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How Not to Get Shot: And Other Advice From White People
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Humor (2018)3 hours, 45 minutes
A cutting satire of race relations in the age of Trump and Black Lives Matter from the hugely popular comedian—one of "The Original Kings of Comedy"—and author of the New York Times bestseller Black Man, White House.
"White people are always giving out ‘helpful’ advice, such as: ‘Comply with the police and you won’t get shot.’ They’ve been doling out advice to black people ever since ‘I suggest you pick the cotton if you don’t like getting whipped.’ Not getting shot by the police has long been a problem for black people. Even when we had a black president! Now that we have a new set of overlords, with President Trump at the head, wouldn’t it be nice to get a little advice on how not to get shot?"
From the elections of Barack Obama and Donald Trump to the tragic events of Ferguson and Charlottesville, the subject of race has come to the forefront of American consciousness. Legendary satirist D. L. Hughley offers his own cutting observations on this contentious issue that continues to traumatize the nation, a wound made more painful by the ongoing comments and actions of the 45th president.
Hughley uses humor to draw attention to injustice, sardonically offering advice on a number of lessons, from "How to make cops feel more comfortable while they’re handcuffing you" and "The right way to wear a hoodie" to "How to make white food, like lobster rolls" and "Ten types of white people you meet in the suburbs."
How Not to Get Shot is a much-needed antidote in these distressing times.
A cutting satire of race relations in the age of Trump and Black Lives Matter from the hugely popular comedian—one of "The Original Kings of Comedy"—and author of the New York Times bestseller Black Man, White House.
"White people are always giving out ‘helpful’ advice, such as: ‘Comply with the police and you won’t get shot.’ They’ve been doling out advice to black people ever since ‘I suggest you pick the cotton if you don’t like getting whipped.’ Not getting shot by the police has long been a problem for black people. Even when we had a black president! Now that we have a new set of overlords, with President Trump at the head, wouldn’t it be nice to get a little advice on how not to get shot?"
From the elections of Barack Obama and Donald Trump to the tragic events of Ferguson and Charlottesville, the subject of race has come to the forefront of American consciousness. Legendary satirist D. L. Hughley offers his own cutting observations on this contentious issue that continues to traumatize the nation, a wound made more painful by the ongoing comments and actions of the 45th president.
Hughley uses humor to draw attention to injustice, sardonically offering advice on a number of lessons, from "How to make cops feel more comfortable while they’re handcuffing you" and "The right way to wear a hoodie" to "How to make white food, like lobster rolls" and "Ten types of white people you meet in the suburbs."
How Not to Get Shot is a much-needed antidote in these distressing times.
4 pages, Audiobook
First published June 26, 2018
450 people are currently reading
10395 people want to read
About the author
D.L. Hughley
7 books186 followersDarryl Lynn "D.L." Hughley is an American actor, political commentator and stand-up comedian. He is perhaps best known as the star of the ABC/UPN sitcom The Hughleys, and as one of the four comedians featured in the Spike Lee film The Original Kings of Comedy. Additionally, he has been the host of CNN's D.L. Hughley Breaks the News, a correspondent for The Jay Leno Show on NBC, and a local radio personality and interviewer in New York City.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 594 reviews
April 28, 2018
This book was the most magnificent piece of satire I've seen in a long time. I feel like Hughley hit the nail on the head with every single joke, calling white people out and holding them (us) accountable for the crap we constantly pull in this country. He doesn't mince words, he doesn't tread lightly, and he doesn't go easy on us. That dedication and honesty goes a long way, though. I think if more white people read and truly heard the concerns of Black Americans, we would be so much better off. The only thing better than that would be to acknowledge what is said and act on that new knowledge. This book is a great way to begin that process, because it's not only brutally honest, but painfully hilarious. I love the down-to-Earth writing style, the approachable conversational quality, and the self-effacing jokes that give you a much needed break in a book that is, at times, devastating.
The worst part is that I feel like this book is preaching to the choir: the only people who will read it are black people and white people who already know what kind of crap we're capable of. For example, I hate that my parents, who need this book so badly, would never read it for all the reasons listed in this very book.
The worst part is that I feel like this book is preaching to the choir: the only people who will read it are black people and white people who already know what kind of crap we're capable of. For example, I hate that my parents, who need this book so badly, would never read it for all the reasons listed in this very book.
November 29, 2018
Find all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/
An image of the cover of How Not To Get Shot should be listed under the definition of the word tragicomedy, because this is about the best example I can think of. Hughley is obviously a believer in the “gotta laugh so you don’t cry” mindset as he covers some of the most depressing subjects via laugh-out-loud satire. From police shootings to poverty to protests to current and former administrations – Hughley is not afraid to tackle any topic.
Obviously the people who need to read this in order to “get woke” probably won’t ever even know it exists. Others will instantly 1 Star it or label it “reverse racism” – and I’m not even going to get into that for fear of my brain exploding. Don’t want to read this? Don’t. I’m pretty sure it won’t break D.L. Hughley’s heart. If you do want to give this a go, however, you’ll find not only is it funny, but it’s also well researched and smart. I also highly recommend the audio over the print version. Hughley’s delivery adds so much to the funny. Especially when it comes to our current President’s attributes . . . .
