There has been a lot of media focus on the black conundrum over the past few years, going from police brutality to the association of blacks with violence and racial tensions. The black man seems to suffer a lot of stigma, thanks to the prejudices and illusions fed to society about them. In this fascinating book, Michael Taylor discusses the common origins of the black stereotypes that lie at the root of many social ills — blacks considered as an endangered species, the idea that blacks try to be white, that they are less intelligent, that they can’t be monogamous, that they are violent and easily driven by anger, and that they use race as an excuse for failure. Shattering Black Male Stereotypes: Eradicating the 10 Most Destructive Media Generated Illusions About Black Men offers surprising insights and arguments that demystify these stereotypes and show that blacks have scored a lot of success in both business and personal life.

This is the kind of book that people like the President of the United States need to read, people with a somewhat derogatory mental attitude towards blacks. The author shares inspiring stories from his personal life, including the wisdom bequeathed to him by his father, who didn’t even complete his basic education. It is interesting to notice the adversities the author overcame, including his failed marriage, the loss of a home, bankruptcy and depression. Michael Taylor writes with confidence and demonstrates that he knows what he is talking about. The reader will feel both inspired and informed about the positive traits of black men while discovering what it takes to make a difference in life. Shattering Black Male Stereotypes: Eradicating the 10 Most Destructive Media Generated Illusions About Black Men is informative, evocative, and hugely motivating.

Shattering Black Male Stereotypes: Eradicating The 10 Most Destructive Media Generated Illusions About Black Men by Michael Taylor is a wonderful book on the current existing stereotypes about African-Americans in the USA. Shattering Black Male Stereotypes is succinct and to-the-point, and starts off with a brief background of Michael’s childhood, family, and background. As a child from a poor family and raised by a single mother, he certainly met the stereotype of blacks in this country. However, he was able to overcome adversity and emerge as a strong, successful, and decent human being in spite of these stereotypes. The book then deals with the top 10 myths about black men in this country, including things like they are lazy, they are not patriotic, they are not good fathers, and even that they are not as intelligent, among others! Michael systematically deals with each stereotype and shreds it apart while providing guidance on how to create better awareness of these issues and, ultimately, better ourselves.

I loved reading Shattering Black Male Stereotypes. This is a powerful book that directly attacks the unfair and racist stereotypes and biases that are all too prevalent in today’s society. Michael writes in a thoughtful and detailed manner about these existing stereotypes and how they tend to affect people of all races and their outlook on life from a young age. He also provides lists of questions and exercises throughout the book for the reader to contemplate. I especially liked the topic of how to become a good father to your child and what it means in the wider context. Michael’s lucid, engaging, insightful style makes this an excellent read.