Blackout: How Black America Can Make Its Second Escape from the Democrat Plantation

“Blackout” is a thoughtful and clearly articulated work of non fiction authored by an Female African American Conservative, Candace Owens. The work reminded me of other such contemporary works by Thomas Sowell and Doctor Ben Carson, as well as works from the past by Frederick Douglas, Booker T. Washington and Carter G. Woodson, all of which I recommend, regardless of one’s political views. I read and listened to this book as an audiobook. The audiobook was narrated by the author. I prefer audiobooks narrated by the author as I feel I am hearing her words the way she wants them received. This book was clearly articulated and thoughts clearly explained in a manner in which I could listen and digest the material while commuting. However there were times when some of the material was more complicated and I needed to reread some passages. The author spends some time discussing African American History and historical figures. I am a student of African American History and culture. Her material was consistent with my prior studies and what I did not know I looked up and found her historical work accurate. There is always more than one way to look at any complicated social issue. I am deeply interested in hearing both sides. This work comes at issues from the conservative side, as do works of the above listed authors. There is also a plethora of works from the progressive and liberal viewpoint. If one is interested in reading such a book from the early twentieth century, one might consider “The Souls of Black Folk” by W. E. B. Du Bois. A more recent work that I found extremely illuminating is “How The South Won The Civil War” by Heather Cox Richardson. I am also currently reading a book “”Walk With Me” by Kate Clifford Larson that I am both enjoying and learning from. As for this work under review, the longer I read this particular work the more I liked it. I learned a good deal. I am very glad to have had the chance to read and listen to this book. Thank You for taking the time to read this review.

I have just completed reading a book written by Candace Owens titled Blackout. Of all the books I have recently read, this is by far the best and given the current state of politics and life in America in 2020, it may be the best book I have ever read. Why did I choose this book to read? If you have ever heard Candace Owens on any of the television talk shows or better yet, heard any one of her many podcasts, you know exactly why I decided to read her book. She is someone who speaks the truth in spite of a barrage of criticism from the Black Communities, the many undeserved and self-appointed “Black Leaders”, and worse, our extremely biased main stream news media. You could easily just read the Introduction and Forward, put the book down and you will have received far more than what you paid for the book. What will you learn by reading Owens’ book? You will learn a lot about America’s history as seen through her eyes and memory of someone who just happens to be Black. You will learn how beliefs are formed, correctly and incorrectly. You will learn how to change your attitude and belief about what you may have been taught to believe. You will learn how minds can be changed, but to make that change, how for some, it may take a significant life-changing event in one’s life. Problems and Solutions. It is easy to point out a problem. It is not so easy to provide solutions. The manner in which Owens outlines how we as a nation arrived at the deteriorating issues of “race in America” is very simple to understand. Not so easy to understand is how it has been permitted to not only continue, but to become much worse instead of improving even under the watch of the country’s first Black President which defies logic. Owens discuses her decision to become a Conservative journalist. The Black Family, then and now. Feminism. Socialism/Communism. Education, the most important of all the chapters in the book. The main stream news media and how it has taken political sides to the detriment of not just Black Americans but all Americans. On how so many Americans have chosen the path of providing excuses to problems instead of finding or creating solutions. She delves into Faith and how faith provided the resource to overcome and endure the years of slavery and how Faith has come under attack in America and more importantly WHY it has come under attack and by whom. She provides a very interesting discussion on Black Culture and how it to has come under attack. Why it is under attack and by whom. Her discussion on Slavery in America and around the world is priceless! Owens believes in identifying a problem and then as stated, finding and/or creating solutions. She ends her book with what she believes is the solution to racial discourse in America. She also points out that should America and its Constitution ever fall, there is no fallback position and the entire world will suffer. Who should read this book? I would like to think that EVERY American would benefit from reading this book. Therefore, every American SHOULD read it but especially Black Americans! If you truly want to see America become the America you would want everyone to grow and prosper within, that trip may very well start with reading this book by Candace Owens! Would I read it again? Probably not. However, I will use it as a resource for quotes, sections on history and the many references she uses to confirm what she has written. Would I give it a gift? Absolutely! One lesson that made it well worth the read is that you realize you are not alone in your own thinking about our 2020 America.

