What do you think?
Rate this book
Regression
What if you woke up one morning to Hip Hop banned throughout the country? African-American athletes boycotting U.S Olympics teams? Welfare abruptly cut-off to the public? School classrooms assigned by ethnicity? Black students kicked out of colleges? Secret Hispanic plans to regain control of Southern California? Presidential plans to lock up all members of one culture? Racial restructuring of the entire United States? When Aeneas Mayes awakes to some of the most controversial government decisions in the country's recent history, he will stop at nothing to escape the American anarchy reminiscent to the pre-Civil Rights era and get his loved ones to freedom. What would you do?
304 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2008
17 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
July 25, 2011
Excellent – Really made me think
Rap and hip hop is banned! If anyone sells, buys, or listens to it, they are breaking the law. Yes, didn’t you know that there is a link between rap music and crime? Aeneas could not even believe it. Not only that, but now they also believe that they should divide classrooms by race for better learning purposes? I mean, whites, Mexicans, Asians, and blacks all have different learning needs from each other right? —- Hogwash!
I don’t know about you, but all of this really pissed me off—literally! I know this is just a book, but it didn’t feel like it while I was reading it. I put myself in the story and just imagined if rap was banned and classrooms were divided by race. It was like it was back to the times of segregation. I could not believe that a book really had so much impact on me. I really was mad while I was reading this book. Can a book really do that? Believe me when I say that it can.
“The district just implemented some new seating regs for the busses,” the driver explained. ”You can still sit anywhere you want, just has to be behind row fifteen. Just behind that emergency exit door there, and only on the right hand side,” the driver turned and pointed to the general direction he was referring to. (loc. 236-39 on Kindle).
Imagine the poor kids how they felt when they couldn’t sit with their friends because they were a different race. Yeah, because you know that the color of your skin makes a difference right. Come on! You think that’s bad, well I’m telling you that it gets much worse. You will have to read the book, but trust when I say that it will make your blood boil no matter who you are.
Rickey Teems II really wrote a book like one I’ve never read before. He brings the issue of segregation to the present times, and I really felt afraid for the African Americans in the story.
Regression was really eye opening to me. Rickey Teems II did an awesome job in shocking me from the beginning. He didn’t stop there though. The story was well developed and very believable. I found myself very afraid for some of the characters. The ending was definitely something I didn’t expect either. I recommend this book!
Rap and hip hop is banned! If anyone sells, buys, or listens to it, they are breaking the law. Yes, didn’t you know that there is a link between rap music and crime? Aeneas could not even believe it. Not only that, but now they also believe that they should divide classrooms by race for better learning purposes? I mean, whites, Mexicans, Asians, and blacks all have different learning needs from each other right? —- Hogwash!
I don’t know about you, but all of this really pissed me off—literally! I know this is just a book, but it didn’t feel like it while I was reading it. I put myself in the story and just imagined if rap was banned and classrooms were divided by race. It was like it was back to the times of segregation. I could not believe that a book really had so much impact on me. I really was mad while I was reading this book. Can a book really do that? Believe me when I say that it can.
“The district just implemented some new seating regs for the busses,” the driver explained. ”You can still sit anywhere you want, just has to be behind row fifteen. Just behind that emergency exit door there, and only on the right hand side,” the driver turned and pointed to the general direction he was referring to. (loc. 236-39 on Kindle).
Imagine the poor kids how they felt when they couldn’t sit with their friends because they were a different race. Yeah, because you know that the color of your skin makes a difference right. Come on! You think that’s bad, well I’m telling you that it gets much worse. You will have to read the book, but trust when I say that it will make your blood boil no matter who you are.
Rickey Teems II really wrote a book like one I’ve never read before. He brings the issue of segregation to the present times, and I really felt afraid for the African Americans in the story.
Regression was really eye opening to me. Rickey Teems II did an awesome job in shocking me from the beginning. He didn’t stop there though. The story was well developed and very believable. I found myself very afraid for some of the characters. The ending was definitely something I didn’t expect either. I recommend this book!
October 4, 2011
What would do if you woke up to the news of Hip-Hop being banned in The United States of America? What would you do if they separated classrooms based on the color of your skin? What do you think would happen if they cut off welfare? What would you do if all African-Americans were order to turn themselves in to the police or face death?
