Hardcover. During President Barack Obama's time in office, there was hope and real progress towards a less racist society. But after he left office in 2016, just about everything in the U.S. took a turn for the worse. The title is a nod to post-Reconstruction black politicians, a lament that echoes in current times. Beginning with his powerful Atlantic essay, "Fear of a Black President," Coates adds layers of new essays and new insight. He is deeply critical of the Obama administrations failures, while fully aware of the systemic racism and horrific backlash that Black people faced then and continue to confront. With his deep understand of politics and race, Ta-Nehisi Coates elaborates on what went wrong in the 2016 election and how racism and fear played starring roles.(This book may contain a sharpie mark on the top or bottom edge and may show mild signs of shelfwear.)