Seen and Unseen

Technology, Social Media, and the Fight for Racial Justice

By: Marc Lamont Hill, Todd Brewster

Narrated by: Marc Lamont Hill, Todd Brewster

A riveting exploration of how visual media has shifted the narrative on race and reignited the push towards justice by the author of the “worthy and necessary” (The New York Times) Nobody Marc Lamont Hill and the bestselling author and acclaimed journalist Todd Brewster.

With his signature “clear and courageous” (Cornel West) voice Marc Lamont Hill and New York Times bestselling author Todd Brewster weave four recent pivotal moments in America’s racial divide into their disturbing historical context—starting with the killing of George Floyd. Seen and Unseen reveals the connections between our current news headlines and social media feeds and the country’s long struggle against racism.

Drawing on the powerful role of technology as a driver of history, identity, and racial consciousness, Seen and Unseen asks why, after so much video confirmation of police violence on people of color, it took the footage of George Floyd to trigger an overwhelming response of sympathy and outrage.

In the vein of The New Jim Crow and Caste, Seen and Unseen incisively explores what connects our moment to the history of race in America but also what makes today different from the civil rights movements of the past and what it will ultimately take to push social justice forward.

The parallels between “then” and “now” are chilling.

The parallels between “then” and “now” are chilling. Much love to Brother Mark Lamont Hill. I loved this read and I am grateful as always to his devotion to justice.

Great book

Really nice educational book that also frames situations with African American history and perception. Read!

A short history - racial equity

I wanted to like this book.

Perhaps I read it too late.

In summary:

Racism is historic.
It’s accelerated due to social media.
George Floyd is human.
It seemed rush- like many books published amid the “rush to learn about equity” immediately after post Floyd. There wasn’t any new information unearthed outside of George Floyd’s upbringing and a few anecdotes on the historicity of the United States. If you are new to the topic, there is some probative value, if you are relatively knowledgeable, it doesn’t offer much.