Aeneas wakes up to the news of Hip-Hop being banned, schools being segregated, and welfare coming to an end, and he believes someone is playing a crude joke on him. He soon realizes this isn’t joke and his life will never be the same.
I fell in love with the characters in this book. Aeneas, a father of one trying to be the best father to his son, Naashon, but his baby mother, Leah is making it difficult for him. Apphia, Aenea’s new girlfriend tries her best to keep the peace, but finds it hard to do when Leah is around. Will they be able to put their differences aside or Will those differences get them killed?
Author Rickey Teems II does an excellent job of challenging his readers to think outside of the norm. I have to say some will find REGRESSION by Rickey Teems II controversial, but I believe this is a book that everyone needs to read. As I read this selection, the thought that kept popping in my head was … “THIS REALLY COULD HAPPEN!” I know many people try to avoid the topic of race relations, but this book will definitely have you wanting to talk about it.
This is the first book I have read by Rickey Teems II and it won't be the last. It was a much needed break from the "Love have given me the blues" books. If you don't know about Rickey Teems II.. I think its time you found out about him.
S Stars
Aeneas wakes up to the news of Hip-Hop being banned, schools being segregated, and welfare coming to an end, and he believes someone is playing a crude joke on him. He soon realizes this isn’t joke and his life will never be the same.
I fell in love with the characters in this book. Aeneas, a father of one trying to be the best father to his son, Naashon, but his baby mother, Leah is making it difficult for him. Apphia, Aenea’s new girlfriend tries her best to keep the peace, but finds it hard to do when Leah is around. Will they be able to put their differences aside or Will those differences get them killed?
Author Rickey Teems II does an excellent job of challenging his readers to think outside of the norm. I have to say some will find REGRESSION by Rickey Teems II controversial, but I believe this is a book that everyone needs to read. As I read this selection, the thought that kept popping in my head was … “THIS REALLY COULD HAPPEN!” I know many people try to avoid the topic of race relations, but this book will definitely have you wanting to talk about it.
This is the first book I have read by Rickey Teems II and it won't be the last. It was a much needed break from the "Love have given me the blues" books. If you don't know about Rickey Teems II.. I think its time you found out about him.
S Stars
January 7, 2012
'How far have we really come...'
Aenas Mays wakes up to news that Hip Hop has been banned and is subject to punishment equivalent to the selling of drugs. Stunned and in disbelief, he calls his son, Naashon, and they converse on this matter. Aenas is a young black man that has changed his lifestyle to ensure his presence in his son’s life and defies statistics as he attends college. The day spirals out of control as the adage, driving while black becomes ludicrous as people watch living while black is dangerou , lethal and deadly. African Americans find themselves encaged like animals if not murdered for no reason other than their lives are considered nothing.
Ricky Teems II has spun a very disturbing tale filled with outrageous, ridiculous, and downright disrespectful scenarios. This novel challenges your perception of present day race relationships versus prejudices endured in the past. I found it to be unrealistic with just a bit too much of truth riddled with each unfolding scene. It spurs anger, disgust, bitterness, and revelation to what some may not recognize but more of us do recognize as reality to a certain degree. We’ve come so far yet we have so much further to go…and it matters not what people think of us but what we think of ourselves. I truly believe he was trying to portray a painful picture of how much we take for granted, how African Americans are our very own worst enemies, how the other races relish the thoughts that they are and will always be better than AA…truth or fiction…that is indeed the question. I struggled to complete this read, it took me places that I pray that we as a people never have to see. Because it will be alot of dead people...friends or foes...dead or alive...genuine or phony.... 3.78
Aenas Mays wakes up to news that Hip Hop has been banned and is subject to punishment equivalent to the selling of drugs. Stunned and in disbelief, he calls his son, Naashon, and they converse on this matter. Aenas is a young black man that has changed his lifestyle to ensure his presence in his son’s life and defies statistics as he attends college. The day spirals out of control as the adage, driving while black becomes ludicrous as people watch living while black is dangerou , lethal and deadly. African Americans find themselves encaged like animals if not murdered for no reason other than their lives are considered nothing.
