Rating: 
Summary: It takes guts for a black person to read this... but we must
Review: First of all ... I am black. Now that we have that out of the way... This book has the potential to change the lives of black Americans in a major way if we are willing to consider that there is a reality that is different from what our culture has been feeding us through our churches, our black schools and universities, our civil rights literature, Kwanza gatherings, rap music, etc. This is a challenging, eye opening look at one of the most tragic group think phenomanas in human history. It is time for black Americans to wake up and honestly look at their leadership. Read this book - it is a must. BTW, for those who think this is not well written, I agree that it might not be a literary masterpiece, but it contains more life changing substance than you would ever find in Shakespeare or Dickens. Come on, Rev Peterson used to be welfare collecting drug addict - his goal is not to be recognized as an outstanding writer. Give him some credit for getting a book out! He did much better than 99% of Americans who will never publish anything. A book with punch, not finese. It's about time!!
Rating:
Summary: Direct and to the point
Review: First off, I am black and proud to be so. Rev. Petersen's book is a breath of fresh air. He exposes black "leadership" as being in it for themselves. The past civil right leaders made sacrifices and weren't concerned about themselves, but looked to the future. Petersen points out how the current "leaders" really put their own self-interests first. My dad taught me that "you don't pull yourself up by putting someone else down" -something these "leaders" have not learned. He is gives strong evidence for stating that the lack of real leadership by black men is one of the key reasons for the problems in the black community (which unfortunately may be a foreshadowing of general American society). He identifies that racism, though it exists (and frankly will never go away) is not the cause of the black man's plight, but rather used as an excuse for our moral failings. I'm tired of seeing these leaders rush to defend criminals, and define bad behavior as part of "black culture", while putting down blacks who have achieved leadership but have different political views. I always though that a true sign of how black people have advanced is our ability to be believe in different things and respect each others beliefs. The writing style, while not outstanding, is easy to read. Petersen may seem too repetitive on some points, but many of them need to be repeated. In summary, I think Petersen makes a strong case for not only exposing the hyprocrisy of these "leaders", but showing how we as a people can better improve our lot by first taking responsibility for our own actions, and then working to improve them.
Rating:
Summary: Direct and to the point
Review: First off, I am black and proud to be so. Rev. Petersen's book is a breath of fresh air. He exposes black "leadership" as being in it for themselves. The past civil right leaders made sacrifices and weren't concerned about themselves, but looked to the future. Petersen points out how the current "leaders" really put their own self-interests first. My dad taught me that "you don't pull yourself up by putting someone else down" -something these "leaders" have not learned. He is gives strong evidence for stating that the lack of real leadership by black men is one of the key reasons for the problems in the black community (which unfortunately may be a foreshadowing of general American society). He identifies that racism, though it exists (and frankly will never go away) is not the cause of the black man's plight, but rather used as an excuse for our moral failings. I'm tired of seeing these leaders rush to defend criminals, and define bad behavior as part of "black culture", while putting down blacks who have achieved leadership but have different political views. I always though that a true sign of how black people have advanced is our ability to be believe in different things and respect each others beliefs. The writing style, while not outstanding, is easy to read. Petersen may seem too repetitive on some points, but many of them need to be repeated. In summary, I think Petersen makes a strong case for not only exposing the hyprocrisy of these "leaders", but showing how we as a people can better improve our lot by first taking responsibility for our own actions, and then working to improve them.
Rating:
Summary: me too!
Review: I can only concur with 20 of the 23 reviews so far about this book: Right on Jesse (Peterson)! To hear a fellow member of the black community speak the plain truth and endure the hatred of the very powerful and very vocal (albeit the very MINORITY) leftwing socialists of the black community is a fine read and a soulful search. True role models like Powell, Thomas, Rice, and Peterson himself have too long been strung up by our own community and left as a warning to any others who may want to think for themselves or make a better life for themselves and their families by taking the opportunities of America and earning it the old fashioned way: working for it. A great read.
Rating: 
Summary: the truth shall set you free
Review: I did not enjoy this book. I winced, sighed and a couple of times I could've wept but not because the book is bad or wrong but because Rev. Peterson is telling the truth about a certain so called untouchable people, institutions and situations. If you have the courage to read hard truth (And it is hard. Rev. Peterson doesn't believe in softening his blows) buy this book, take the cover off, (complete strangers felt the need to give me their opinions when I read the book on the commuter train) and read it for yourself.
Rating: 
Summary: Homophobic, Self-loathing Drivel
Review: I read this book cover-to-cover in one sitting at a bookstore. It's a lightweight, quick read. It took me 90 minutes (and I'm not a speed reader). Peterson makes a number of good and supported insights, but his credibility suffers when he talks about how white "homosexuals are recruiting African Americans" to engage in homosexual sex and spread AIDS. He espouses ridiculous, anachronistic and ignorant homophobic ideas. He suggests, in fact, that African Americans would not include gay people in their community absent the corruption of militant white gays. Say what?! Quite unfortunate given that other parts of his book are worth reading.
Rating:
Summary: Jesse hit the nail on the head!
Review: I recommend this book to all!
Rating:
Summary: Courageous
Review: i salute Reverend Peterson for the raw courage it took to write this critique of "minority" leadership in america. from my perspective, his comments are right on target. for a somewhat prominent, black man to take aim at these individuals is extraordinary in my view. for no other reason than this, the book is worth reading. its a quick, interesting read - not too dense, thankfully. as another reviewer noted, it is a little redundant in places, demonstrating how passionate the author is, i think, in seeking social reform. the chapters on j. jackson and a. sharpton are worth the price alone. he adds credibility to what many others have said for years - that these two, and others like them, profit from continued racial unrest. a great political and social commentary from a "stand-up guy".
Rating:
Summary: You want to talk about what's immoral, well let me tell you.
Review: I would agree that most so-called "Black Leaders" are self-serving hypocrites. But so are most "White" leaders. Mr. Peterson comes off as a self-righteous pharisee all in the name of truth. To even make such a blanket statement that Black people are immoral is reprehensible to say the very least. Furthermore, as far as reparations go, why shouldn't we be afforded the same courtesy as the Japanese, the Native Americans, and other groups? I'm not sure in what form reparations should be made, but this country at least owes the Black community an aknowledgement and apology for the horrendous atrocities of slavery and the decades of plantationism, Jim Crowism, and racism that followed and still plague our people today. To say that racism is not a problem for Blacks is ludicrous. Racism keeps blacks in service-oriented positions despite their educational background and abilities. It is racism that Black men are harrassed while driving Black, racism is the reason James Byrd was lynched in Texas, and so many other cases like his go unreported. Yes, we as Black people have a responsibility to uplift our people, to raise our collective consciousness, and to re-build our families and communitites. However, white America should not be allowed to escape its responsibility for first creating and then perpertuating a social climate that espouses hate and bigotry. Lest we forget that these are the very people who a). stole a whole country from the Native peoples, even slaugtering Native American babies by wrapping them in small-pox laden blankets, and b). traveled across the Atlantic to another country to steal people to bring to their stolen country and build it for them under a brutal system of slave labor. Now, how twisted and how immoral is that?
Rating:
Summary: Exposing Socialists
Review: I'm in favor of any book that exposes big government phanatics: socialists like Jackson and the like. Folks need to wake up, and stop listening to other people for their info, without researching things for themselves. Jackson, the Black Caucus, NAACP, and the rest of these pseudo black groups are a disgrace and should be jailed for impersonating caring people. Good work Rev Peterson. Down with Socialism.
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