I had been waiting for this book's release since the beginning of summer, and it was everything I imagined it would be. Candace Owens is as amazing a writer as she is a speaker. What I love about her is that she says what most of us can only dare think; she says it in such a way that it's difficult to disagree with her because you can SEE it all around you, even if the culture doesn't allow one to say it out loud. As a Hispanic American, I feel that a lot of what she says applies to us too, and until we get our version of her, she is all we have to tell our community their truths! Where can I even begin? She unapologetically addresses the problem of welfare and why it hurts the Black community rather than help. It keeps people down and dependent on what little the government provides, taking away the incentive to work hard as people used to before FDR's New Deal. Back then, after the abolition of slavery and before the New Deal, African Americans were actually thriving in business and getting married. The New Deal and the hippie movement of the 60s which preached drugs and free love was the ruin of the community (see page 203 for more). Now women are not as picky about who they choose to procreate with because they know they have the welfare system to fall back on. The men now have no incentive to do better either, and no community has suffered more from this than the Black community, according to Owens; I would add the Hispanic community to that as well, but perhaps not as bad. "Emboldened by the appeal of free government money... and as some black women discovered that the government could act as provider for their families, they often neglected to hold black men accountable to their children, which over time can lead to choosing less suitable partners for marriage and fatherhood. Government assistance also provides no incentive to black men to step up. This was the first major indentation that the government made upon black culture. Today, hearing black hip hip artists rap and sing about their various 'baby-mamas' is considered culturally normative" (50). Owens offers up a different ideology than the one taught by the Left by issuing a challenge: It's time for a major black exodus from victimhood, dependency, misinformation, and from the Democrat Party, which perpetuates all three. "For black Americans voting Democrat has come to be viewed not only as an expectation nut as a condition of blackness. Left-wing candidates feel so certain that there is no variety of thought or experience among blacks that they are comfortable publicly stripping us of our identity, should we offer any objection to the status quo" (225). Owens knows better than anyone the social consequences of going against the status quo, and she talks about the unfortunate times when she's been attacked and accused of "acting white" for speaking the language right. I can relate to her because I experienced similar accusations from the locals when I decided to major in classic literature and similar hate when I would speak out against illegal immigration. She also talks about how illegal immigration is hurting the black community, but the Democrats continue to support it because they need to "save" more victims to vote for them. Not really saving them, of course, but merely giving them a bandaid in the form of help that doesn't really help them THRIVE. There is simply no substitute for hard work and getting out of our own holes. "Based on our history, we should be on the front lines of the fight against socialism, and yet the Left's promise for more charity continues to prove irresistible. Our internal conflict is understandable-- why shouldn't the government, after years of slavery, not eliminate black debt by subsidizing black housing, and otherwise funding black lives? The answer is simple: because a painkiller cannot eliminate cancer. No short-term fix, no Band-Aid over the deeply infected wound, will ever fix the underlying problems that plague our community. Handouts absent hard work make men weak, and with a depleted self esteem; they stifle the entrepreneurial spirit, by removing our innate senses of drive and aspiration. Poverty and despair become the life of the man who is given a fish but never learns to cast his own line" (124). In summary, Blackout is intelligently argued and well-researched. This book destroys the myth that all black should vote Democrat and demonstrates why turning to the right will leave more successful, happier and more self-sufficient.

First of all I found this book to be quite delightful. The book starts out with a brief history of Candace’s family under upbringing. She was setting the stage for letting people know who she is and where she came from. From our account she came from a modest upbringing, with great family values, and great work ethics. She took the time in the early part of the book to share some of her early mistakes and some of the trials and tribulations she has been through particularly in high school. The work then dive into various concepts starting with conservatism then move into the importance of family, and without missing a beat she jumps into some of the most controversial topics today. She took the time to talk about feminism and what she believe the earlier feminist who started the movement would’ve felt about the feminism today. She talk about this notion of “overcivilization” I am not sure if she coin the term, but from her explanation it is the fact that we have gotten so far in what we wanted to achieve and when there’s nothing else (Hardships). We seem to manufacture hardships so we could have something to fight. This concept itself was quite profound to me and I find it quite enlightening. Unfortunately she did not spend too much time on this idea. The author then touched on education, the media and then close the book with; Excuses - meaning how we make excuses for not succeeding in life. Faith - the importance of which is vital to our continuing society. Culture. Slavery - However slavery from the viewpoint not of victimhood, but a more thoughtful and introspective viewpoint that is more beneficial than victimhood. It is important to know that this book was written before the 2020 election where Donald Trump was not re-elected. A large part of the work is trying to show that based on the choice of political parties the one that is beneficial to Black Americans is actually the republican party. She spent quite a deal of time on this point. Which at one point I was led to believe that this was maybe an important push for the republican party. However, she vindicated herself by saying that it is not about the party you serve is a party that serve you, in essence. Therefore, making it clear that black Americans should not be wedded to anyone party, in the end. In sum, I find this book to be quite refreshing and delightful as I’ve said before. And while she’s a Republican it is clear that a lot of her work comes from libertarian values. I would classify her as a Libertarian Republican. I can see the work of Thomas soul and other great libertarian writers, to include Larry Elder, in the way she thinks that came through her writing here. The book is a highly recommended read for anyone looking to gain greater insights into where the American political parties are coming from and a nice journey Through time of not only the struggles of black Americans, but also their triumphs. Most importantly, it is a well laid out argument for why the path that black Americans are on is a ruined us one for them, and that they should make a switch today. This is embodied in her hashtag, #Blexit.

