This book makes a concise case for reparations for African Americans in the United States. The author present their case in a very methodical manner. They cover the impact of slavery in this country as well as current disparities experienced by African Americans. I enjoyed reading this book.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing this eARC.

From Here to Equality, Second Edition, lays out the history of racial inequality in the United States, then makes a case, supported by a large selection of economic data, for practical and achievable options for reparations.

This was an interesting and informative read. It was clear that all the information was well and thoroughly researched, and the points that Darity and Mullen made were well supported and convincing. Though this country has a long way to go to achieve true racial equality, the guidance offered in this book provides several excellent steps in the right direction, if only we care and work hard enough to pursue them.

This book is a good, concise outline of the issue of reparations to Black Americans for the transatlantic slave trade and other atrocities, such as the Tulsa Massacre, as well as mass health violations. The book discusses what reparation issues have been discussed, what the opposition has argued, and the points of view that fall in between.

Also a key point: many people can talk about the CONCEPT of reparations without getting into very specific details about what that means, who recipients are and how they are designated as such, an elimination of a wealth gap between races, federal government financing, and other practical factors that seldom get discussed, or if they do, are only briefly mentioned.

The authors also acknowledge that the book went to press before the pandemic, so they were not able to discuss and incorporate the pandemic and its huge implications for African-American reparations, but they were able to add a section that says "this is what we wish we could have done."

At its core, this book explains the roots of the economic divides between Black and white Americans and how this would impact issues of racial equality.

The first chapter in particular goes into discussions about how enslaved people of African descent were the first abolitionists as they liberated themselves and their families wherever and whenever possible, and were, as such the earliest "architects" of reparations.

For those who don't know, the concept of 40 Acres and a Mule that was at one time something that happened after the Civil War and specified that people who had been enslaved were going to receive a certain amount of land as well as livestock to help them cultivate these properties, President Andrew Johnson, who stepped into the White House's role after Lincoln's assassination, basically said no, let's put a stop to this. It's much too fair. The chapter also discusses the Radical Republicans, and Frederick Douglass. Apparently, he wrote a letter to Harriet Beecher Stowe, author of Uncle Tom's Cabi (1952) and said that once freed, "former slaves would not take eagerly to agriculture unless coerced."

Going into the twentieth century, the chapter also discusses Black nationalists such as Audley Moore, "Queen Mother," and her activities around 1950 also within the growing context of Elijah Muhammed and the National of Islam.

Further chapters are dedicated to explaining the profit structure of who profited most from slavery, the Civil War and its effects, race and racism during the Civil War. The book then examines what the sentiments were around the time of Reconstruction and the hopes for reparations.

Most importantly, the book also goes into detail in explaining why there have been so many barriers to reparations, which is necessary for anyone who wants a greater understanding of these issues. Also contains very comprehensive and in-depth appendices and further resources.