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Jelani Cobb

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William Jelani Cobb is an American writer, author and educator. The Ira A. Lipman Professor of Journalism at Columbia University, Cobb was previously an associate professor of history and director of the Institute for African American Studies at the University of Connecticut in Storrs, Connecticut, from 2012 to 2016.
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Carte Blanche book cover
Carte Blanche
The Erosion of Medical Consent
Harriet A. Washington - 2021-02-23
Goodreads Rating
Discover an alarming tale of how the right of Americans to say "no" to medical research is eroding, particularly during the race to produce a vaccine and treatments for Covid-19. The book exposes the medical rights that were sacrificed on the altar of military expediency, leading to the forced experimentation of an anthrax vaccine on ground troops. The military then proceeded to impose nonconsensual testing of PolyHeme in civilian urbanities, enrolling over 20,000 non-consenting subjects since 2005. Learn how modifications to the Code of Federal Regulations have permitted investigators to conduct research without patients' consent or knowledge, making it more important than ever to question the U.S. medical-research system.
Jelani Cobb
2021-03-12T16:40:38.000Z
I have lots more but since this thread has taken off I do want to give some shine to two new-ish small books I read recently and loved: Harriet Washington’s Carte Blanche: The Erosion of Medical Consent (whew) and Cristina Beltran’s Cruelty as Citizenship.      source
Cruelty as Citizenship book cover
Cruelty as Citizenship
How Migrant Suffering Sustains White Democracy (Forerunners
Cristina Beltrán - 2020-08-31
Goodreads Rating
This book explores why political conservatives view immigrants from Mexico and Latin America as an emotionally charged population. The author connects the modern immigration debate to America's history of indigenous dispossession, chattel slavery, the Mexican-American War, and Jim Crow. Cristina Beltrán explains how white supremacy was a participatory practice of racial violence, domination, and exclusion that allowed white citizens to exceed the law. However, she also discusses growing movements for migrant and racial justice that offer hope. This thought-provoking work is part of the Forerunners series, which features gray literature publishing and draws on scholarly work from a variety of sources.
Jelani Cobb
2021-03-12T16:40:38.000Z
I have lots more but since this thread has taken off I do want to give some shine to two new-ish small books I read recently and loved: Harriet Washington’s Carte Blanche: The Erosion of Medical Consent (whew) and Cristina Beltran’s Cruelty as Citizenship.      source
The Return of History and the End of Dreams book cover
The Return of History and the End of Dreams
Robert Kagan - 2008-04-29
Goodreads Rating
This book discusses the realities of international competition post-Cold War, as great powers vie for honor and influence. The world remains "unipolar," but threats of regional conflict loom with the rise of powers like China and Russia. The author challenges liberal democratic countries to choose whether they want to shape history or let others shape it for them.
Jelani Cobb
2021-03-12T02:37:49.000Z
@MaesterRAM @seanwilentz @BillKristol @KristolConvos Return of History is an interesting little book. Much more information than you’d expect of such a small volume, which also could be said for Irony of American History. I’d add Howard Thurman’s Jesus and the Disinherited to that list too.      source
Jesus and the Disinherited book cover
Jesus and the Disinherited
Howard Thurman - 1996-11-30 (first published in 1949)
Goodreads Rating
Discover how the gospel can offer hope and resistance to the poor and disenfranchised in this classic treatise. Author Howard Thurman explores the life of Jesus as a partner in the pain of the oppressed, offering solutions to ending moral decay. Love and self-love, not hatred, are the keys to empowerment and God's justice.
Jelani Cobb
2021-03-12T02:37:49.000Z
@MaesterRAM @seanwilentz @BillKristol @KristolConvos Return of History is an interesting little book. Much more information than you’d expect of such a small volume, which also could be said for Irony of American History. I’d add Howard Thurman’s Jesus and the Disinherited to that list too.      source
The Irony of American History book cover
The Irony of American History
Reinhold Niebuhr - 1985-01-01 (first published in 1952)
Goodreads Rating
A political and philosophical masterpiece, this book explores the paradoxes and contradictions between personal ideals and political reality in American history. Written during the postwar years, it remains relevant today, cited by politicians across the political spectrum. The author argues against moral complacency and warns against the dangers of virtue and arrogance. With its impassioned and eloquent prose, this book challenges readers to rethink their assumptions about right and wrong, war and peace.
Jelani Cobb
2021-03-12T02:37:49.000Z
@MaesterRAM @seanwilentz @BillKristol @KristolConvos Return of History is an interesting little book. Much more information than you’d expect of such a small volume, which also could be said for Irony of American History. I’d add Howard Thurman’s Jesus and the Disinherited to that list too.      source
The Fifth Risk book cover
The Fifth Risk
Undoing Democracy
Michael Lewis - 2019-12-03 (first published in 2018)
Goodreads Rating
This book uncovers the chaos that ensues when the transition team for President Trump fails to show up at the US Department of Energy to learn about their new roles. Michael Lewis' gripping narrative exposes the dangerous consequences of a government under attack by uninformed leaders who show disregard for the critical services that keep our society safe. From ensuring food and medication safety to tracking down black-market uranium, Lewis masterfully paints a vivid picture of the fallout when those in control lack understanding of the government's inner workings.
Jelani Cobb
2020-12-17T21:42:44.000Z
@brianstorms @NatashaBertrand That’s one of the most important books I’ve read in the past couple of years. Notably, it came out right around the time the government shut down further establishing Lewis’s point.      source
Algorithms of Oppression book cover
Algorithms of Oppression
How Search Engines Reinforce Racism
Safiya Noble - 2018-02-20
Goodreads Rating
Algorithms of Oppression sheds light on the shocking discrimination that exists within search engines and the internet. Through analyzing data and media searches, author Safiya Umoja Noble exposes the racist and sexist practices that exist within online discoverability. This book is a powerful call to action, illustrating the importance of understanding and reversing these disquieting trends if we are to create a fairer online community. A must-read for anyone who wants to understand how racism is created, maintained, and disseminated in the digital age.
Jelani Cobb
2018-05-16T16:13:04.000Z
Also, everyone should read @safiyanoble’s book Algorithms of Oppression.      source
The Storm Is Here book cover
The Storm Is Here
An American Crucible
Luke Mogelson - 2022-09-13
Goodreads Rating
A war correspondent returns home to report on the social discord caused by the pandemic, leading him to witness right-wing militias in Michigan, an uprising for racial justice in Minneapolis, antifascist clashes in Portland, and an attempted insurrection in Washington, D.C. This eyewitness narrative builds month by month, from the onset of COVID-19 to the attack on the US Capitol, providing an urgent warning about a pivotal moment in American history.