Eight of Ta-Nehesi Coates's eloquent essays from The Atlantic are herein collected in chronological order, one for each year of the Obama presidency, each accompanied by an introductory essay contextualizing them in the respective year in which they were originally written.  There is also a general introduction, and an epilogue that brings us to the Trump era.  Prepare yourself to come face to face with an ample selection of abject moral failures – among leaders, followers, enablers, profiteers and more – that are inextricable parts of American history, and that must be seen as standing side by side with America's moral successes for any true reckoning to be had  Essential reading.

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