Today’s Must-Read Monday blog post is about The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together by Heather McGhee, the latest book I’ve finished—and let me tell you, it didn’t disappoint. Written by yet another brilliant Black woman, this book dives deep into the ways racism doesn’t just harm Black and Brown people—it’s stealing opportunities and brighter futures from all of us. Heather’s work stands out because she weaves her personal journey, historical insights, and hard-hitting statistics to build a powerful case against the “zero-sum” mindset that keeps us divided and stuck as a nation.
As we approach 2025, this book feels like essential reading for anyone wanting to understand how we ended up here and, more importantly, how we can move forward together. Heather’s arguments echo the same urgency and wisdom that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. offered in his final book, Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community? Just like Dr. King, Heather challenges us to imagine a society rooted in solidarity, where no one’s progress is seen as a loss for someone else. It’s a vision of prosperity for ALL of us—and one we desperately need to embrace.
One of the central narratives that stuck with me was her story about the drained public swimming pools of the mid-20th century. Rather than integrate the pools and allow Black children to swim alongside white children, many towns literally filled them with cement, depriving everyone of access. This “zero-sum” mindset—that progress for one group must mean a loss for another—is at the heart of what McGhee critiques. And she clarifies that this scarcity mentality is not just morally bankrupt but also economically foolish. Racism, she argues, is costing us jobs, healthcare, education, and even our environment, all because too many people cling to the idea that we can’t rise together.
Heather doesn’t just point out what’s wrong—she gives us hope and a way forward. The book highlights stories of interracial coalitions where people have come together to fight for policies like raising the minimum wage and expanding healthcare. These examples remind us that solidarity isn’t just a feel-good idea; it’s a strategy that works. Everyone benefits when we move away from fear and competition and start working together. The math is simple: investing in people, regardless of their race, makes for a stronger, healthier society.
Fundamentally, we have to ask ourselves, how is it fair and how is it smart to price a degree out of reach for the working class just as that degree became the price of entry into the middle class? And how is it fair or smart to create a new source of debt for a generation when that debt makes it harder for us to achieve the hallmarks of middle-class security: a house, marriage, and retirement savings? There is neither fairness nor wisdom in this system, only self-sabotage.
pages 43-44
Reading the book as a Black woman felt deeply affirming and challenging at the same time. Heather names the things so many of us feel but don’t always have the words for, especially when it comes to how racism can consume every aspect of our lives. But more importantly, she shows us what’s possible when we let go of the zero-sum lie. This book is a must-read for anyone who cares about justice, progress, and healing—not just for Black folks, but for all of us. Heather reminds us that our liberation is bound together, and it’s time to start acting like it.
I’d love to hear your thoughts! If you’ve read this book or have come across it, please share your insights in the comments below. I look forward to engaging with your perspectives!
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