This book is very informative. There is a lot the history books left out. Very interesting concept on how slaves, slavery, race relations, etc was handled by all presidents. It held my interest and I will recommend it to many that I know. I am very glad that I was given the honor of reading the ARC of this book. This book should be required reading. Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the arc of this book in return for my honest opinion. Receiving the book in this manner had no bearing on this review. Kudos to the author!!!

I thought this was going to be a book that answered the question: “given what we know about each president, which ones were in fact racists?” Instead, it pursued this assignment: “find at least one instance of racism in every president or his administration, and use it to support a claim that he was (or is) a racist.” As far as i know, nothing presented here was wrong, and it certainly illuminates the historical prevalence and persistence of racial inequality and injustice in this country. But to paint every individual who has ever held the office of president as a racist is a stretch. Such a conclusion undermines the theory that it’s meant to support. I mean, if everyone’s a racist, then no one’s a racist. The definition of racist collapses if there’s no such thing as a non-racist.

The writing was plain and straightforward. The research, though very limited and laser-focused, was original. The book was readable, and provocative. I didn’t dislike it, but i’m not sure i can really recommend it. I don’t think it really advances the discussion very well.

This is an interesting account of each president from Washington on down to the present time. What they have done for the blacks and what they promised and never did. Also includes some of the story of the movement of the Indians as well.