Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2020

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Summary

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Introduction

Part 1, Chapters 1-6

Part 2, Chapters 7-11

Part 3, Chapters 12-15

Key Figures

Themes

Index of Terms

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

IntroductionChapter Summaries & Analyses

Introduction Summary

The Introduction addresses White readers, inviting them to engage in difficult conversations about race and racism in the US. Acho presents himself as a friend who offers honest answers to uncomfortable questions.

Acho describes his childhood experiences navigating between Whiteness and Blackness, contrasting the White American culture of his suburban Dallas neighborhood with the Nigerian upbringing he received at home. Acho experienced racism at a young age: Some classmates told him he didn’t sound and dress like a Black person, while others called him an Oreo (Black outside, White inside). His time at the University of Texas opened his eyes to what it means to be a Black man in America. He realized that expressions of Blackness were varied—knowledge reinforced by his time in the NFL.

Acho argues that the longest-lasting pandemic in the US is not the COVID-19 pandemic, but racism. He urges America to pursue a cure for racism with as much determination as it has a vaccine for COVID. He believes that conversations grounded in mutual trust and respect are key to ending racism. Building relationships that help Black and White people recognize each other’s humanity is central to his project. His goal is to provide readers with a better understanding of race, to foster empathy, and to increase racial sensitivity. Acho ends his introduction with a call to action. Not being racist is not enough. The time has come for White people to be antiracist.

Introduction Analysis

The Introduction sets the tone of the book and lays the groundwork for the content of the chapters. Acho addresses White readers from the start: “Dear white friends, countrypersons: welcome. Pull up a chair” (1), words that echo Marc Anthony’s famous speech from Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar (“Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears” (Act III, Scene II, Line 1). Like Marc Anthony in that play, Acho will tell readers truths about a situation that we have been blithely ignoring for too long.

But, then Acho pivots, putting readers at ease with a direct and informal writing style that recalls conversations between friends: “Consider this book an invitation to the table. It’s a special table—but don’t worry, this isn’t one of those uptight, where’s-your-VIP-reservation places, rather a come-as-you-are joint for my white brothers and sisters and anyone else inclined to join us” (1). Acho’s casual style makes the reader comfortable, which is necessary for the hard discussions that follow.

Acho presents himself as an ideal go-between for Black and White people, describing his exposure to Nigerian culture at home, White culture at school, and Black American culture in college and during his NFL years. Acho compares learning about different cultures to learning languages, claiming to be fluent in Blackness and Whiteness: “[M]y childhood was one big study abroad in white culture—followed by studying abroad in black culture during college and then during my years in the NFL” (3-4). Still, although he writes authoritatively, Acho does not profess to know everything about Black culture, nor does he claim to speak for every Black experience. This caveat sets the foundation for the chapters, all of which include resources for readers wishing to delve further into specific topics.

The Introduction closes with a call to action, and with a warning about the discomfort that lies ahead. Ending racism starts with having honest conversations about race. Discussing hard topics is uncomfortable. As Acho notes, however, “Everything great is birthed through discomfort” (6).