I dont know what I liked more about The Black Boom: Jason Rileys persuasive, provocative, and counterintuitive analysis of how racial inequality decreased during Donald Trumps divisive presidency. Or the volume includes powerful critiques of Riley by Juan Williams and Wilfred Reilly. I know this volume is a model for serious policy discussions in a country filled with shallow partisans more interested in talking past one another rather than fixing real problems. -Nick Gillespie, editor at large, Reason
Jason Rileys commitment to facts, impartial analysis of the data, and dedication to principled public policy have made him one of Americas foremost thought leaders. These traits are displayed in The Black Boom, in which he argues that minorities enjoyed real economic progress during the Trump administration. His case is nonpartisan, sharply reasoned, and deserving of serious attention. I highly recommend it and hope it inspires productive dialogue that moves us beyond divisiveness. -Dr. Arthur B. Laffer, economist and Presidential Medal of Freedom Recipient
This important and explosive little book provides stimulation and provocation on every page, demolishing conventional wisdom about black progress. Riley insists recent history demonstrates that black families have benefited far more from the opportunities provided by free-market economics than government programs and the over-valued acquisition of political power. He writes with a combination of grace and force that may change some minds while opening many more. -Michael Medved, nationally syndicated radio host and author of Gods Hand on America
[ A] concise, refreshing take on the pre-pandemic Black economy during the Trump presidency. . . . [ T]his brief primer does an excellent job of reminding us that economic freedom benefits the poor and marginalized the most and that minorities can be progressing economically despite the tasteless rhetoric of our political class. The takeaway? Focus on principles, not personalities, and dont believe the hype about a thousand new targeted programs to address inequality. Good old tax cuts and simplified regulation may sound boring, but sometimes the exciting part isnt the process, but the outcome. -Law Liberty
Jason Riley deserves congratulations for writing a book that, despite some flaws, presents a dispassionate and mostly evenhanded discussion of a phenomenon that remains mysterious and, at this point, still unknowable: the effect of Trumps economic policies on blacks and America as a whole. Our divided media have cast a dim light on this important subject; Riley has let in the sunshine. -Commentary Magazine
In his fact-filled and beautifully terse 2022 book, The Black Boom, Riley shows that incomes for every demographic and every part of the income distribution grew during Trumps first three years. My independent data check shows that Riley is right. -Defining Ideas, Hoover Institution