When They Call You a Terrorist
Ratings23
Average rating4.6
15
Ratings23
Average rating4.6
A poetic and powerful memoir about what it means to be a Black woman in America—and the co-founding of a movement that demands justice for all in the land of the free.
Raised by a single mother in an impoverished neighborhood in Los Angeles, Patrisse Khan-Cullors experienced firsthand the prejudice and persecution Black Americans endure at the hands of law enforcement. For Patrisse, the most vulnerable people in the country are Black people. Deliberately and ruthlessly targeted by a criminal justice system serving a white privilege agenda, Black people are subjected to unjustifiable racial profiling and police brutality. In 2013, when Trayvon Martin’s killer went free, Patrisse’s outrage led her to co-found Black Lives Matter with Alicia Garza and Opal Tometi.
Condemned as terrorists and as a threat to America, these loving women founded a hashtag that birthed the movement to demand accountability from the authorities who continually turn a blind eye to the injustices inflicted upon people of Black and Brown skin.
Championing human rights in the face of violent racism, Patrisse is a survivor. She transformed her personal pain into political power, giving voice to a people suffering in equality and a movement fueled by her strength and love to tell the country—and the world—that Black Lives Matter.
When They Call You a Terrorist is Patrisse Khan-Cullors and asha bandele’s reflection on humanity. It is an empowering account of survival, strength and resilience and a call to action to change the culture that declares innocent Black life expendable.
Reviews with the most likes.
WOW. I'm grateful to Patrisse for so openly sharing her life story. It's a must listen (she narraters the audio), especially if you're unfamiliar with or looking for more insight into the police state, the BLM movement and its inception, and the treatment of prisoners, especially those with mental illness. She spares nothing, the writing is excellent, and she gives data/statistics to show that her own familial experiences with poverty and incarceration are horrifyingly common.
As a white male, this was a much needed and eye opening view into what it means to grow up black in the United States. That and a wonderful background on the people behind the BLM movement. I think everyone in our country should read this
This book said and discussed so many important issues but ultimately the writing style was just a little too disjointed for me.
I listened to his in audio and it's so powerful. It's a mix of pricier on show the Black Lives Matter movement came to be (started by queer Black women!) and the story of Patrisse's life. A must read for all youth activists and adults too.
(After looking at the summary here I realize some of Khan- Cullors' journal entries were included which makes sense. There were passages in the audio that felt disjointed and I thought they were quotes but then weren't attributed. But it was probably journal entries! Just something to keep in mind if you listen.)
