SOCIAL SCIENCES

Let It Bang: A Young Black Man's Reluctant Odyssey into Guns

by RJ Young
Houghton Harcourt. Oct. 2018. 192p. ISBN 9781328826336. $25; ebk. ISBN 9781328826329. MEMOIR
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In his memoir on how he went from being agnostic about guns to becoming an NRA-certified pistol instructor, sports vlogger Young meanders through the complexities of American gun culture. While the framework of the story rests concerns bonding with a white, gun-loving father-in-law, Young, who is black, takes time to look at issues such as the insurance industry that has emerged in response to stand-your-ground laws and the newly formed National African American Gun Association, which provides the support that many black Americans found lacking from the NRA. While Young's memoir does not delve too deeply into his relationship with his in-laws, it does provide a fascinating look at how American gun culture is moving from an old boy's network into one that reflects a broad political and social spectrum.
VERDICT This book turns the commonly accepted perception of American gun culture on its head while delving into the author's conflicts with our love affair with firearms. Highly recommended.
Reviewed by John Rodzvilla, Emerson Coll., Boston , Nov 01, 2018
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