• Gaudy and loud
• Incompetent
• Lazy
• Emotional, flies off the handle
• Angry
• Unintelligent—not bright
• Lots of kids by different people
• Cheats on his wife
• Talks a lot of shit
All the shit you ascribe to black people! He does all of that shit.
(He also says the F-word oh so very well.)
Now you can decide if you’re too much of a snowflake to read this. *wink*
An image of the cover of How Not To Get Shot should be listed under the definition of the word tragicomedy, because this is about the best example I can think of. Hughley is obviously a believer in the “gotta laugh so you don’t cry” mindset as he covers some of the most depressing subjects via laugh-out-loud satire. From police shootings to poverty to protests to current and former administrations – Hughley is not afraid to tackle any topic.
Obviously the people who need to read this in order to “get woke” probably won’t ever even know it exists. Others will instantly 1 Star it or label it “reverse racism” – and I’m not even going to get into that for fear of my brain exploding. Don’t want to read this? Don’t. I’m pretty sure it won’t break D.L. Hughley’s heart. If you do want to give this a go, however, you’ll find not only is it funny, but it’s also well researched and smart. I also highly recommend the audio over the print version. Hughley’s delivery adds so much to the funny. Especially when it comes to our current President’s attributes . . . .
• Gaudy and loud
• Incompetent
• Lazy
• Emotional, flies off the handle
• Angry
• Unintelligent—not bright
• Lots of kids by different people
• Cheats on his wife
• Talks a lot of shit
All the shit you ascribe to black people! He does all of that shit.
(He also says the F-word oh so very well.)
Now you can decide if you’re too much of a snowflake to read this. *wink*
Want to read
November 25, 2018I can tell just by the people who gave this one star (not that they actually read it or anything) that this book is going to be outstanding!
And on the off chance that someone else wants to go down the ill-considered path attempted below by the very first contributor to the comment thread, I'm just going to leave these right here:
• A black security guard caught a shooting suspect — only to be shot by police minutes later (by P.R. Lockhart in Vox, Nov 15, 2018)
• ‘They shot the wrong man!’: Police said they killed a mall shooter — then said they made a mistake (by Avi Selk in The Washington Post, November 24, 2018)
And on the off chance that someone else wants to go down the ill-considered path attempted below by the very first contributor to the comment thread, I'm just going to leave these right here:
• A black security guard caught a shooting suspect — only to be shot by police minutes later (by P.R. Lockhart in Vox, Nov 15, 2018)
• ‘They shot the wrong man!’: Police said they killed a mall shooter — then said they made a mistake (by Avi Selk in The Washington Post, November 24, 2018)
October 11, 2020
Listen! This book should be read by everyone. Don't get offended by the title just read the damn book. If you want to know how useless it is to attempt to give black people advice about the black experience when you're not black PICK THIS DAMN BOOK UP. I must admit, I laughed so much while listening to this book, but I was also heartbroken because a lot of the stuff Hughley talked about in this book is a reality for so many of us on a day to day basis. One of my favorite sections was about black people having to alter themselves to fit in with what some white people deem as appropriate. From the way that we talk to the way that we dress even down to our names. This was definitely a powerful read and you can expect a full review from me soon.
June 26, 2020
Why you may not like this book: The satire doesn't let up at all. It's like a hail storm of satire and that sort of relentless tone might rub some the wrong way. You also have to be in the right headspace to take on these jokes in the middle of continued police brutality. Also, you probably won't like this if you are a racist, because he makes fun of you.
Why I liked this book: Honestly, it reached a point where I just felt so gaslit by certain reactions from friends and family following the murder of George Floyd. Having all of their arguments and "advice" lampooned by Hughley was cathartic. It helped me refocus on the truth that it is freakin' ridiculous the things white people say to Black people about how they should conduct themselves. I'm not really familiar with Hughley's work or comedy outside of this, but I laughed with a broken heart throughout How Not to Get Shot.
This covers a wide variety of topics, from when Black people get shot, to the National Anthem, to the outrageous costs of being poor. It doesn't dive deeply into any one topic, but takes lots of familiar speaking points for each and clearly, concisely and humorously takes down the most ridiculous of them. There are interludes and anecdotes in between chapters, but I enjoyed those as well. It gives the book a jumpy, almost frantic pacing, but it worked with the tone-- like a energetic, extended comedy routine.
The only bit that gave me pause came at the end when Hughley talks about the trap of comparing marginalizations, particularly between Black people and the LGBTQ+ community. He hits on an important point about how there is no "passing" with some marginalizations and what that means for the progress of equality, but he does so in language I didn't fully agree with and doesn't make allowance for intersectionality: black queer people exist.
If you need a laugh in the middle of your uprising, if you want to hear someone agree with you that the thing your racist uncle Tommy (or whatever) said really was stupid, this may just be the book for you.
June 24, 2018
This is how you perfectly tell the truth with satire and sarcasm. Bravo!
August 18, 2018
The good news is that D. L. Hughley is a better writer than a dancer. The bad news is . . . well, the bad new is that this a book that needs to be written. I do believe that as a white person, I learned some good lessons from this book. I'm aware of white privilege, of course, but this book made me realize that as a white person I tend to swim in white privilege without even realizing it.
July 22, 2020
Humor fueled by heartbreak.
