Review
------
"The tendency for campus leaders, as well as the perpetrators, to minimize and trivialize issues of race on college
campuses is what author Lawrence Ross tackles in his new book, Blackballed...Ross reminds us that highly visible
examples of campus racism in the 21st century are not difficult to come by." ―HuffPost College
"Racism, Ross argues, has been a fact of life for black students on predominantly white campuses for nearly 200
years...Ross...calls for efforts to make campuses more welcoming to black students, increases in the numbers of black
students and faculty members, reform of the Greek system, and far more diversity training for all members of the campus
community." ―The Washington Post
"Blackballed...examines what colleges and universities are often not ready for: reality. The reality that across the
nation, multitudes of African-American, Latino and Asian-American students feel marginalized on their campuses." ―The
Root
"Inful ... Ross should be read along with Michelle Alexander, Ta-Nehisi Coates, and Claudia Rankine." ―Booklist
"The special value of Ross’s book is that it documents incidents in recent history and the experiences of the students
involved to show the severity of racism on college campuses and its persistence...he questions whether 'going to a
predominantly white institution is really worth it for African-Americans.'" ―Publishers Weekly
"Americans always say that the best way to end racism and bigotry is through education. But Blackballed makes it clear
that our nation's institutions of higher learning are places where that doesn't just happen; its where bigotry is
practiced, reinforced and make more palatable in the 21st century. Jim Crow may have been embodied by a cigar chompin'
white racist sheriff in the South, but Lawrence Ross makes plain that his children and grandchildren have a command of
the English language and carry the title of professor." ―Roland Martin, journalist
"An impassioned indictment of racism in predominantly white institutions of higher learning...may fuel much-needed
conversation." ―Kirkus Reviews
"Blackballed is a powerful and timely work. A must read for those on colleges campuses and off. Unflinching, thorough,
and thoughtful, Ross has engineered a hard-hitting book that shatters the myth of the 'isolated incident'. Blackballed
is a game changer." -- MK Asante, Professor at Morgan State University and bestselling author of Buck
"That cold, old man, Racism, is still seeking warmth on our college campus. Lawrence Ross has pulled that blanket away
leaving Racism without cover: no welcome, no understanding, no warmth. College should be a time of enlightenment:
inquiry, curiosity, questioning. We have discovered salt water on Mars indicating the possibility of life on our sister
planet. Maybe we can eliminate hate yielding the possibility of life on Earth." --Nikki Giovanni, Poet
“Blackballed makes a sorely needed contribution to the literature on race and higher education. This carefully
researched and beautifully written text serves as a sobering reminder that "Post-Racial America" remains a myth, even in
the hallowed halls of post-secondary schooling. With deep analysis and urgent examples, Ross shows how anti-Black racism
pervades our nations campuses from the classroom to fraternity row. This book cements Lawrence Ross's reputation as one
of the nation's most lucid, inful,and courageous writers on race, culture, and education.” ―Marc Lamont Hill,
Distinguished Professor of Africana Studies, Morehouse College
"Parents and high school counselors of black kids must read this book. They will learn that the grass is not always
greener at predominantly white universities, and in fact, the grass is often infested with racism. For decades,
predominantly white colleges have been seen as better options for black students than HBCUs. Blackballed reveals the
price many black students are paying for this choice." --Walter Kimbrough, President, Dillard University
"Amid the volatility of race in America the nation’s college campuses have often been uniquely troubled. Lawrence Ross
has written a crucial exploration of racism in higher education and its implications for the society at large. Were
there a syllabus for understanding race in America Blackballed required reading." -Dr. William Jelani Cobb, Director,
Africana Studies Institute
Read more ( javascript:void(0) )
About the Author
----------------
LAWRENCE ROSS is a bestselling author, lecturer, writer, filmmaker, social media and consumer trends
expert. His groundbreaking book, The Divine Nine: The History of African American Fraternities and Sororities, has
become the preeminent book on African-American fraternities and sororities. He's written regular pieces for CNN.com, The
Grio, The Root, Ebony.com, and USA Today. He lives in Westchester, CA.
Read more ( javascript:void(0) )