Letters to a Young Victim: Hope and Healing in America's Inner Cities (Free Press Paperbacks)

By Armstrong Williams

Book Overview

In a series of compassionate yet provocative letters to a young African American trying to turn his life around, one of America's leading conservatives argues that individual responsibility, not government involvement, is the key to solving the problems of our most devastated communities.

In this tough-minded and inspirational book, popular syndicated radio and television talk show host Armstrong Williams offers possible solutions and hopeful words to a community in crisis. In a series of letters to a young black man called Brad, a drug dealer and murderer seeking to transform his life, Williams applies the lessons he learned growing up on a farm in Marion, South Carolina, and, later, working in Washington's corridors of power to find answers to Brad's problems and the difficult questions facing Americans today, especially young black men. His conclusion is clear and powerful: only through hard work, faith, social responsibility, and individual empowerment can we create a better life for ourselves and our children.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0684824663
• ISBN13: 9780684824666
• Release Date: October 1996
• Publisher: Touchstone Books
• Length: 128 Pages
• Weight: 0.37 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 5.5" x 8.6"

Customer Reviews

Articulate and Candid

Mr Armstrong has written a very good book about the average so-called "ghetto" African-American young man. The subject of his book is a 29 year old black man named Brad. After introducing you to Brad and the circumstances in his life, Mr Armstrong, thinks about his encounter with Brad and then writes a series of letters addressing Brad and his condition. That condition and the many problems in Brad's life are what makes this book so interesting.This leeter format, where we encounter one topic at a time, in a personal letter, opens up the issues on a down to earth style. Not everyone will agree with Armstrong's insight and perespectives as to Brad's diagnosis of the "black-man's" condition in urban America, but the insightfullness is bound to stir dialogue. Most liberals will outright dismiss this short work with straw men attacks and Ad Hominums. Don not be fooled by such silly and distorted speak. Instead, read this book for yourself and wrestle with these issue.It is time the African-American community as a whole see a different view about the dangers hurting their own people.

The Perception of Modern Victim-hood

This book is well written, easy to read, and interesting. Please disregard Ad Hominem reviews that slander the auther without seriously engaging his message. The book is not a detialed analysis of social problems and it isn't intended to be. It is addressing that African-American urban culture has relied extensively on the idea of victimization.Most of this book is done with each chapter being opened in a letter format as he writes to us by writing to a young black man who considers himself to be a victim of, well - just about everything. The young man doesn't see how he is responsible for many of his criminal and immoral behavior. This letter format is effective and if people can, for a moment put aside their biases, maybe they willlearn something or at least, understand a different perspective on the issue.One does not have to agree with all of Mr. Armstrong's points to fully grasp that he is addressing a very real problem amoung young black men. This book accomplishes exactly what it is suppoosed to do - engage us as if we are involved in the discussion.