The plot. Comedian and activist, DL Hughley doesn't hold back in this 3 hours and 45 minutes audio book where he discusses some hard hitting racial issues that have been plaguing America (and other parts of the world) more and more recently.
The narration. Written and narrated by the man himself, DL uses a combination of satire and hard hitting facts to address slavery, racial profiling, police brutality, white supremacy and of course how to not get shot by the police.
The special. Honestly, after reading Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race I needed a bit of levity and despite the awful subjects that are talked about in this book, DL still managed to make me laugh while also shining a light on some cold hard facts.
The verdict. Will I be re-listening or re-reading this anytime soon? No. But I highly recommend you do.
On confederate statues: "If somebody sold your kids, where would you want to put that statue? Where should it go?"
The plot. Comedian and activist, DL Hughley doesn't hold back in this 3 hours and 45 minutes audio book where he discusses some hard hitting racial issues that have been plaguing America (and other parts of the world) more and more recently.
The narration. Written and narrated by the man himself, DL uses a combination of satire and hard hitting facts to address slavery, racial profiling, police brutality, white supremacy and of course how to not get shot by the police.
The special. Honestly, after reading Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race I needed a bit of levity and despite the awful subjects that are talked about in this book, DL still managed to make me laugh while also shining a light on some cold hard facts.
The verdict. Will I be re-listening or re-reading this anytime soon? No. But I highly recommend you do.
On confederate statues: "If somebody sold your kids, where would you want to put that statue? Where should it go?"
August 13, 2018
Is there a word for writing that is simultaneously hilarious and heartbreaking? If so, file this book under it.
August 8, 2018
Would be hilarious if it weren't so heartbreaking, but the laughs come through all the same. Definitely worth reading. The author points out the many differences in the way police treat white and black people and cites statistics to prove his case. It is just appalling that this is the world we live in.
September 20, 2018
Extremely humorous, tragically ironic and realistically jarring "advice" from comedian D.L. Hughley. I laughed out loud, found myself quoting excerpts from the text and now I have a new recommendation for colleagues and patrons.
May 30, 2021
I've had the ebook of this for a while, but as I was browsing through my library offerings last night, I saw that they had the audiobook, which is read by D.L. Hughley himself, and so I snagged it. This is EXACTLY the type of book that is best read by the author, and I'd say it was wonderful if it wasn't so depressing.
But it's only depressing because it accurately depicts the state of this nation and its loooooong history of racism.
This is satire of the best kind. It takes the actual, literal "advice" that people who don't have to deal with racist ______ policies (fill in the blank with any system you like - some examples: policing, housing, educational, lending, economic, employment, etc etc etc) like to "helpfully" add to the "discussion", and takes them just one or two steps more extreme to show the sheer ludicrousness of them.
Some examples:
"Just comply with police orders, and you won't get shot."
Police orders, shouted simultaneously: Get on the ground! Put your hands up! Turn around! Put your hands behind your back!
...Which one do you "comply" with? It's physically impossible all of those commands could completed at the same time.
Because of this, he goes a bit further and suggests that Black people comply with the SPIRIT of the order, not the actual words, because obviously what the police SAID wasn't what they MEANT, and you should know that. Also, if you PRE-COMPLY by being clairvoyant, that's even better.
"Don't commit a crime, and you won't get shot."
Tamir Rice was playing with a toy in a park when he was shot.
Trayvon Martin was walking down a street in a hoodie.
John Crawford was carrying a BB Gun he intended to purchase, in the store he was buying it from.
Atatiana Jefferson was playing video games with her nephew.
Botham Jean was sitting on his own couch.
Breonna Taylor was literally sleeping.
...What were their crimes again?
Many of the "very helpful people" who will suggest advice like this will helpfully clarify that something, somewhere, in each of these victims' lives justified their deaths. Botham Jean was in an apartment that looked EXACTLY like Breonna Taylor had once dated a guy who did something, probably. In 12 year old Tamir Rice's case, his father had a record, because you know... the sins of the father and all that, I guess.
Hughley pulls zero punches in this book, and I loved it for that. This is honest and witty, and it's written in a way that feels light, but deals with really dark and depressing shit. It captures just the right tone of satirical irony, and listening to Hughley himself read it was perfect.
I also learned some new 'trivia' facts about the national anthem that I had never heard before, so that's fun, and also fuck that song. That's all!
But it's only depressing because it accurately depicts the state of this nation and its loooooong history of racism.
This is satire of the best kind. It takes the actual, literal "advice" that people who don't have to deal with racist ______ policies (fill in the blank with any system you like - some examples: policing, housing, educational, lending, economic, employment, etc etc etc) like to "helpfully" add to the "discussion", and takes them just one or two steps more extreme to show the sheer ludicrousness of them.
Some examples:
"Just comply with police orders, and you won't get shot."
Police orders, shouted simultaneously: Get on the ground! Put your hands up! Turn around! Put your hands behind your back!
...Which one do you "comply" with? It's physically impossible all of those commands could completed at the same time.
Because of this, he goes a bit further and suggests that Black people comply with the SPIRIT of the order, not the actual words, because obviously what the police SAID wasn't what they MEANT, and you should know that. Also, if you PRE-COMPLY by being clairvoyant, that's even better.
"Don't commit a crime, and you won't get shot."
Tamir Rice was playing with a toy in a park when he was shot.
