***I was granted an ARC of this via Netgalley from the publisher.***

The black community in the United States has had a complicated relationships with the office of the President of the United States. In the book, Prejudential: Black America and the Presidents, Margaret Kimberly examines the relationship and the attitudes both private and public and their actions or inaction of each presidents of the US towards the black community. Kimberly forces the readers to recognize the reluctance of US presidents to recognize the humanity of blacks in America, if they did at all, in exchange for political security in office. Those who did take steps did so when they had no other choice to capture the black vote. No bars are held back from any president. There are a few things I feel are overstated and I would liked to see an even deeper analysis of each president but I feel like this was a good introduction to the presidents and their complex interactions with the black community.

Rating: 3.5/5 stars. Would recommend to a friend.

This book is very informative. There is a lot the history books left out. Very interesting concept on how slaves, slavery, race relations, etc was handled by all presidents. It held my interest and I will recommend it to many that I know. I am very glad that I was given the honor of reading the ARC of this book. This book should be required reading. Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the arc of this book in return for my honest opinion. Receiving the book in this manner had no bearing on this review. Kudos to the author!!!

I thought this was going to be a book that answered the question: “given what we know about each president, which ones were in fact racists?” Instead, it pursued this assignment: “find at least one instance of racism in every president or his administration, and use it to support a claim that he was (or is) a racist.” As far as i know, nothing presented here was wrong, and it certainly illuminates the historical prevalence and persistence of racial inequality and injustice in this country. But to paint every individual who has ever held the office of president as a racist is a stretch. Such a conclusion undermines the theory that it’s meant to support. I mean, if everyone’s a racist, then no one’s a racist. The definition of racist collapses if there’s no such thing as a non-racist.

The writing was plain and straightforward. The research, though very limited and laser-focused, was original. The book was readable, and provocative. I didn’t dislike it, but i’m not sure i can really recommend it. I don’t think it really advances the discussion very well.

Although not American I have read a number of books recently on African American history covering such subjects as the Civil Rights movement, FDR's Black Cabinet and the 1898 white supremacist insurrection at Wilmington. One common theme is the hostility or at best indifference displayed by the federal government and the supine and spineless actions of the sitting presidents, always fearful of the electoral consequences of upsetting the racist south. Therefore Margaret Kimberley's concise, impassioned but also shamefully accurate account of the legacy of the 45 presidents to race equality and social justice did not particularly come as much of a surprise. Although for others, educated and influenced by historians and the media who have actively created and progressed what is essentially a false narrative, this book may be quite a shock.

It wasn't the chapters on the numerous slave owning or segregationist supporting presidents that I found most interesting but those that look at separating myth from reality on presidents like Lincoln, FDR, Kennedy, Clinton and even Obama who have received almost reverential status among large sections of the black community. Also although not covered to the same degree the book also looks at the genocidal actions directed towards the indigenous peoples. The conclusion is that far from being an aberration, Trump, although in a more transparent form, is a continuation of a theme that has existed since the creation of the country. Certain to spark discussion and debate, this is a book that is recommended for those who take a more sceptical look at often accepted truths.

This is an interesting account of each president from Washington on down to the present time. What they have done for the blacks and what they promised and never did. Also includes some of the story of the movement of the Indians as well.