Writings on the Wall: Searching for a New Equality Beyond Black and White

by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Raymond Obstfeld

Overview

A New York Times and Washington Post Bestseller

Bestselling author, basketball legend and cultural commentator Kareem Abdul-Jabbar explores the heart of issues that affect Americans today.

Since retiring from professional basketball as the NBA's all-time leading scorer, six-time MVP, and Hall of Fame inductee, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has become a lauded observer of culture and society, a New York Times bestselling author, and a regular contributor to The Washington Post, TIME magazine and TIME.com.

He now brings that keen insight to the fore in Writings on the Wall: Searching for a New Equality Beyond Black and White, his most incisive and important work of non-fiction in years. He uses his unique blend of erudition, street smarts and authentic experience in essays on the country's seemingly irreconcilable partisan divide - both racial and political, parenthood, and his own experiences as an athlete, African-American, and a Muslim. The book is not just a collection of expositions; he also offers keen assessments of and solutions to problems such as racism in sports while speaking candidly about his experiences on the court and off.

Timed for publication as the nation debates whom to send to the White House, the combination of plain talk on issues, life lessons, and personal stories places Writings on the Wall squarely in the middle of the conversation, as many of Abdul-Jabbar's topics are at the top of the national agenda. Whether it is sparring with Donald Trump, within the pages of TIME magazine, or full-length features in the The New York Times Magazine, writers, critics, and readers have come to agree on what The Washington Post observed: Abdul-Jabbar "has become a vital, dynamic and unorthodox cultural voice."

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781618931719
Publisher:	TIME USA
Publication date:	08/23/2016
Pages:	256
Product dimensions:	6.30(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.00(d)
Age Range:	16 Years

About the Author

Kareem Abdul-Jabbaris the NBA's all-time leading scorer and a Basketball Hall of Fame inductee. Since retiring, Abdul-Jabbar has been an actor and basketball coach, and has authored six books for adults and three for children, including What Color is My World?, which won the NAACP award for Best Children's Book. In 2012, he was selected as a U.S. Cultural Ambassador. He lives in Southern California.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Bridging Troubled Waters 1

1 American Politics The Broom of the System 15

2 Racism Make Me Wanna Holler 47

3 Religion Worship at Your Own Risk 77

4 Gender The View From the Front Yard 105

5 Class Struggle Another Day in Paradise 137

6 Sports Are You Not Entertained? 157

7 News Media I Read the News Today, Oh Boy 183

8 Seniors The Aging of Aquarius 205

9 Dear Generation Z Unsolicited Advice for America's Youth 225

Index 233

Acknowledgments 243

About the Authors 245

Editorial Reviews

06/13/2016
An endearing lack of cynicism pervades Abdul-Jabbar and Obstfeld’s fifth book together, following What Color Is My World? Their latest work focuses on “continental divides” in American society such as “young versus old” and “men versus women.” Hoping to “expand the discussion about what America is and what it means to be American,” the book deploys easily grasped metaphors alongside current polling data and pop culture references. Each chapter ends with a numbered list of possible answers to the questions explored earlier. The prevailing tone is a plainspoken and principled defense of reason over emotion and education over ignorance. Betraying an encyclopedic knowledge of American culture, the book quotes an impressive array of figures as broad as Francis Bacon, Michelle Obama, and Gwendolyn Brooks. There are some missteps; the authors’ comments on gender roles may strike feminists as paternalistic, and their partisan derision for the GOP ignores Democratic foibles. Little here is startlingly original, but the book excels in translating, supporting, and passionately defending the ideas behind “the document that defines who we are and what we stand for: the U.S. Constitution.” (Aug.)

Publishers Weekly

"[Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's] concerns are deep, his arguments well-founded, and his solutions straightforward. The trick is to get people to listen, but Abdul-Jabbar provides a good jumping-off point. Heartfelt sentiments on how racism, gender equality, and other social and cultural issues in America can be changed for the betterment of all."—Kirkus 
"[Writings on the Wall] is designed not only to be read and discussed but also to be used as a blueprint for action. It allows the reader to engage the mind of a deeply principled man, a progressive committed to equality for all, a man who possesses the faith that his country might actually one day live up to its mythology."—Marita Golden, The Washington Post

From the Publisher

07/01/2016
NBA Hall of Famer and author Abdul-Jabbar (What Color Is My World?) tackles racism, sexism, economic inequality, and more in his latest work, which is inspired by his own experience and frustration with the growing racial and social divide within the United States. This is not an autobiography; other than the chapter on religion, in which the author discusses his conversion to Islam as a young man. Abdul-Jabbar draws primarily from published studies as well as popular music and movies (at one point he quotes political commentator James Carville and German playwright Bertolt Brecht in the same paragraph). Each chapter closes with specific recommendations that vary from the practical (raise the minimum wage to $15) to the aspirational ("fact-check every politician every time they speak publicly"). VERDICT While the book will likely most appeal to those who share Abdul-Jabbar's progressive outlook, it is recommended for all readers seeking a clear, concise overview of many pressing issues facing the country today.—Nicholas Graham, Univ. of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Library Journal

2016-05-10
Insights into life from the cultural commentator and former Hall of Fame basketball player.Combining his personal experiences as a black Muslim male with statistical data, research, and a bit of humor, Abdul-Jabbar (On the Shoulders of Giants: My Journey Through the Harlem Renaissance, 2010, etc.) explores the divisions in the United States along lines of race, class, religion, and gender, and he offers concrete, easily implemented solutions to fix these ongoing problems. Opening with an examination of the Constitution, the author explains why this document is still a vital part of American democracy. "Too often people who are all puffed up on their own ideals of patriotism propose actions that are contrary to what the country stands for in an effort to codify their personal beliefs as law," he writes. "These are America's greatest threat….The genius of the Constitution is that it was written by men who acknowledged their own frailties and biases." To uphold the Constitution, we must elect officials who think critically about the issues in front of them and use reliable, nonpartisan research to make informed decisions. Providing children with a solid education is the first step. Abdul-Jabbar confronts the race issue head-on, giving readers numerous facts that unequivocally show that racism is still widespread. He suggests public awareness, anti-racist laws, and more minorities on TV and in movies will help combat this. The author also voices the difficulties he's faced due to his religion, and he proposes interfaith activities and hate-crime laws to ease the tension. Abdul-Jabbar also covers gender equality and the plight of the elderly. His concerns are deep, his arguments well-founded, and his solutions straightforward. The trick is to get people to listen, but Abdul-Jabbar provides a good jumping-off point. Heartfelt sentiments on how racism, gender equality, and other social and cultural issues in America can be changed for the betterment of all.

Kirkus Reviews

Here’s an interesting audiobook by an author who is not usually mentioned when the subject is race relations in America. From this point on, he should be. Abdul-Jabbar traveled the country as a basketball star, and his experiences then, and in his active next life, inform this work. He writes thoughtfully but forcefully, and he deserves to be heard. Narrator Ben Adduchio doesn’t quite match the author’s passion and tone, reading with a rather plain, mild voice. He pronounces every word, but it sounds like he’s, well, reading the book, rather than interpreting and expanding its message. Abdul-Jabbar’s message does get through, but Adduchio could have been more emotive in his delivery. R.I.G. © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine

FEBRUARY 2017 - AudioFile