Trayvon Martin was walking down a street in a hoodie.
John Crawford was carrying a BB Gun he intended to purchase, in the store he was buying it from.
Atatiana Jefferson was playing video games with her nephew.
Botham Jean was sitting on his own couch.
Breonna Taylor was literally sleeping.
...What were their crimes again?
Many of the "very helpful people" who will suggest advice like this will helpfully clarify that something, somewhere, in each of these victims' lives justified their deaths. Botham Jean was in an apartment that looked EXACTLY like Breonna Taylor had once dated a guy who did something, probably. In 12 year old Tamir Rice's case, his father had a record, because you know... the sins of the father and all that, I guess.
Hughley pulls zero punches in this book, and I loved it for that. This is honest and witty, and it's written in a way that feels light, but deals with really dark and depressing shit. It captures just the right tone of satirical irony, and listening to Hughley himself read it was perfect.
I also learned some new 'trivia' facts about the national anthem that I had never heard before, so that's fun, and also fuck that song. That's all!
February 22, 2019
D.L. Hugely is a comedian and so you would expect a book with his name on it would bring the funny. And so on that level it is a success, in that DL delivers some truths with a heavy dose of humor.
I’m of the belief that humor is the best medium in which to deliver truth and/or bad news. It just tends to make things more palatable and relatable. Some thoughts and ideas are so staggering they can only be processed through humor. So, here at his humorous best DL takes the stupid sh*t that white folks generally say to each other and US (Black folk) as “advice” that maybe we should pay more attention too in order to not get shot.
Wear the right clothes, comply, comply, comply, sprinkle the conversation with Sir, don’t speak with your hands, etc, etc, ad nauseam. I wouldn’t quite say it is a book of satire, as I think that word invokes a bit of literary styling. It is like attending a DL show live, where the humor keeps you from choking someone in the audience for any number of reasons. Clearly people dying at the hands of paid professionals IS NO LAUGHING MATTER, but can the absurdity of a situation be relieved by a good laugh at times?
If you keep that in mind, you will find some joy in these pages and maybe some food for thought. There is certainly not anything life changing, unless I missed it, due to excessive laughter. It may be a book that you can share with friends who have uttered some foolishness, the light hearted nature of the book, making them more likely to indulge and engage the subject matter. So, have fun and if you have a few hours, why not have a laugh and a read.
I’m of the belief that humor is the best medium in which to deliver truth and/or bad news. It just tends to make things more palatable and relatable. Some thoughts and ideas are so staggering they can only be processed through humor. So, here at his humorous best DL takes the stupid sh*t that white folks generally say to each other and US (Black folk) as “advice” that maybe we should pay more attention too in order to not get shot.
Wear the right clothes, comply, comply, comply, sprinkle the conversation with Sir, don’t speak with your hands, etc, etc, ad nauseam. I wouldn’t quite say it is a book of satire, as I think that word invokes a bit of literary styling. It is like attending a DL show live, where the humor keeps you from choking someone in the audience for any number of reasons. Clearly people dying at the hands of paid professionals IS NO LAUGHING MATTER, but can the absurdity of a situation be relieved by a good laugh at times?
If you keep that in mind, you will find some joy in these pages and maybe some food for thought. There is certainly not anything life changing, unless I missed it, due to excessive laughter. It may be a book that you can share with friends who have uttered some foolishness, the light hearted nature of the book, making them more likely to indulge and engage the subject matter. So, have fun and if you have a few hours, why not have a laugh and a read.
October 4, 2018
I have heard people say, "well, if he had just followed the cop's orders, he would never have been shot". And I do know this is the most ridiculous, useless, and untrue advice. What I was expecting from this book was a humorous satire on this advice, since it is written by a black comedian. I think I was expecting too much. It's difficult to see how anyone can make this atrociously racist crisis funny. It's a situation which is sad, frustrating, and infuriating.
While I can't blame the author for trying, I think he is preaching to the choir. I can't imagine a white supremest or a racist cop sitting down reading this book and gaining some insight. Maybe it could be used as a training manual for white cops.
While I can't blame the author for trying, I think he is preaching to the choir. I can't imagine a white supremest or a racist cop sitting down reading this book and gaining some insight. Maybe it could be used as a training manual for white cops.
September 1, 2018
Painfully funny. You know how much you love it when John Oliver does those 20 minute segments on social issues that are both funny and enlightening? This book is like that, except if you’re reading it as a white person, you’re going to finish it feeling a bit less self-congratulatory.
December 20, 2018
"A weapon is in the eye of the beholder".
This book is smart dark humour at its best. I laughed through the whole thing - and also had tears in my eyes more often than not because it's also bloody grim and depressing.
I get why a lot of people might not find it funny and experience discomfort. But for me laughter has always been therapeutic and I understand the need to joke at things that scare us. Especially if all those white people are literally begging to be made fun of for the dumb sh*t they say. I'm white myself but wow, it sure must be nice to be so privileged to think any of the nonsense quoted in this book is actually "helpful".
"Gluten is like the black people of food".
This book is smart dark humour at its best. I laughed through the whole thing - and also had tears in my eyes more often than not because it's also bloody grim and depressing.
