From #BlackLivesMatter to Black Liberation
Adult nonfiction
With Obama as president--a Black man holding the highest elected
office in the nation--a lot of people thought we'd entered a
postracial or color blind society and acted on this dangerous
misconception. The Supreme Court, for example, struck down the Voting
Rights Act on the faulty premise that America had changed so much it
was no longer necessary. Blacks (in comparison to Whites) still
experienced disproportionate rates of poverty, lack of health care,
substandard housing, hunger, unemployment, inadequate schooling... In
other words, on just about any life quality index you can think of
they were left far behind.
When it came to justice, there were (and still are) two separate
Americas. Blacks are way overrepresented in the prison system, often
serving draconian sentences for relatively minor offenses. They're
relentlessly stopped and frisked or pulled over while just going about
their lives. They are much more likely to be killed by those tasked
with serving and protecting.
Eventually the killings became to egregious to accept. When
Michael Brown was shot in Ferguson, Missouri, his body was left out in
the hot sun for hours, a blatant disregard of his humanity. In
Baltimore Freddie Gray was tossed, handcuffed and unsecured, into a
police van for a fatal ride during which has spinal cord was nearly
severed.
People took to the streets in shows of righteous anger.
Protests flared up and grew stronger, even in the face of brutal
attempts by the police to shut them down. #BlackLivesMatter came into
being.
Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor's comprehensive From #BlackLivesMatter
to Black Liberation contextualizes the movement in America's history
of systemic racism, examining facets such as:
*how the concept of the culture of poverty in a supposedly
meritocratic society has been used to blame Blacks for their suffering
and absolve the larger society of complicity and need for restitution;
*how the idea of colorblindedness narrowed racism to the bad behavior
of individuals rather than anything systematic;
and *how law enforcement's double standard has had devastating
consequences for Black families and communities.
"This book explores why the movement marching under the banner
of Black Lives Matter has emerged under the the nation's first Black
president. Police brutality is not a new thing; it has existed, in
some form or other, since the abolition of slavery. Why has abusive
policing created a breaking point in the age of Obama? How does this
fit into a larger historical pattern of explosive Black politics and
the consistent denial of Black oppression in US society?
If those questions intrigue you, you'll really want to read the
book.
On a purrrsonal note, Thanksgiving was good, although different.
Recall the kids and I had decided not to go to the home of my very
medically fragile mother-in-law for her protection. Well we and two
of their significant others and all four of the family cats had a
lovely zoom visit. I was able to show them my novel apple pie and
they all liked it. We swapped some reading recommendations, talked
about holidays this year and what we hope for in the future... It was
just so special having time together. I was a wizard of Thanksgiving
cuisine, producing a memorable meal of turkey and all the trimmings.
I had lots of time for binge reading and candy. It was a good day.
Today I am not Black Friday shopping. Even without a pandemic I
wouldn't. It's a tad too materialistic for my taste. I got in a
lovely walk in the forest. I got in some fine poetry writing.
Between the unusual Thanksgiving and the Supreme Court's latest
display of dumbassness I had plenty of inspiration. And I had a
culinary epiphany. For lunch, instead of having my usual turkey with
margerine sandwich I tried turkey with stuffing, and cranberry sauce.
My taste buds were in seventh heaven! (Jules)
Yeah, that might be a good sandwich. Except minus the stuffing,
cranberry sauce, and bread. (Tobago)
A great big shout and hopes that you had a safe and happy Thanksgivibg
go out to all our readers.
Tobago and Jules Hathaway
Sent from my iPod
