The Essential Kerner Commission Report

by Jelani Cobb (Introduction), Matthew Guariglia (Editor)

Recognizing that an historic study of American racism and police violence should become part of today’s canon, Jelani Cobb contextualizes it for a new generation. The Kerner Commission Report , released a month before Martin Luther King Jr.’s 1968 assassination, is among a handful of government reports that reads like an illuminating history book―a dramatic, often shocking, exploration of systemic racism that transcends its time. Yet Columbia University professor and New Yorker correspondent Jelani Cobb argues that this prescient report, which examined more than a dozen urban uprisings between 1964 and 1967, has been woefully neglected. In an enlightening new introduction, Cobb reveals how these uprisings were used as political fodder by Republicans and demonstrates that this condensed edition of the Report should be essential reading at a moment when protest movements are challenging us to uproot racial injustice. A detailed examination of economic inequality, race, and policing, the Report has never been more relevant, and demonstrates to devastating effect that it is possible for us to be entirely cognizant of history and still tragically repeat it.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Politics, Race, Social Justice, American History, Sociology

320 pages, Paperback

Published July 27, 2021

About the author

Also writes as William Jelani Cobb.

Reviews

[Craig Werner · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the best of the reports by a commission studying a social problem, in this case the urban revolts/riots of the mid-1960s. Unfortunately, the Commission's recommendations--to address the sources of the violence rather than the symptoms--went almost entirely unheeded when it was released in the tumultuous year of 1968. Jelani Cobb's introduction does a beautiful job tying the issues of the Sixties to the era of George Floyd. Very damn little has changed, including the unwillingness to deal with the fundamentals.

[Michael Linton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book a Commission report about the riots in 1967. I just got done reading No Cause for Indictment. A lot of the information was consistent between the two. It provides lots of statistics and what caused the riots as per President Johnson. Now he thought it would show that poverty was the cause of the riots. It turned out that was only part of it and race was the central component. It is completely relevant to today and it is not dated at all. It's very informative and an easy read.

[Adam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Worth reading for Cobb’s penetrating introduction alone. The abridged report itself is a remarkable document, prescient, deeply insightful, yet largely ignored by the LBJ administration, to our everlasting loss. A timely read from another (all too familiar) time

[Ck442000 · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is a good read in terms of looking at how far this country has not come. I find it tragic that we are still dealing with the same issues of racial inequality still if not even worse than before. Lots of statistics so if you don't like tables and graphs read it for the narrative because it will shock you how little progress has been made.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is astounding that over 50 years ago our government empowered a commission that identified the problems caused by racism and suggested fixes and we ignored it. Sadly, most of the observations and recommendations are still applicable. We owe it to them and us to continue the work they started.

[Phyllis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is worth reading for a few reasons, especially since it's less than 300 pages. It's helpful to understand that many of the issues we talk about regarding racism, especially what we now call "institutional racism" was recognized 55 years ago. It's important to recognize the impact of the intervening decades of backlash, beginning with Nixon's election shortly after this report came out.

The book also provides details about what actually happened during the 1967 disturbances that point to a through-line of incompetence of in policing and crowd control that still exists today (police creating their own chaos through poor communication and lack of discipline), most recently illustrated in the response to the George Floyd protests. And while the media don't fare particularly well, either, it's interesting that the recommendations to diversify journalists haven't led to better coverage. The commission could not have anticipated the changes in the landscape that still make coverage fall short.

[David Erickson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another powerful book to educate us about the roots, causes, and effects of racism in America, the Kerner Report, released in March 1968, just one month before the assassination of MLK, got many things right: an astute understanding about the implementation of civil rights, and roots and causes of black tensions and rebellion in the '60s. It provides excellent and strong recommendations about how to go forward to heal the country. Which under Nixon and subsequent administrations, were systematically ignored and reversed. 50+ years later we are finally relearning the lessons that the Kerner Report tried to teach. It seems prescient, but it's all about white fragility. When will we ever learn...

Great book and summary of the Kerner report: A manual for addressing the racial divides in this country. Better late than never, I guess...

[Bj · Rating 5 out of 5]

While reading this I was amazed at the honesty and effort of this 1967 commission to truly look at the causes of the tensions in our cities during the unrest of that summer. Many of the causes remind me of today's tensions. Too bad that all the recommendations were ignored at the time and we still have the same problems in some places.

[Walter Mack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dr. Clark Had It Right

Important reading for us all. How many times do we to be told what needs to be done. Here it is in cogent fashion on 1967 disorders, the lessons that should be drawn in 2020-21 are little different. Can we get it done now; it's up to you.

[Kay's Pallet · Rating 3 out of 5]

The beginning was pretty repetitive. There were long sections pretty much copy and pasted in the first 80 or so pages. Maybe me pretty annoyed when reading the rest of the book, which is disappointing because this book has such important information.

[Shane Skelcy · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the more interesting books I’ve read this year. It’s more sad than anything that what they wrote about is still prevalent today despite the report being released over 30 years ago. I can’t wait to incorporate this into the classroom!

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely an important document from 60 years ago that still relates to today. As a book, I found it hard to go along with it. To be fair, it’s a commission report so it’s not terribly exciting. Slog to get through but I still think it’s incredibly important.

[Vonnie Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very relative to what is happening today with the police, race, extremism, media, and the National Guard assisting with “policing.” History repeats itself and the lessons learned and recommendations given 60 years ago are still needed and relative. Highly recommend.

[Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

All this in the 1960s. Good lord. What have we been doing all this time?

[Blais · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good compilation/abridged version but I should’ve known a government survey is not for me.

[Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kind of nuts that this exists. Fascinating read

[Mary Etta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Study on race, inequality and police violence
Summary of riots:
1919. Chicago
1935. Harlem
1943. Harlem
1965 Watts
1992 LA Rodney King
2020 Minneapolis George Floyd