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

From blackwiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search

When They Call You a Terrorist: A Black Lives Matter Memoir was published on January 16th, 2018 by St. Martin's Press. The book was written by Patrisse Khan-Cullors and Asha Bandele with a foreword given by Angela Davis. TThe book clarifies how African Americans feel encountering bias and persecution by law enforcement which ultimately prompts a Black Lives Matter movement.[1].

Summary

When They Call You a Terrorist: A Black Lives Memoir Book Cover[2]

Patrisse, who experiences childhood in poverty in Los Angeles, faces the harsh truth where Black Americans are persecuted and oppressed by numerous specialists and law enforcement. She encounters bias and harassment without help from anyone, her family members, her associates, and everybody that she realizes who are Black Black people have gotten the most powerless and abused in America by law enforcement. Within the last few years, racist tragedy has been appeared more often including Trayvon Martin in 2013, where the murderer was free from charges. The uproar of Patrisse, Alicia Garza, and Opal Tometi has made a Black Lives Matter development in asking the responsibility from law enforcement for all the bias that happens across the country. The movement has become an incredible expression of African Americans in requesting political changes to serve equal justice for African Americans[3].

Controversy

Patrisse has experienced bigotry and police brutality towards black Americans since her childhood. She was captured while she was in the classroom as a suspect of drugs and gang activity (as there are presumptions of dark Americans deal with drugs for their socialization and neighborhood) by the time she was 12 years old. HHer brother who was mentally ill, Monte, was captured and tormented in a California jail. Despite the fact that he was impaired and mentally unstable, he was kicked and kneed in his ribs by the Sheriff deputies. He developed PTSD and schizophrenia due to brutality he faced in prison. Moreover, there could have been no alternate method to determine the ruthlessness since the police are the ones who do violence. Her family faces scrutiny a few times including an attack, detainment, and brutality including her dad[4].

She described her experience in the book:

"My father who got cages instead of compassion. My father whose whole story no one of us will ever know. What did it do to him, all those years locked away, all that time in chains, all those days upon days without human touch except touch meant to harm - hand behind your back, N****r. Get on the fucking wall, N****r! Lift your sac, N****r. Don't look at me like that or I will f*****g kill your Black ass.[5].

Inspiration

Many African Americans were persecuted by police officers, especially in recent days. Patrisse mentions the tragedy where Trayvon Martin, an innocent African American teenager, was killed by a police officer. The tragedy went uproar as the killer was released from all the charges despite the clear evidence that he killed Trayvon. In general, black people are likely to be killed five times higher compared than white people in California. This happens in a place where Californiais seen to be a blue state or no bigotry at all compared to the other states. Having the event happened in a place with low racism percentage, it is hard to imagine the kind of racism the African Americans get in other states or other countries around the world.[6].

Black Empowerment

Out of anger and as a way to protest the prejudice and racism occurrence that are rising, Patrisse, Alicia Garza, and Opal Tometi decided to co-found the Black Lives Matter movement. This movement started via hasthag through online social media to request the responsibility of law enforcement and authorities who do not serve justice upon African Americans, Black people, and other minorities. The development has gotten a hit as it calls people to make a move in making political changes based on affection, humankind, and justice equally to everyone.[7]

References

  1. When They Call You a Terrorist: A Black Lives Matter Memoir. Goodreads. Retrieved January 24 2021
  2. When They Call You a Terrorist: A Black Lives Matter Memoir Cover. Goodreads. Retrieved January 24 2021
  3. Bernadine Evaristo. When they call you a terrorist: a Black Lives Matter memoir Harris County Public Library. Retrieved January 24 2021
  4. Dana M.. #OwnVoices: When They Call You a Terrorist: A Black lives Matter Memoir Richland Library. Retrieved February 03 2021
  5. When They Call You a Terrorist Quotes Goodreads. Retrieved February 03 2021
  6. Charles Kaiser.When They Call You a Terrorist review: Black Lives Matter memoir convinces The Guardian. Retrieved January 24 2021
  7. When They Call You A Terrorist BiblioCommons. Retrieved January 24 2021