and honest, and her passion and righteous anger come across so palpably through the text (perhaps especially because I listened to the audiobook, which is read by the author, who does an excellent job). I think this will be a terrific resource to share with friends and family members who aren't nearly as radically lefty as I am, as it's accessible and concise and inspiring, and I think it will serve as a great stepping stone toward real societal change.
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