Your dad doesn’t need a tie. This Father’s Day get him He Talk Like A White Boy, by Joseph C. Phillips. (I received this book free of charge from Active Christian Media, who received it from the publisher for the purpose of being reviewed.)
I am a fast reader. One of Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan books typically takes about six hours, as did Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Yet He Talk Like A White Boy took over two weeks. It’s a slow read for two reasons. First, because Phillips can turn a phrase. I caught myself re-reading some sentences simply because I enjoyed the way they were constructed. He has a wry sense of humor that comes through in his writing. In short, the book is clear, sharp, and funny. It’s a very enjoyable read, and I took my time with it.
Second, the content of the book is not conducive to a quick read. It’s deep and it requires contemplation. I often found myself reading an essay, and just chewing on those ideas for the rest of the day. Because of my family history and events in my life, I have a keen interest in race. My hope, when I asked to review this book, was that the book would have a great deal of insight on that topic. This book of essays is divided into sections. Character, Family, Faith, Idealism, and Identity. And as I read through essay after essay that did not discuss race in depth or directly, I began to wonder if he’d ever get to that topic. I wasn’t disappointed by what I was reading, just a little perplexed because even the title refers to race. Yet it was instructive because I learned that our gender differentiates us far more than our color. There is more insight in this book into what makes men tick than I expected. I’m going to pass it along to my sixteen year old daughter next, because this is information every girl should have. And I’ll be buying several copies to give as gifts, including for Father’s Day. This book is a valuable reminder to all the good and honorable men in your life that they’re not alone. They have a unique role and (dare I say it? yes!) destiny in bringing America back from the precipice we teeter on. Our future rests with the men, and the unique ability men have to raise up the next generation of men. They can challenge, push, guide and protect boys better than women can. This book is an important encouragement and reminder to men of their critical role in the family and in this country.
And yes, Phillips does discuss race in depth, especially in the Idealism and Identity sections toward the end of the book. I was not disappointed; his experiences and insight have shed some light on what is a very difficult topic for me. But at the end of the day, new insight on racism really wasn’t the most important thing I gained from reading He Talk Like A White Boy. And maybe that’s a lesson in and of itself.
[Update: La Shawn Barber's review of this book is excellent. I'm new to reviewing, which shows. Her review is a great model of what a book review should be. If you're thinking of buying this book but haven't made up your mind yet, read her review, A Great Black Hope. Active Christian Media reviews can be found here.]
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