The Second by Carol Anderson

THE SECOND by Carol Anderson (One Person, No Vote and We Are Not Yet Equal) is all about “Race and Guns in a Fatally Unequal America.” While her earlier work has been almost universally acclaimed, THE SECOND has had a somewhat more mixed reception; its text contains an introduction, four chapters and an epilogue which explore the relationship between gun ownership, slavery, and racism. Anderson explores the history of gun rights from the Revolutionary War and Constitutional Convention, the Haitian Revolution and other uprisings, and more modern day events linked to the Black Panthers and the 2016 shooting of Philando Castile, a Black man with a license to carry a gun. The founders’ thinking in regards to the Second Amendment is clearly an emotional and much debated topic with relevance today. Overall, Anderson provides a fascinating and well-researched (more than a fourth of the book is devoted to Notes) look at America’s gun culture through the lens of social injustice. Additional background is available in Anderson’s interview on NPR’s Fresh Air program or from an shorter piece written by Anderson and recently published in The Guardian. THE SECOND received starred reviews from Kirkus and Library Journal.

Please note that Carol Anderson will be speaking tonight at a Family Action Network (FAN) event. Preregistration is available on the FAN web site.  ADDED: a recording of the event is now available.