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Faces At The Bottom Of The Well: The Permanence Of Racism Paperback – October 6, 1993

by Derrick Bell (Author)
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 639 ratings
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The classic work on American racism and the struggle for racial justice

In Faces at the Bottom of the Well, civil rights activist and legal scholar Derrick Bell uses allegory and historical example to argue that racism is an integral and permanent part of American society. African American struggles for equality are doomed to fail so long as the majority of whites do not see their own well-being threatened by the status quo. Bell calls on African Americans to face up to this unhappy truth and abandon a misplaced faith in inevitable progress. Only then will blacks, and those whites who join with them, be in a position to create viable strategies to alleviate the burdens of racism. "Freed of the stifling rigidity of relying unthinkingly on the slogan 'we shall overcome,'" he writes, "we are impelled both to live each day more fully and to examine critically the actual effectiveness of traditional civil rights remedies."
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Previous page
  1. Print length
    222 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Basic Books
  4. Publication date
    October 6, 1993
  5. Dimensions
    5.5 x 0.5 x 8 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0465068146
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0465068142
  8. Lexile measure
    1340L
  9. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"A starkly existentialist vision . . . chilling. . . . The stories challenge old assumptions and then linger in the mind." -- --New York Times Book Review

"A testament of faith--faith in the importance of fighting back." -- --The Nation

"Stingingly effective....He is pushing a sort of racial existentialism...anchored in what is rather than in hopes of what will be." -- --Washington Post Book World

About the Author

Derrick Bell (1930-2011) was a civil rights attorney, pioneering legal scholar, professor, and political activist. A full-time visiting professor at New York University Law School for over two decades, he was previously the first tenured African American professor on the faculty of Harvard Law School and the first African American dean of the University of Oregon School of Law. He is also the author of And We Are Not Saved and several other books.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Basic Books; Reprint edition (October 6, 1993)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 222 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0465068146
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0465068142
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 1340L
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 6.4 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.5 x 8 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 639 ratings

About the author

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Derrick A. Bell

Derrick A. Bell

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Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
639 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Andrew Nelson
5.0 out of 5 stars Great read
Reviewed in the United States on January 6, 2022
Verified Purchase
Recommended that everyone who considered themselves a critical thinker read this book. It sheds so much light on the continued self induced plight of America.
4 people found this helpful
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Kaleia Martin
5.0 out of 5 stars An oddly refreshing truth
Reviewed in the United States on January 26, 2022
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Aside from the great storytelling and stimulating conversations, this book is a challenge to everything I was taught about Black struggle and liberation. The idea that racism is here to stay seems like it should be disparaging but actually feels quite liberating. It takes the pressure off of Black leaders to be perfect and to work themselves literally to death. To me it is the signal to do what I can to fight injustice AND what I can to live a full life despite those injustices. It feels like permission to explore and create whatever life I want, because I finally accept that I can’t change this system despite how perfect an activist I try to be. But will I still fight, hell yeah. Will I still commit to easing the suffering of Black people, absolutely. I will do it because it is meaningful. And I will also choose to live as freely as I can, and that is also a meaningful act of resistance. Very grateful to Dr. Bell for these words and his willingness to say the unpopular truth.
25 people found this helpful
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Michael Eaglin
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautifully written and engaging
Reviewed in the United States on July 20, 2021
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A masterful scholar, activist, and thinker Bell uses fiction, as Jesus used the parables in the Bible, to help the reader understand complex legal theory in pragmatic bites commiserate with our understanding. His insistence that racism is a permanent feature of American culture wasn’t and isn't an admission of defeat but a call to continue fighting for our humanity just as our ancestors did.
8 people found this helpful
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NOLA
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book
Reviewed in the United States on August 20, 2021
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This is clearly the best book that I’ve read that clearly explains the predicament of Black Americans. What we perceive as progress fuels continuing efforts to chain us to the bottom rung of society.
4 people found this helpful
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Witness
5.0 out of 5 stars Timeless Social Commentary on Race
Reviewed in the United States on June 19, 2018
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A poignant and accurate illustration on race that unfortunately stands the test of time. Without completely rebuking racial equality, the author presents a compelling perspective that demands serious contemplation and leaves the reader questioning his or her role in the great epic battle of racial equality.
6 people found this helpful
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Deb BW
4.0 out of 5 stars Compelling ideas, odd delivery
Reviewed in the United States on August 16, 2020
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Wish I had the option of giving it a 4.5 as I think it is a worthy read. Sadly, the underlying message of this book is as compelling and relevant today and it was when originally released. The odd format of a fictionalized conversation about fictional stories was off putting early in the book; however, I appreciated it more as the book went along. A book I would recommend to bookclubs interested in discussing systemic racism.
4 people found this helpful
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Ed F
5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent read and unfortunately
Reviewed in the United States on May 19, 2018
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An excellent read and unfortunately, still relevant more than 25 years later. The topics covered in this book runs the full gamut of race theory subject matter. Derrick Bell makes a strong, though heart-breaking arguments for why racism as we know it in the United States may be a permanent feature of life in this country. In light of events of the last few years, I fear Mr. Bell’s prophetic book has gained more credence now than when it was first published.
16 people found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars The book is.an allegorical masterpiece
Reviewed in the United States on June 13, 2021
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Native Blacks must consider words of wisdom from our prophet and teacher Dr. Derek Bell. His use of analogies, smilies, metaphors and allegories to.paint a focused.picture of the permanence of racism white supremacy in the united states let me make this clear he made it very clear !
17 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Ewurabena
5.0 out of 5 stars Good
Reviewed in Canada on April 14, 2023
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Good
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The Reader
5.0 out of 5 stars 100% recommend if you want to know what CRT actually is!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 6, 2021
Verified Purchase
Like many, I only first heard of CRT in the various alarm bells being rung recently. I decided to go straight to the source to figure out what it was all about and boy was I suprised. This is an incredible work - even though it was written 30 years ago, it feels very contemporary. The insights apply to this day. Its also a very different type of book. It isnt scholarly and dense. The various chapters are written as allegories which help you really see the points that are being made (and in my opinion, on a more human, visceral level than they would if this was written differently). I would definitely recommend!
One person found this helpful
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Mike190
5.0 out of 5 stars Powerfully insightful
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 12, 2020
Verified Purchase
I am yet to even finish the book but so far the information that has been poured into this book is still as relevant today as it was in 1992. I feel I need to go back and read some of Derrick Bell earlier work to have a more depth look into his way of thinking and writing. Thanks for also notifying me about the replacement item and giving me a full refund and sending a free copy!
One person found this helpful
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Boby Mafi
5.0 out of 5 stars Derrick Bell
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 10, 2013
Verified Purchase
The book has the stuff l need for my research on denial of racism. It explains who there is no silver bullet in resolving issues to of racism globally. Its not theory heavy by provides good insight based on relevant and l should say rich experience of Bell as a worker for NAACP and a teacher in various US Universities.I recommend the book to people researching on Racism, Global citizenship, Development and Education and global social justice
One person found this helpful
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