I get why a lot of people might not find it funny and experience discomfort. But for me laughter has always been therapeutic and I understand the need to joke at things that scare us. Especially if all those white people are literally begging to be made fun of for the dumb sh*t they say. I'm white myself but wow, it sure must be nice to be so privileged to think any of the nonsense quoted in this book is actually "helpful".
"Gluten is like the black people of food".
August 21, 2018
Well, this is the best piece of satire I’ve read in a while. It manages to be painfully hilarious and heartbreakingly brutal. DL’s sarcasm and over the top humor hit the mark with each and every point he made. It’s a great way to tackle a subject that is hard for so many people to talk about but badly needs to be discussed. The jokes keeps you reading but does not hide the frustrating and enraging truth of the society we live in.
December 3, 2018
Quick easy read. Very lighthearted but a lot of simple truth to it. It’s a book meant to expose some of our idiosyncrasies regarding race that we have as a society in humor. In particular you will hear a lot of unconventional methods to managing racial issues in America. They are inconceivable but truthfully it’s the only way to avoid some of the racist issues and hatred that we have in this country. Summary... if you don’t want to be shot by police, don’t be black.
Read
June 19, 2020I am going to forgo rating non-fiction anti-racist books because I can't add anything new to the conversation and I certainly can't express myself as eloquently as the majority of the people rating books like these.
July 7, 2018
This book needs to be read by all, but especially, those folks that agreed with some of the statements that have been made by the people in this book about how not to get shot. For example, "...comply and complain later"; "...just do what I say"; or "if you dress like a thug, people will treat you like a thug", and several other thoughts by whites about blacks. It was all pretty obvious to me. Not all black people are like this and even those that are do they deserve to be killed. Just like not all whites are KKK, but should we kill all of those that are just because we dislike how they act? Yes, DL is a comedian and uses some sarcasim and over the top humor to get his point across, but he's spot on with each point he makes.
He hit the nail on the head with the DLIALOGUE, "MAKA - Make America Great Again.... What time period are we trying to bring it back to?", which is exactly what I keep wondering. Also, Chapter 19, Stop Taking Handouts, was very enlightening and I didn't even realize this. No wonder the rich just keep getting richer, the big Corps and NFL, are the one's taking the really big handouts.
And the DLIALOGUE, "Let It Go", if you want to know why black folks won't let slavery go, please read this to learn how we can let it go! And let us rewrite the third verse of "The Star-Spangled Banner". I can't lie, I like "The Star-Spangled Banner", especially Whitney Houston's version, but never knew the lyrics to the third verse. Also, something else you may find suprising is the white-on-white crime statistics acording to the FBI, a national problem that you never hear about. So all in all a very insightful read that, IMO, could be used in diversity training.
He hit the nail on the head with the DLIALOGUE, "MAKA - Make America Great Again.... What time period are we trying to bring it back to?", which is exactly what I keep wondering. Also, Chapter 19, Stop Taking Handouts, was very enlightening and I didn't even realize this. No wonder the rich just keep getting richer, the big Corps and NFL, are the one's taking the really big handouts.
And the DLIALOGUE, "Let It Go", if you want to know why black folks won't let slavery go, please read this to learn how we can let it go! And let us rewrite the third verse of "The Star-Spangled Banner". I can't lie, I like "The Star-Spangled Banner", especially Whitney Houston's version, but never knew the lyrics to the third verse. Also, something else you may find suprising is the white-on-white crime statistics acording to the FBI, a national problem that you never hear about. So all in all a very insightful read that, IMO, could be used in diversity training.
June 3, 2019
Update: (Too soon? No.) A recent like made me read this again. I'm not pleased that I didn't give more details. His description of how DJT is the first 'Equal Opportunity President' will make you scream with laughter or outrage, depending on your proclivities, but, let's face it, you aren't listening to DHH if you're a MAGA person. And his truth about how white people move into a place and then start importing darker people to do all the work is so spot on, I wept in shame. That's not all he has to offer to privileged white folks. This is real. This is true. It ain't pretty. Suck it up.
~~~
Blew me away. Listened, and started over again immediately. Although he repeats some stuff in the audiobook, I figured out that it was what was written as chapter headings and sidebars for emphasis and the jokes to illustrate the more serious stuff.
This man is brilliant. So right, so true, so brave to say it out loud. Should be required reading in junior high school, and every year after, to remind us of the truth.
The thing is, he does it so well, he makes you think, laugh, and ask yourself why it's so messed up. What can we do to make it better? I'm thinking.
Isn't that why we read?
~~~
Blew me away. Listened, and started over again immediately. Although he repeats some stuff in the audiobook, I figured out that it was what was written as chapter headings and sidebars for emphasis and the jokes to illustrate the more serious stuff.
This man is brilliant. So right, so true, so brave to say it out loud. Should be required reading in junior high school, and every year after, to remind us of the truth.
The thing is, he does it so well, he makes you think, laugh, and ask yourself why it's so messed up. What can we do to make it better? I'm thinking.
Isn't that why we read?
December 18, 2024
Loved the satire. I highly recommend
April 9, 2019
It took a long time for me to decide to read this book. I am usually cautious when it comes to serious topics being addressed by comedians. Indeed, there was a time when the best news and the most honest story came from the gifted minds of the comedian, but something changed and the facts, although often accurate, were shrouded in so much profanity and nonsensical banter that the depth of the meaning was all but completely lost.
