How to Rent a Negro by damali ayo Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of How to Rent a Negro
Book Review: A mean spirited and bigoted book
Summary: 1 Stars
I bought this because it looked funny, irreverent and possibly a bit discomfitting to liberal readers (of which I am one.)
It is all these things at times, true.
I came away from it feeling sorry for the author, to be honest. The more I read, the more her anger bled through the wit.
She doesn't believe it is possible for people of different ethnic backgrounds to have anything remotely resembling an honest exchange on any level, whether a casual meeting or true friendship.
Which is sad, inaccurate and bigoted.
I threw the book in the trash when I was done.
Book Review: A white man's reiview.
Summary: 1 Stars
Ayo (forgive my capitalization) thinks she's smarter than she really is. I struggled to finish this monstrocity becuase it micorcosms the problem with race relations today: There is only skeptisism, no action, no hope. We don't need stuff like this. We need positive messages. The way Ayo is talking, blacks and whites will NEVER get along unless those stupid white people wake up and smell the negro. If you are white, stay far away from this steaming pile of dung. It couldn't be any more offensive if she tried. Take special care if you have black friends becuase, according to Ayo's "satirism", you are just faking it. You're nothing more than a 7th generation slave owner or "negro renter". I believe more people (white and black alike) should stand up against this kind of negativity and push for something more positive. How are we supposed to remedy race relations if people are putting out garbage like this. I'd give this book zero stars if it would let me.Book Review: An insightful read
Summary: 4 Stars
Ms. ayo has written a very clever and insightful (for an old white guy like myself) book. I don't see it so much as poking fun at white people, but more like, as you read it, it's rather like looking in a mirror and seeing yourself in a slightly different view. Not better or worse, just different. Well, for me it was a good experience and as a person from a small town in the midwest with no black friends it was, again, insightful. I see a few ditto-heads have found it offensive. That's not surprising. What is surprising is that they read books! Perhaps I'll try the service. I've atually never thought about what a black woman's hair feels like...until now!!! Good book, damali ayo!Book Review: Fantastic
Summary: 5 Stars
This book was riveting, funny, and sad. I saw myself in some of the 'renters', and now I wonder why nobody ever asked me to pay them.... Well, now I know better. (Please contact me if I owe you any money.)
It has to be said that in race relations, white people do stupid things out of ignorance. It's our own damn obligation to educate ourselves, and this book will help. Contrary to previous reviews, this book itself is absolutely full of examples of what not to do. If you can't figure out how to behave given these examples, you need more help than any book can give you.
Note that the negative reviews here are by white people. Also note that the general theme of the book can be applied to other "minority" groups as well.
Buy this book and give it to all your white friends.
Book Review: Finally....
Summary: 5 Stars
How to Rent a Negro is funny, it's true, but it's also discomforting, powerful, sharp, intuitive and unique in it's honesty about race relations in America. When you see through the dark humor (which inevitably you will), you'll catch yourself remembering times when you have been in situations ayo illustrates, and you will suddenly learn where your intentions lie. What damali ayo effectively does in How to Rent a Negro is she intelligently and integrally takes a look at all the ways in which we persist in practicing a form of social predjudice and in so doing forces us to look at our actions and hopefully instigate change. A rare and fantastic and necessary book. And a great pleasure to read!