Based on the author's viral video series and adapted for younger audiences, an introduction to systemic racism and racist behavior offers safe, judgment-free answers to common questions about uncomfortable subjects, from white privilege to how to disruptcommunity racism. - (Baker & Taylor)

Based on the author’s viral video series and adapted for younger audiences, an introduction to systemic racism and racist behavior offers safe, judgment-free answers to common questions about uncomfortable subjects, from white privilege to how to disrupt community racism. 250,000 first printing. Simultaneous eBook. - (Baker & Taylor)

Adapted from Emmanuel Acho's New York Times bestseller Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man, comes an essential young readers edition aimed at opening a dialogue about systemic racism with our youngest generation.

Young people have the power to affect sweeping change, and the key to mending the racial divide in America lies in giving them the tools to ask honest questions and take in the difficult answers.

Approaching every awkward, taboo, and uncomfortable question with openness and patience, Emmanuel Acho connects his own experience with race and racism—from attending majority-white prep schools to his time in the NFL playing on majority-black football teams—to insightful lessons in black history and black culture.
Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Boy is just one way young readers can begin to short circuit racism within their own lives and communities.

A young reader's edition of Emmanuel Acho's Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man, aimed at opening a dialogue and mending the racial divide in America amongst our youngest generation. - (McMillan Palgrave)

Emmanuel Acho is a Fox Sports Analyst (Co-Host, FS1 “Speak for Yourself”) and Host/Producer of “Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man”, a web series about racism to drive open and uncomfortable dialogue. After earning his undergraduate degree in sports management in 2012, Emmanuel was drafted by the Cleveland Browns. He was then traded to the Philadelphia Eagles in 2013, where he spent most of his career. While in the NFL, Emmanuel spent off-seasons at the University of Texas to earn his master’s degree in Sports Psychology. In 2016, Emmanuel left the football field and picked up the microphone to begin his broadcast career. In 2018, Emmanuel was promoted within ESPN, where he served as the youngest national football analyst and was named a 2018 Forbes 30 Under 30 Selection. In 2017, he and his family’s non-profit organization, Living Hope Christian Ministries, raised enough funds to build a hospital in rural Nigeria. - (McMillan Palgrave)

Booklist Reviews

*Starred Review* NFL player Acho took the world by storm with his web series addressing racial inequities by bringing white and Black people together in conversation. This title is born of that web series, offering young readers a play-by-play of America's dark history of racism at its various levels and pushing them to break the long-standing cycle of racialized injustice. Broken into three main parts, the book moves through cultural differences and stereotypes, institutionalized racism, and finally allyship and change. Standout chapters include the myth of the superpredator, the weaponization of whiteness, and the evolution of voter suppression. These subjects can be difficult for even the most well-versed in antiracist work, and, subsequently, each chapter is broken into digestible sections that teach, address discomfort, and offer actionable steps and resources. Acho, a Nigerian American man, very intentionally situates himself as cultural insider and outsider as it relates to both whiteness and Blackness—a move that works well for young readers who may be skeptical of their narrator's intention and understanding. There is humor, lightness, and relatability in Acho's reliance on pop culture and experience that will make this title a standout for use in classrooms, libraries, and homes. Included are extensive recommendations for further learning and a "Quick Talks" section that offers brief responses to commonly asked questions surrounding Blackness. This book may be marketed to a middle-grade audience, but whether you are 18 or 80, there's something to learn from in this thought-provoking pick. Grades 5-8. Copyright 2021 Booklist Reviews.

Kirkus Reviews

A popular YouTube series on race, "Uncomfortable Conversations With a Black Man," turns how-to manual and history lesson for young readers. Acho is a former NFL player and second-generation Nigerian American who cites his upbringing in predominantly White spaces as well as his tenure on largely Black football teams as qualifications for facilitating the titular conversations about anti-Black racism. The broad range of subjects covered here includes implicit bias, cultural appropriation, and systemic racism. Each chapter features brief overviews of American history, personal anecdotes of Acho's struggles with his own anti-Black biases, and sections titled "Let's Get Uncomfortable." The book's centering of Whiteness and White readers seems to show up, to the detriment of its subject matter, both in Acho's accounts of his upbringing and his thought processes regarding race. The overall tone unfortunately conveys a sense of expecting little from a younger generation who may have a greater awareness than he did at the same age and who, therefore, may already be uncomfortable with racial injustice itself. The attempt at an avuncular tone disappointingly reads as condescending, revealing that, despite his online success with adults, the author is ill-equipped to be writing for middle-grade readers. Chapters dedicated to explaining to White readers why they shouldn't use the N-word and how valuable White allyship is may make readers of color (and many White readers) bristle with indignation and discomfort despite Acho's positive intentions. Ultimately adds little to conversations about race. (glossary, FAQ, recommended reading, references) (Nonfiction. 10-14) Copyright Kirkus 2021 Kirkus/BPI Communications. All rights reserved.