Candace presents shocking statistics, quotes from famous historical figures and politicians, and offers a new perspective on the social reforms put forth by democrats that she argues, not only hampers the black community and holds them down, but keeps them enslaved and has been for decades. I was skeptical at first to read this book. for various reasons - mostly the hype around Candace right now, but Candace really came through with evidence and claims that parallel several books I've already read. One notably and fresh in my mind, "The Forgotten Man," by Amity Shlaes which I put down for a moment to leaf through Candace's book. There are, of course, parallels to Thomas Sowell's work and rightfully so. As he does make his material digestible, Candace will target a fresher audience while also making it approachable. She also tackles arguments that I couldn't get over coming from being a democrat myself. Social issues like abortion where I've always sat on the fence and used to say that I was pro-choice, but against using it as a form of birth control, and single-parent homes (I studied psychology and childhood development in college and knew the statistics of single-parent households vs two-parent families, but felt obligated to the left because of the exceptions) Candace gave me a clearer view on those internal struggles I've had for years. I thank her for also bringing up questions I hadn't even thought about before. Personal Note - I, too, had suffered from a victim mentality and how freeing it is to take responsibility for one's actions and choices, and therefor, taking control of one's own life. I hope this helps others free themselves of this burdening mindset as well. It's the best takeaway in this book, in my opinion.

Blackout by Candace Owens #Blexit Simon and Schuster Logical, to the point, strong-willed all describe Candace Owens. The author concisely shares her research, familial background and her own personal experiences to help readers understand how she came to be the person she is today, a down to earth, intelligent person who knows her thoughts, values and herself thoroughly. The roots of the Ku Klux Klan are discussed, Candace’s grandparents and the strong base they gave her are shared and her experience with the NAACP and the media during a harassment episode during her high school years help us to understand her enlightenment of the true nature of politics and agendas. The next chapter opened my eyes to the welfare system and the beginnings and history of Planned Parenthood. Feminism and segregation extremism are discussed and how they’ve both gone overboard and cause harm in the opposite of their integral beginnings. Socialism is brought to light with the description of Venezuelan struggles and true freedom is explained as personal responsibility. Biased media and it’s detrimental effects and long reaching consequences was completely disturbing. The no excuses section puts our choices first and foremost as the reason for success or failure. I had never heard of the desire to rewrite the Constitution to reflect each generation and their beliefs. How frightening that idea is! I already feel that humanity struggles to learn from the past and others’ experiences and rewriting the constitution would just cement that. Candace calls for faith and family above all and if family is America’s priority, we would all be better off in every way! She’s admirable for addressing the full truth behind all stories and history and I’m grateful that she shares the information and knowledge with everyone. I’m astounded by the twisted logic Antifa (updated version of the Ku Klux Klan) and it sickens me. “We have the right-no, the obligation-to think for ourselves...”. Gain valuable knowledge-read this book! 5 stars!

Candace Owens, Blackout. How Black America Can Make Its Second Escape from the Democrat Plantation. Candace Owens is an intelligent, brave, young, black woman who in recent years has challenged the assumption that African Americans should support the Democrat Party and its liberal platform for black America. As a result of her outlook, she’s had to put up with personal attacks for displaying her independence. Undeterred, she has continued to appeal to Black Americans to open their minds to a different point of view on the history of race relations from slavery to the present. Blackout is her latest effort to explain her outlook. Relying on history lessons, the writings of famous authors, and her own experience, Owens demonstrates how the liberal left takes Black votes for granted and fails to reward Black support with policies that aid the Black community with better schools, good jobs or strong community institutions. In a dozen clearly written chapters, Owens exposes the duplicity of the Democrat Party over the years from LBJ’s “great society” to Barack Obama’s paltry record in aiding the African-American community. Along the way she questions feminism’s commitment to Black women, exposes identity politics’ dead-end, and uncovers the negative results of affirmative action and government handouts. The chapter I found most edifying is entitled “On Culture,” in which Owens contrasts the music created by Black musicians not that long ago with today’s music that exposes “the slow decay of morality; less clothing, more profanity, less education.” (223) She reveals Hillary Clinton’s pretending to be cool in an interview with a Black d.j. And, she repeats Joe Biden’s telling Charlamagne the God “If you have a problem figuring out whether you’re for me or Trump, then you aint black.” (225) That despite Biden’s role in passing a notorious crime bill in 1994 that increased the percentage of blacks serving time. Blackout is meant primarily for a black audience, but anyone interested in learning how the Democrats have exploited the black community over the decades and how one courageous young woman sees things will find her arguments detailed, clear and instructive. I recommend it highly.

As I expected, Candace Owens’ book is PERFECTION! It’s extremely well written & I can practically hear her voice in my head as I read it. As a black woman I can relate to so many of the things that she’s covered in this book, such as the the trap of being on welfare. It reminded me of my own mother telling me once “Welfare mamas make welfare babies” as a warning to not get dependent on the system to provide for me & my daughter (I was a young single mom at the time). I also love what Candace has written regarding modern day feminism being no friend to the black community. She reminds us of the Emmitt Till tragedy whilst warning against the dangers of a “believe all women” mentality... Candace just hits the nail on the head on so many important issues! I think this is a MUST read for everyone, not just black Americans! Every few pages I just found myself getting excited & texted a friend about what I’d just read! This book is definitely needed right now, given the current state of affairs in our country & it certainly solidifies my position as a PROUD CONSERVATIVE BLACK WOMAN!!!