From the Bookshelf of Diversity in All Forms!…

When They Call You a Terrorist: A Black Lives Matter Memoir

Patrisse Khan-Cullors,

Asha Bandele

Start date: November 1, 2019

Finish date: November 29, 2019

Discussion: Monthly Group Reads

Why we're reading this: The diversity topic we will cover in November is Autobiography/biography.

When They call You a Terrorist
[close] The diversity topic we will cover in November is Autobiography/biography.

When They call You a Terrorist

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Nov 07, 2020 ✨the one with all the books✨ rated it liked it

Shelves: 2020, blm

So I decided to read this to learn more about the founder of BLM and was not disappointed in that aspect. The first 25% of the book was focused on the prison industrial complex and how unfairly black youth are treated and targeted in comparison to white youth and how black youth (at least where she was raised) lacked safe and age appropriate places to hang out which contributed to making them more of a target.

One over arching theme in this book is the police and how unfair and brutal they are, So I decided to read this to learn more about the founder of BLM and was not disappointed in that aspect. The first 25% of the book was focused on the prison industrial complex and how unfairly black youth are treated and targeted in comparison to white youth and how black youth (at least where she was raised) lacked safe and age appropriate places to hang out which contributed to making them more of a target.

One over arching theme in this book is the police and how unfair and brutal they are, as well as how brutal and unfair the justice system is to black people. Most of the examples she gives are from her own family members who were arrested and spent time in jail. One huge problem she has with the prison system and police etc is how they handle black people with mental health concerns. The story about how her brother was treated was especially heartbreaking.

She also discusses her sexuality and the history of her sexual partners and having a child. She identifies as queer I believe, and she talks a lot about her identity.

And of course towards the end she talks about Trump and his election. I did notice that in the book she does mention liberals that referred to blacks as super predators but did not name any names.

At the end of the book (I listened to the audiobook which she read, herself), there was an interview with her.

Overall it’s worth a read to learn about the why and how of BLM from Patrisse, herself. She clearly had a rough childhood which is what motivated her to take action to right the wrongs she was experiencing first and second hand. I can’t say I disagree with a lot of what she said, and I can’t say that she is wrong about how messed up a lot of things are in our country and how we handle things. It could be so much better for everyone.

I’ve never been able to figure out how anyone can justify enslaving another human being and it’s definitely clear that everyone has a lot of work to do to continue fighting racism in our country.

I expected to feel under attack or defensive when reading this book, but really only felt sad that what she experienced is a common life experience for some because of unfair systems that exist today. ...more

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