{"product_id":"2940170481378","title":"We Speak for Ourselves: A Word from Forgotten Black America","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe critically lauded author of \u003ci\u003eThe Beast Side\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eThe Cook Up\u003c\/i\u003e returns with an existential look at life in low-income black communities, while also offering a new framework for how we can improve the conversations occurring about them.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhile author D. Watkins is pleased about the number of books exploring issues of race that are being published, there¿s one crucial aspect of contemporary black life that doesn¿t get enough attention: the hood. The Baltimore native knows firsthand what it means to live in poverty, where violence and drugs are inescapable. As he sees it, the perspective of people who live in poor black communities is largely absent from the work of many of the top intellectuals who speak and write about race.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eNow, D. Watkins is here to tell his truth. Built upon Watkins's own experiences, \u003ci\u003eWe Speak for Ourselves\u003c\/i\u003e eases us into the bigger conversation about race and the various issues affecting poor black neighborhoods in America. Unapologetic and eye-opening, We Speak for Ourselves identifies and addresses a range of issues affecting these low-income communities amp;mdash; such as the trouble with misrepresentation and why we need more than one black voice amp;mdash; and sheds light on the harsh realities of daily life. Additionally, Watkins examines various crucial activist movements, including the civil rights movement, and asks what it means to be a model activist in today¿s world.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThrough the personal retelling of his journey, Watkins aims to illuminate the lessons he¿s learned navigating through two very distinct worlds amp;mdash; the hood and the elite sanctums of the prominent black thinkers and public figures amp;mdash; in hopes of providing actionable solutions. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Simon \u0026 Schuster","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47102428938480,"sku":"2940170481378","price":17.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/2940170481378_p0.jpg?v=1763710516","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/2940170481378","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}