Ricky Teems II has spun a very disturbing tale filled with outrageous, ridiculous, and downright disrespectful scenarios. This novel challenges your perception of present day race relationships versus prejudices endured in the past. I found it to be unrealistic with just a bit too much of truth riddled with each unfolding scene. It spurs anger, disgust, bitterness, and revelation to what some may not recognize but more of us do recognize as reality to a certain degree. We’ve come so far yet we have so much further to go…and it matters not what people think of us but what we think of ourselves. I truly believe he was trying to portray a painful picture of how much we take for granted, how African Americans are our very own worst enemies, how the other races relish the thoughts that they are and will always be better than AA…truth or fiction…that is indeed the question. I struggled to complete this read, it took me places that I pray that we as a people never have to see. Because it will be alot of dead people...friends or foes...dead or alive...genuine or phony.... 3.78
June 13, 2010
Negative Action
Concentration camps. Generally when you hear those words you think of Nazi Germany, maybe a few other faraway lands. But what about right here, today, in the U.S. of A.? Author Rickey Teems II probes that very idea. One morning all African Americans awake to find that the world has been changed, as if the hands of time have been turned back. African Americans no longer have any rights.
Kudos to Rickey Teems II for thinking outside of the box. His concept was unique, interesting and intriguing. Teems writes, “From this point on, anyone of African American decent or heritage must immediately turn themselves in, or they will be arrested…It is my belief that the proud people of this nation want this to be a country of order and prosperity…until we can determine further action to restore peace, this order will entail confinement of all Blacks in America.”
Coming face to face with one’s own loss of freedom can put life in a different perspective, and readers share the characters’ fears. I couldn’t help but wonder what I would do in such a situation. The authors broached many facts often thought but not spoken but are very much relevant.
“Regression” would make for a great book club read as it is a seed for many discussions.
Reviewed by: Toni
Concentration camps. Generally when you hear those words you think of Nazi Germany, maybe a few other faraway lands. But what about right here, today, in the U.S. of A.? Author Rickey Teems II probes that very idea. One morning all African Americans awake to find that the world has been changed, as if the hands of time have been turned back. African Americans no longer have any rights.
Kudos to Rickey Teems II for thinking outside of the box. His concept was unique, interesting and intriguing. Teems writes, “From this point on, anyone of African American decent or heritage must immediately turn themselves in, or they will be arrested…It is my belief that the proud people of this nation want this to be a country of order and prosperity…until we can determine further action to restore peace, this order will entail confinement of all Blacks in America.”
Coming face to face with one’s own loss of freedom can put life in a different perspective, and readers share the characters’ fears. I couldn’t help but wonder what I would do in such a situation. The authors broached many facts often thought but not spoken but are very much relevant.
“Regression” would make for a great book club read as it is a seed for many discussions.
Reviewed by: Toni
August 28, 2012
What if you woke up one morning and heard that hip hop had been banned? What if you woke up one morning and heard that our classrooms were going back to being segregated? What if you woke up one morning and heard that concentration camps were coming to America and the police would be putting all African-Americans into them? What if you woke up one morning and heard that all African-American athletes refused to participate in the Olympics? These series of what if’s and different scenarios are explored in the book Regression by Rickey Teems II.
The above questions are reality for Regression’s main character, Aeneas. Aeneas goes through every rollercoaster possible to save his son, Naashon, from facing this new reality. Even though Regression is a work of fiction it could very easily be our reality if our society continues down the path we are currently headed. Regression has it all: action, love, an example of what a parent is willing to sacrifice, plus it opens a dialogue about serious societal issues. Teems has written a thought-provoking piece of work and I would recommend that everyone read Regression.
Tiffany Craig
Read It All Book Reviews
http://readitallbookreviews.wordpress...
The above questions are reality for Regression’s main character, Aeneas. Aeneas goes through every rollercoaster possible to save his son, Naashon, from facing this new reality. Even though Regression is a work of fiction it could very easily be our reality if our society continues down the path we are currently headed. Regression has it all: action, love, an example of what a parent is willing to sacrifice, plus it opens a dialogue about serious societal issues. Teems has written a thought-provoking piece of work and I would recommend that everyone read Regression.
Tiffany Craig
Read It All Book Reviews
http://readitallbookreviews.wordpress...
December 9, 2011
I want my son to read this book. Far-fetched, yes... The perspectives that Rickey Teems II displayed in Regression are real, raw, heart-wrenching, and sometimes downright embarrassing. We have got to do better!
I suggest you read this book.
I suggest you read this book.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews