“Margaret Kimberley gives us an intellectual gem of prophetic
fire about all the U.S. presidents and their deep roots in the
vicious legacy of white supremacy and predatory capitalism. Such
truths seem more than most Americans can bear, though we ignore her
words at our own peril!” — Cornel West, author of Race Matters
Prejudential
is a concise, authoritative exploration of America’s relationship
with race and black Americans through the lens of the presidents who
have been elected to represent all of its people.
Throughout the
history of the United States, numerous presidents have left their
legacies as slaveholders, bigots, and inciters of racial violence,
but were the ones generally regarded as more sympathetic to the
plight and interests of black Americans—such as Lincoln, FDR, and
Clinton—really much better? And what of all the presidents whose
relationship with black America is not even considered in the pages
of most history books? Over the course of 45 chapters—one for each
president—Margaret Kimberley enlightens and informs readers about
the attitudes and actions of the highest elected official in the
country. By casting sunlight on an aspect of American history that is
largely overlooked, Prejudential aims to increase awareness in
a manner that will facilitate discussion and understanding.