This is the misfortune of How Not to Get Shot: And Other Advice From White People. D.L. Hughley's addressing of a tremendous social concern was approached as if a stage act. Although some comedic interludes were expected, the work felt as if the purpose and depth of its credibility were drowning in an ocean of dance. D.L., certainly not known to be someone who would skirt around a difficult or controversial subject, sprinkled slap-stick joviality over the powerful subject of life, death, and racism.
While I respect the craft and intelligence of D. L. Hughley and many other comedians, I felt that the use of the skill to speak for victims or those who misunderstand the seriousness of shootings a little disturbing. Each page felt like a calming; the throwing in of a joke to abate possible guilt. Perhaps I was overly sensitive to the subject. Maybe I didn't allow the details of the book to sink in; to overwrite the information that I was getting from it, but, to be transparent, it was damn hard to do. It's too bad that this book didn't fly in the direction I thought it should( I couldn't finish it, which is unusual). Perhaps I should give another chance, and one day I might do that. Today is not that day. As aforementioned, D.L. is a talented brother. It is of my opinion that this book didn't show just how much so.
This is the misfortune of How Not to Get Shot: And Other Advice From White People. D.L. Hughley's addressing of a tremendous social concern was approached as if a stage act. Although some comedic interludes were expected, the work felt as if the purpose and depth of its credibility were drowning in an ocean of dance. D.L., certainly not known to be someone who would skirt around a difficult or controversial subject, sprinkled slap-stick joviality over the powerful subject of life, death, and racism.
While I respect the craft and intelligence of D. L. Hughley and many other comedians, I felt that the use of the skill to speak for victims or those who misunderstand the seriousness of shootings a little disturbing. Each page felt like a calming; the throwing in of a joke to abate possible guilt. Perhaps I was overly sensitive to the subject. Maybe I didn't allow the details of the book to sink in; to overwrite the information that I was getting from it, but, to be transparent, it was damn hard to do. It's too bad that this book didn't fly in the direction I thought it should( I couldn't finish it, which is unusual). Perhaps I should give another chance, and one day I might do that. Today is not that day. As aforementioned, D.L. is a talented brother. It is of my opinion that this book didn't show just how much so.
June 21, 2021
"You say comply with police orders, we still get shot. You say don’t break the law, we still get shot. You say don’t talk back, we still get shot. You say be more like white people, dress differently, act differently, and yet the results are not the same as for white people." ~D.L. Hughley
"How Not to Get Shot: And Other Advice From White People" is a book that uses satirical humor and sarcasm while discussing painful topics like police brutality, racism, criminalization of black bodies, slavery, Jim Crow, the "war on drugs", and etc. In the aftermath of any shooting of an unarmed black person the media and society is filled with voices of people who are quick to suggest that if the victim had just complied with police they wouldn't have gotten killed. Police apologists will immediately defend the murder of an unarmed black person because of what they were wearing, the music they were listening to, some arbitrary picture dug up from the archives of the victim's facebook, or any other racist excuse they can find to suggest the victim wasn't perfect ergo the lynching was justified.
The satire is nonstop throughout the book, and when it makes you laugh at the ignoramus "advice" given to black people you're also deeply full of melancholy.
Next time I hear someone spouting ignorant sputum in regards to police brutality and murders against black and brown people I'm gonna recommend this book to them.
"How Not to Get Shot: And Other Advice From White People" is a book that uses satirical humor and sarcasm while discussing painful topics like police brutality, racism, criminalization of black bodies, slavery, Jim Crow, the "war on drugs", and etc. In the aftermath of any shooting of an unarmed black person the media and society is filled with voices of people who are quick to suggest that if the victim had just complied with police they wouldn't have gotten killed. Police apologists will immediately defend the murder of an unarmed black person because of what they were wearing, the music they were listening to, some arbitrary picture dug up from the archives of the victim's facebook, or any other racist excuse they can find to suggest the victim wasn't perfect ergo the lynching was justified.
The satire is nonstop throughout the book, and when it makes you laugh at the ignoramus "advice" given to black people you're also deeply full of melancholy.
Next time I hear someone spouting ignorant sputum in regards to police brutality and murders against black and brown people I'm gonna recommend this book to them.
August 10, 2018
It might be funny if it wasn’t so true
September 4, 2018
If you're like me, reading news about police brutality in America but feel a bit lost in terms of overall perspective on the situation, then you MUST pick up this book!
My only qualm was the slight inconsistency in structure - at one point Hughley's writing randomly jumps from being a satire to a direct chat with white people, and then back to satire. He should've put that in the last bit where he anyway intentionally added a chapter for white readers.
Hughley has done an excellent job tying it all together - from history of racism to how it has devolved in America today and yet many like to be in denial about it. The book is a great satire, funny yet cringe-worthy considering how black people are not only oppressed but in fact blamed for their own oppression.
They constantly hear:
"Why aren't you following the law?"
"Why don't you get a job?"
"Why don't you stop black-on-black crime?"
But if you look at the police brutality murders, what conveniently seems to skip the news is how often they have a job (Levar Jones), have a license for their gun registration (Philando Castille), have nothing to do with crime (children like Tamir Rice) and yet they're shot.
The worst part is that those who actually need to read the book (the likes of Megan Kelley, Jeff Sessions, and president extraordinaire Donald Trump) will never pick it up. But you must!
