Powerful, by writing the book as a letter to his son, Ta-Nehisi describes with painful beauty the struggles inherent in being seen as black. Don't read this so you can know or truly understand what it is to be black in this country, read it so you can at least be aware of the totality of the struggle, pain, and horror. Read it only to open your eyes, and try not to forget the lessons when you leave the world Ta-Nehisi reveals through his words, until the final page.