Inspired by the O.J. Simpson case, Protecting Our Own explores the
reasons behind the rise of the 'black protectionism' phenomenon and its
implications for the future. Comparing the plight of the African
American community to the melancholy lyrics but vibrant beat of the
blues, Russell-Brown uses the lyrics of these songs to paint a vivid
picture of the African American community struggling through the burdens
of racial oppression such as second tier status and lynchings solely due
to the color of their skins. Russell-Brown explains the feelings of
protectionism towards African American celebrities, as many African
Americans feel that they have to 'protect their own' because no one else
will. Many African Americans, Russell-Brown argues, feel that African
American are still under siege and that the few lucky African Americans
who find a way into the spotlight deserve a break. However, with more
and more African Americans in the spotlight, this practice has new
consequences. Protecting Our Own considers these issues in detail. The
book sets out to accomplish three goals: to define Black protectionism,
to explain how it works and how it can be reformulated to work in the
best interests of the African American community. The book uses cases
such as the infamous O.J. Simpson case to illustrate and explain the
motivations behind black protectionism, even if the defendant is accused
of grievous moral and ethical wrongdoing. Russell-Brown criticizes the
use of black protectionism as a knee jerk reaction and expresses the
need to hold African American celebrities accountable for their
misdeeds. She suggests a selective approach to black protectionism that
will benefit the African American community at large rather than just a
lucky few. This book praises black protectionism at its best--a fight
that will ensure racial justice in the future.