My only qualm was the slight inconsistency in structure - at one point Hughley's writing randomly jumps from being a satire to a direct chat with white people, and then back to satire. He should've put that in the last bit where he anyway intentionally added a chapter for white readers.
Hughley has done an excellent job tying it all together - from history of racism to how it has devolved in America today and yet many like to be in denial about it. The book is a great satire, funny yet cringe-worthy considering how black people are not only oppressed but in fact blamed for their own oppression.
They constantly hear:
"Why aren't you following the law?"
"Why don't you get a job?"
"Why don't you stop black-on-black crime?"
But if you look at the police brutality murders, what conveniently seems to skip the news is how often they have a job (Levar Jones), have a license for their gun registration (Philando Castille), have nothing to do with crime (children like Tamir Rice) and yet they're shot.
The worst part is that those who actually need to read the book (the likes of Megan Kelley, Jeff Sessions, and president extraordinaire Donald Trump) will never pick it up. But you must!
August 6, 2020
Wow wow wow what an eye opening book. I made a nice review of this on my Bookstagram and the author actually noticed and commented, which is exciting!
Having to read stuff like this is such a heart string puller. I feel like along with To Kill a Mockingbird, Catcher in the Rye, and other books read in schools, this should be included. I feel like books like this that deal with real world issues are more important than Shakespeare.
Having to read stuff like this is such a heart string puller. I feel like along with To Kill a Mockingbird, Catcher in the Rye, and other books read in schools, this should be included. I feel like books like this that deal with real world issues are more important than Shakespeare.
June 27, 2018
This is a GreatRead! Truth at it's finest and I do recommend.
September 21, 2020
Bottom line: Don't be black.
Okay, so there's more to it than that, and while Social Activist/Comedian/Black Dude D.L. Hughley has written an entire book of advice on "How Not To Get Shot" his most poignant, sadly funny, and funnily sad advice is "Don't be black".
It's hard to watch the news today, but what's even harder to stomach is the stuff that doesn't make the news---the ten young black men who were shot today by racist and/or trigger-happy cops---because there's not enough time allotted (or viewer interest) to include a news story in between the 15 minutes of weather and 20 minutes of sports bullshit (which is interesting, since Covid-19 pretty much put an end to sports, so what the hell are they showing?). And that's just local news. National news isn't that much better.
It's also hard to stomach the incessant whine of President Shit-for-brains and his supporters who love to say, "I'm not racist, but..." and then go on to say some of the most vile racist shit. (Rule of thumb: If someone starts a sentence with "I'm not racist, but...", you know that they are about to say something racist. Swear to God, works every time...)
I support, wholeheartedly, the Black Lives Matter movement. I support the defunding and complete overhaul of the police forces in this country. (Hell, public school teachers were defunded 20 years ago, and they still manage to teach our fucking kids, even in a global pandemic, so think about that shit...) I support mandatory de-escalation training of all police officers in this country. I support a one-strike-and-you're-out policy of police violence in which police officers are immediately fired for any act of violence that is judged (by an independent consul) to be unnecessary and improper. I support a policy in which police officers are immediately fired (not suspended for three days without pay or slapped with a $300 fine or any other slap-on-the-wrist bullshit) for making blatantly racist statements via Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, e-mail or any other forum in which their statements are documented.
I support the firing of every police officer in this country---right now---and their immediate rehiring if they can prove, somehow, that they are not racist, sociopathic douchebags. Have them take a fucking test or a mandatory psychological evaluation or something. School teachers undergo a more rigorous background check and have to jump through more damn hoops to teach in a classroom than cops, and school teachers don't carry guns, tazers, or nightsticks.
I support D.L. Hughley as the first Biden/Harris presidential-appointed Secretary of National Black Affairs. (Which I just realized is "NBA", so that might be a bit confusing. Need to work on that...)
Okay, so there's more to it than that, and while Social Activist/Comedian/Black Dude D.L. Hughley has written an entire book of advice on "How Not To Get Shot" his most poignant, sadly funny, and funnily sad advice is "Don't be black".
It's hard to watch the news today, but what's even harder to stomach is the stuff that doesn't make the news---the ten young black men who were shot today by racist and/or trigger-happy cops---because there's not enough time allotted (or viewer interest) to include a news story in between the 15 minutes of weather and 20 minutes of sports bullshit (which is interesting, since Covid-19 pretty much put an end to sports, so what the hell are they showing?). And that's just local news. National news isn't that much better.
It's also hard to stomach the incessant whine of President Shit-for-brains and his supporters who love to say, "I'm not racist, but..." and then go on to say some of the most vile racist shit. (Rule of thumb: If someone starts a sentence with "I'm not racist, but...", you know that they are about to say something racist. Swear to God, works every time...)
I support, wholeheartedly, the Black Lives Matter movement. I support the defunding and complete overhaul of the police forces in this country. (Hell, public school teachers were defunded 20 years ago, and they still manage to teach our fucking kids, even in a global pandemic, so think about that shit...) I support mandatory de-escalation training of all police officers in this country. I support a one-strike-and-you're-out policy of police violence in which police officers are immediately fired for any act of violence that is judged (by an independent consul) to be unnecessary and improper. I support a policy in which police officers are immediately fired (not suspended for three days without pay or slapped with a $300 fine or any other slap-on-the-wrist bullshit) for making blatantly racist statements via Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, e-mail or any other forum in which their statements are documented.
