Fracture

Barack Obama, the Clintons, and the Racial Divide

By: Joy-Ann Reid

Narrated by: Joy-Ann Reid

Barack Obama's speech on the Edmund Pettus Bridge to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the Selma to Montgomery marches should have represented the culmination of Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream of racial unity. Yet, in Fracture, MSNBC national correspondent Joy-Ann Reid shows that, despite the progress we have made, we are still a nation divided—as seen recently in headline-making tragedies such as the killing of Trayvon Martin and the uprisings in Ferguson and Baltimore.

With President Obama's election, Americans expected an open dialogue about race but instead discovered the irony of an African American president who seemed hamstrung when addressing racial matters, leaving many of his supporters disillusioned and his political enemies sharpening their knives. To understand why that is so, Reid examines the complicated relationship between Barack Obama and Bill and Hillary Clinton, and how their varied approaches to the race issue parallel the challenges facing the Democratic party itself: the disparate parts of its base and the whirl of shifting allegiances among its power players—and how this shapes the party and its hopes of retaining the White House.

Fracture traces the party's makeup and character regarding race from the civil rights days to the Obama presidency. Filled with key political players such as Shirley Chisholm, Jesse Jackson, John Lewis, and Al Sharpton, it provides historical context while addressing questions arising as we head into the next national election: Will Hillary Clinton's campaign represent an embrace of Obama's legacy or a repudiation of it? How is Hillary Clinton's stand on race both similar to and different from Obama's, or from her husband's? How do minorities view Mrs. Clinton, and will they line up in huge numbers to support her—and what will happen if they don't?

Veteran reporter Joy-Ann Reid investigates these questions and more, offering breaking news, fresh insight, and experienced insider analysis, mixed with fascinating behind-the-scenes drama, to illuminate three of the most important figures in modern political history, and how race can affect the crucial 2016 election and the future of America itself.

Intelligent Incite On Race In Politics

I'm a huge fan of the beautiful, intelligent articulate political analyst know as Ms Joy Ann Reid. There's so much behind the scenes information in this book about the Clinton's that I had no idea even happened. Joy pulls back the curtains and reveals a story that liberal and mainstream media have almost completely ignored. Democrats like me love exposing the racism that the republican party uses to manipulate their base but we hardly ever scrutinize the leaders in our party who use race just as callously as republicans do. Joy has really opened my eyes and I hope this kind of dicussion finds it's way into liberal media so the voters can make more informed decisions about who we put in office.

Joy's book is well worth a listen and her performance as narrator is absolutely flawless. Is there anything this lady isn't good at? I don't think so.

good listen

very good summary of race relations and the complicated racial politics of recent years. worth the time. every citizen should try to understand this issue.

Quite simply excellent.

Would have to work really hard to make it better. Fantastic research and very well written.

A history refresher

Thank you, Ms. Reid for reminding us of the Clinton antics not only during the 2008 presidential campaign, but also during Bill Clinton's two terms in office.
I also think Fracture was very balanced in how candidate/President Barack Obama was portrayed.
I recommend this book. 👍🏽

Definitely a conversation starter for real talk

Joy-Ann did a nice job of telling the story of Democrats. Listeners will walk away with answers and questions for themselves, others, and the party. My big questions are: 1) Where does the party go from here? 2) Is every Democrat ready to answer some really hard questions and confront some social and political demons? 3)Who does the party speak to in the future? 4) How does the party speak in the future?