5 stars ~

Published in 1931, Schuyler tells the story of what would happen if race could be 'levelled'. His account and estimation of life is so intelligent, where the position of race as a force of oppression is so lucidly absurd, and is fundamentally about the exploitation of the poor along whatever lines can be drawn. Delightful writing and genuinely funny throughout. The book ends with darkening one's skin to appear more black as the vogue.

"Politicians and business men shuddered at the thought of such a tragedy and saw horrible visions of old-age pensions, eight-hour laws, unemployment insurance, working men's compensation, minimum wage legislation, abolition of child labor, dissemination of birth-control information, monthly vacations for female workers, two-month vacations for prospective mothers, both with pay, and the probable killing of individual initiative and incentive by taking the ownership of national capital out of the hands of two million people and putting it into the hands of one hundred and twenty million."

That's the goalpost.