I support the firing of every police officer in this country---right now---and their immediate rehiring if they can prove, somehow, that they are not racist, sociopathic douchebags. Have them take a fucking test or a mandatory psychological evaluation or something. School teachers undergo a more rigorous background check and have to jump through more damn hoops to teach in a classroom than cops, and school teachers don't carry guns, tazers, or nightsticks.
I support D.L. Hughley as the first Biden/Harris presidential-appointed Secretary of National Black Affairs. (Which I just realized is "NBA", so that might be a bit confusing. Need to work on that...)
December 17, 2019
Laugh at this one until you cry.
This is what happens when a thoughtful guy takes the time to explain how the world looks if you’re Black. It’s what happens when he writes to an implicitly Black audience in a way that even us white people can understand. And it’s what happens when that guy is also lights-out funny in the midst of the heavy stuff he has to report.
There may be some Dave Chappelle or Richard Pryor here – yeah, they’re the all-time reigning champs, I know – but I suspect there’s a heavy dose of Dick Gregory too. This is humor, humor about the weight of racism, but it’s humor focused as a studied political act. Hughley is performing pain and anger; he’s harnessing them into a performance.
At one time he jokes that he hopes his book will save just one person from getting shot, but not really. He wants it to save a lot of people because, if it were just one, he wouldn’t sell enough copies to make any money.
But, of course, he’s also deadly serious. He references far too many times when Black men – and sometimes Black women and Black children – have been shot for preposterous reasons: carrying a BB gun (unloaded) in a toy store on the way to pay for it, reaching for a wallet, saying “I have a gun” without reaching for it, or simply being large. He’s channeling real and abiding pain, but he knows how little Black pain seems to register in the larger world. So he’s making us laugh at the horror instead.
And, somehow, he keeps the laughs coming. At one point he goes into a tangent about police violence, noting that you know it’s a problem when they accidentally kill white people. He recounts a police killing of an Australian yoga instructor – blonde, no less – and refers to her as probably “the least killable person you can imagine.” “What’s next,” he muses, “Nicole Kidman?” That’s edgy but, with apologies to Nicole Kidman, it’s funny too.
Or there’s his quick analysis of the white dispossessed working class’s voting for Donald Trump because he promised to bring back the factory jobs that have mostly vanished. They don’t seem to realize, though, that it’s not immigration but automation that’s taken most of those jobs. As he puts it, “They voted from Trump, but they really needed DeVry.”
It’s rare to go long without being moved here, and it’s rare to go long without something to make you guffaw. It’s a spectacular performance, and it makes me respect this talented comedian even more than I already did.
As an answer to the question of his title, he concludes with a biting final observation: What’s the best way not to get shot? Don’t be Black.
As a white person, it’s not my job to say much in response to this. My job is to listen. Hard as these truths are, I’ve done that with an admiration that only amplifies the power of the message.
This is what happens when a thoughtful guy takes the time to explain how the world looks if you’re Black. It’s what happens when he writes to an implicitly Black audience in a way that even us white people can understand. And it’s what happens when that guy is also lights-out funny in the midst of the heavy stuff he has to report.
There may be some Dave Chappelle or Richard Pryor here – yeah, they’re the all-time reigning champs, I know – but I suspect there’s a heavy dose of Dick Gregory too. This is humor, humor about the weight of racism, but it’s humor focused as a studied political act. Hughley is performing pain and anger; he’s harnessing them into a performance.
At one time he jokes that he hopes his book will save just one person from getting shot, but not really. He wants it to save a lot of people because, if it were just one, he wouldn’t sell enough copies to make any money.
But, of course, he’s also deadly serious. He references far too many times when Black men – and sometimes Black women and Black children – have been shot for preposterous reasons: carrying a BB gun (unloaded) in a toy store on the way to pay for it, reaching for a wallet, saying “I have a gun” without reaching for it, or simply being large. He’s channeling real and abiding pain, but he knows how little Black pain seems to register in the larger world. So he’s making us laugh at the horror instead.
And, somehow, he keeps the laughs coming. At one point he goes into a tangent about police violence, noting that you know it’s a problem when they accidentally kill white people. He recounts a police killing of an Australian yoga instructor – blonde, no less – and refers to her as probably “the least killable person you can imagine.” “What’s next,” he muses, “Nicole Kidman?” That’s edgy but, with apologies to Nicole Kidman, it’s funny too.
Or there’s his quick analysis of the white dispossessed working class’s voting for Donald Trump because he promised to bring back the factory jobs that have mostly vanished. They don’t seem to realize, though, that it’s not immigration but automation that’s taken most of those jobs. As he puts it, “They voted from Trump, but they really needed DeVry.”
It’s rare to go long without being moved here, and it’s rare to go long without something to make you guffaw. It’s a spectacular performance, and it makes me respect this talented comedian even more than I already did.
As an answer to the question of his title, he concludes with a biting final observation: What’s the best way not to get shot? Don’t be Black.
As a white person, it’s not my job to say much in response to this. My job is to listen. Hard as these truths are, I’ve done that with an admiration that only amplifies the power of the message.
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