My Vanishing Country audiobook

I came across this book totally by chance, but I am glad I did. It's a short memoir (which are often the best kind when written by such young people, in my opinion). The author fuses his own experiences with those of his family members within the framework of American society and civil rights. I have to admit, I'd never heard of Sellers, but his story is not one I will be quick to forget. He was remarkably candid and even emotional, willing to confess his own mistakes, discuss the many obstacles he faced, yet all the while acknowledging the support he received and the powerful sense of hope and faith that bolstered him through difficult times. I also appreciated how open he was about his struggles with mental health and serious bouts of anxiety, which, though difficult for anyone to talk about, I think is sadly still more of a taboo for men to discuss openly. Sellers came across as quite personable and I am curious to learn more about him and his work. Recommended!Find my book reviews and more at http://www.princessandpen.com

Such a powerful memoir! Mr. Sellers covers the Civil Rights Movement, MLK, the Fierce Urgency of Now, the role of the church, and politics today. He artfully weaves together his story with his dad's. He is particularly transparent about his anxiety and he shares openly about the medical issues of his family, advocating for better maternal care. The Afterward left me in tears. Mr. Sellers narrates his memoir, making it all the more moving.

I rarely read non-fiction but I’m genuinely glad I made an exception and read this one. It is both educational and inspirational. Mr Sellers is a remarkable man. I should thank him for writing it. I’ve given this book 5 stars. It should be required reading for every American.

Cometh the Day, Cometh the BookI “met” the author Bakari Sellers via an interview with Amy Goodman on Democracy Now just two days ago. I googled his name - there was a book - this book - and immediately purchased - and read it - here in Australia. A memoir of a young man out of South Carolina - a former politician now political analyst/commentator for CNN - passionate, honest, perceptive. I write as Trump helps tear apart the US following the tipping point police murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis just a week ago. This book explains so much of the background to the ugly racist treatment of African American citizens of the US. (I note here that Australia is having to confront its own invasion/colonial era and abysmal treatment of First Nations peoples in this country - of land dispossession, massacres, missions, stolen generations of children, over-incarceration and deaths at the hands of police or in gaol - right up until to-day - check the names Miss Dhu, or David Dungay among a list nearly 500 strong of the past two to three decades.) I highly recommend reading this book by Bakari Sellers!

I really enjoyed reading about Bakari's early life and accomplishmentsMy favorite parts are his discussion of:1. his experience growing up in poverty, his awareness at such a young age of the disparities that he witnessed, and his feelings on leaving "behind" in poverty the friends that he grew up with. His early life experiences definitely played a role in his decision to become a representative and fight for Black people in neighborhoods like he grep up in. He's country and proud!2. his experience with anxiety. Despite watching him on TV, I would never have guessed that he dealt with extreme anxiety, especially as a politician who is regularly in the public eye. He also talks about how mental illness has affected both of his parents and how his fear or failure and death contribute to the weight he carries with him 3. his story of his wife and the birth of their twin babies. His wife almost died and he raises awareness to the fact that black women die at a much higher rate than other races when it comes to childbirth because their pain is not taken as seriously.

I grew up in SC. My mother’s family is from rural SC near Blackville and Denmark. I moved out of state in the late 70’s because I could not stomach the racist politics of the state, which still exists today with political segregation - almost all Republican state legislators are white and almost all Democrat state legislators are Black (except for maybe one white guy, who happens to be an old boyfriend). Overall a deeply red state. One of the things I like about Colorado is that ALL state and local elected officials that represent me, as in 100%, are Black Dems.My Vanishing Country is a memoir by Bakari Sellers, the youngest person to be elected to the state legislature. A young Black man from Denmark, SC. Son of SNCC activist Cleveland Sellers. Bakari describes key events that affected his life from the Orangeburg Massacre (Google it if you don’t know what that is), to his days at Morehouse, law school at Univ of SC (also my alma mater), to his campaign for House of Representatives, to his loss in his bid for Lt. Governor, to the Mother Emmanuel shootings, racism in SC, to flying the Confederate flag on Statehouse grounds (a total embarrassment to me), to Black maternal mortality.Granted, I loved the book because I knew so many of the places and people he described, but it was a meaningful book, too. I hope he runs for statewide office again. Highly recommend.

Very timely book! As a white woman from rural Mississippi, I appreciated learning about the perspective of blacks in the rural American South. I also gained a greater historical understanding of the oppression and violence against African Americans in South Carolina particularly, but other areas of the South as well, and how this history shapes the police brutality and inequalities that continue to exist in America today.

Rounding up from 3.5 stars. I enjoyed the book and appreciated it in this moment, but I was also left wanting more.The writing style was casual and authentic making it easy to read. I felt the personality of the author came through very well. This book doesn’t feel ghostwritten! That said, it felt unpolished at times. Many of personal stories shared (especially in the second half of they book) were harrowing and the author did a good job of placing us in the action both physically and emotionally. But other stories landed a little flat for me because the author seemed to be inserting himself in the story. Coming from a politician it was hard to not look at that as political.I appreciated his perspective but at times felt his conclusions lacked nuance. Yes race is a part (an under rated part) of recent politics, but it’s not everything. Someone looking for more comprehensive social and political analysis on recent events may be disappointed.Still, I enjoy Bakari Sellers’ personality and see him as being a positive in our cultural and political landscape. His personality came out well in the book and was endearing. I’m looking forward to more from him in the coming years.

This book is not very long but it packs an incredible punch. My current rating is 4.5, it may change.

Finished: 23.05.2020Genre: memoirRating: BEasy to readFather and son relationship....that I felt forHopscotching places and timesCarefully observedWise but not self-righteousPolitical but not 1-dimensionalIronic "...we all deserve to be free and equal..."...but that is not the case in USA as Bakari skillfully points out!

Beautiful memoir written from the soul. Bakari has wisdom beyond his 35 years as evidenced by the influence history and legacy have on his actions today. I appreciate his honesty and cold hard truths. With so much accomplished in his life thus far, I can only imagine what more is in store for him.