Whooo Cariana - so powerful, so eloquent, and so to the point --> " the entire book is como se dice…basura." - translation for those who did not study Spanish - the entire book is, how do you say... garbage. Your post, like some of the others, relates to The Warmth of Other Suns. Isabel Wilkerson concludes at the end that the life of one of her main subjects, Ida Mae Gladney, was more successful than the other subject, Dr. Robert Foster. Foster attained wealth. Ida Mae did not. She lived a working class life and so did 2 out of her 3 children. Wilkerson said that Ida Mae achieved a "spiritual" success. I wonder whether anyone could say this about JAY-Z. You are so right to ask the question - how is 'black excellence' to be defined. Your remarkable statement " we must view ourselves as excellent, because we are Black and for no other reason" reminds me of a line from an off, off, off Broadway play called Salt --> "How sacred it is to be a descendent of those who were never meant to survive".

Very well-stated and interesting perspective Stephanie. You write, "Cancel culture is a tool that is used to fight against systems, corporations, and people that exploit and prey on individuals that look like me". Here's my question -- based on your words if we cancel everyone and everything in the US that exploit Black people, ALL systems in the US would be cancelled. There would be no systems remaining - they'd all have to be recreated. There would be no corporations left. Do you agree with my assertion? Should we cancel an entire nation? Maybe so, but what do we put in its place?

Yes Darianna, and add to your observations the fact (related to Ashley's post) that JAY-Z's bright hustle still victimizes vulnerable people who are, for example, forced to work in sweat shops that manufacture his products. But maybe all bright hustling, and capitalism itself, exploit us "little people". Question - I know you're graduating next year and will make some good money. What do you say to a person who demands that you "give back" to the community? I know that your situation is different from Jay's and that you didn't exploit anyone by going to law school. But what do you say to people who say "it's my money and I can do what I want with it." Also, if we're demanding that affluent Black people step up, shouldn't we demand that all Americans who have exploited and continue to exploit black people (predatory lenders, just one example) step up.

important observations Kelsey. I so agree with you AND your mother. It is well documented that predominantly black neighborhoods do not get the same types of services that white neighborhoods get. you highlight an important connection between the JAY-Z book and Wilerson's book about The Great Migration - see her discussion about Ida Mae's neighborhood and the real reasons why property values decline.

Good point Camille. Your post also connects with The Warmth of Other Suns and how to measure the success of the Black Americans who participated in The Great Migration. None of them aspired to becoming billionaires (maybe Dr. Robert Pershing Foster did aspire to me a Millionaire) but they wanted better lives and that included financial stability for them and their families. So there's a lot that falls between poverty and becoming a billionaire. I don't think you're suggesting that financial progress is irrelevant - are you? in any event, Isabel Wilkerson considered the lives of the 3 individuals she focused on to be successful even they they were far from wealthy. They simply moved up to the working middle class and that included home ownership. And that's success I think. But most important, the 3 of them attained a freedom to make their own decisions that they had not had in the south. JAY-Z, when he dealt drugs, was far less free than he is now after having accumulated so much wealth.

So very true Chante.... Also, because of the impediments for Black folks in transferring intergeneration wealth, we HAVE to rely on a hustle - whether blight or bright. in other words, the income we earn is essential because wealth accumulation by black families and individuals has been, and continues to be attacked and diminished. Excellent post.

"I knew black people weren't lazy" - I'm so with you Javonne. Accepting disparities in numbers according to race in corporate boardrooms, among law students, on law school faculties, in safe and clean communities, suggests that something is wrong with black people. In other words, when policymakers lament the low numbers of Black people in certain contexts to which many aspire, the only explanation is that Black people are lazy/lacking in intellectual acuity, or racial discrimination. This is what makes it so ridiculous to require plaintiffs to show racial animus under the law in certain instances. If it's not racial animus, something is wrong with black people. That's the only way to explain the pay, wealth, educational and other disparities.

Yassssssssss! - "We need more black lawyers, not defeatists." Yours is a excellently well-done, thought-provoking reflection. I have just one challenge about your 3rd paragraph. I wonder whether readings and discussions about the work of black authors "marginalize the struggles of countless other cultures chasing the American dream." The danger of considering the "countless other cultures" - even if they are people of color -- is that it will, as is typical, obscure the issues pertinent to Black people. There should be time devoted to focus on one issue at a time -- issues relating to Latinx communities, white women, Asian Americans. Rarely in legal discourse do we devote time to the important differences among marginalized groups. We generally - and the law does this -- collapse these kinds of discussions to concerns about "women and minorities".

Really, really insightful post Nick - just great - especially when I think of Ashley's point about bright AND blight hustle victims. You say it well by analyzing Dyson's loose cigarette example. It's a blight hustle with no victims. The most harm occurs to the tobacco companies' victims. But what about blight hustles that are extremely harmful to members of one's community -- hustles like drug dealing? That deserves some "hateration" (forgive my old and out of date cultural reference) doesn't it?

Such a provocatively insightful reflection Katie! You mention Anita Hill - it's interesting that Justice Thomas also used the "high-tech lynching" metaphor in his public statement at the hearings. I have a question for you - I agree that accountability is one of the purposes of cancelling. Do you think that another purpose is protection of those who are injured by the cancelled person's words or conduct? Should we, whoever we are, expect this kind of protection? What do you think? great post!

Catherine - like you I've admired JAY-Z' leadership. You pose such a salient question - why aren't black communities flourishing more as more and more bright hustlers (billionaires, lawyers, etc) contribute to the economy. Perhaps the answer is in the fact that capitalism/hustling is not enough - social justice activism is imperative. This is also true when it comes to the law itself. The Warmth of Other Suns shows the impotence of the law - its futility - without social activism. Yes, Lyndon Johnson signed into law the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 but would he have done so if there had been no Dr. King, no Fannie Lou Hamer (civil rights and women's rights activist.)? Your quote from the book that includes "renting a room in your house" as one form of bright hustling makes me think of the participants in The Great Migrating - the ultimate bright hustlers.

Excellent points Ashley but what about Black capitalism that is done right? i.e. - socially responsible capitalism that does not impose negative externalities on others (like workers)? Capitalism does not HAVE to be harmful. Also, how likely is it that we can dismantle capitalism and work outside a capitalist system? As lawyers and future lawyers, we've already chosen to work within the system/use the master's tools.

Stefanie - your observation about the impact bright hustling( i.e. hard work through traditional channels ) has had historically is right on point. As you read The Warmth of Other Suns, think about the upward mobility of the Black Americans who moved from the South and their plan to work hard and give their children opportunities unavailable in the south. This generated resentment from white southerners concerned about their shrinking source of labor. And white northerners wanted no encroachment by hard working Black Americans into their neighborhoods or workplaces even Black southerners - at least some of them - thought the people participating in the Great Migration were uppity. Nice connection you make between the 2 books....

Eloquently written Sade. Your post highlights the problem of racism and discrimination in the media. How can media companies address this? This is a corporate governance question with which corporate lawyers must deal. I also appreciate your acknowledgment of the treatment of Black women when it comes to holding men who harm them accountable. This, historically, has been a problem also when white men were accused of sexual assault against Black women.

Very well stated Tiara. The bootstrap analogy has been used to justify many legal policies that are antithetical to the wellbeing of Black people in America.