At the start of this year, I resolved to diversify my reading. 2020 was a historic year for many reasons, but the call to action around the racial inequities that have plagued our country from the very beginning really moved me. I felt called to do more, share more, and learn more. An act as simple as seeking out work by a more diverse set of authors seemed like the least I could do. In the ensuing months, I've read so many incredible works that have challenged me, educated me, and moved me, each providing a perspective that I would not have normally been exposed to. When Grand Central Publishing sent me Say Their Names, a collection of essays chronicling the history and impact of the Black Lives Matter movement, I jumped at the opportunity to read it and share it here.
The book opens with Curtis Bunn's essay Why Black Lives Matter Matters. Bunn sets straight the misinformation surrounding the movement. You see, for a lot of white Americans, the Black Lives Matter movement began when officer Derek Chauvin murdered George Floyd. The horrific abuse of power was filmed and shared across traditional and social media, rousing many Americans to call for justice. Likewise, for many of those same Americans, the entire matter was put to rest with cities and states issuing sweeping memorandums and reforms for their police departments and Chauvin being found guilty for murdering Floyd. If only it was that easy! Bunn traces the origins of BLM back to 2014 when young Travon Martin was killed by George Zimmerman. The roots of the movement, though, run deeply intertwined with the civil rights movement of the 1960s. More importantly, the continued injustice in policing, wealth, education, and so much more has continued to plague the Black community far beyond the tragedy with George Floyd.
I was particularly moved by another essay by Bunn titled Black Women Stand Tall. It highlights the importance that Black women have held in recent developments within the cause, especially considering that the movement has historically been headed by men, specifically religious leaders. Bunn points to women like Stacy Abrams who turned her personal political loss in Georgia, into a stirring resolve to register voters, educate them, and help them to elect leaders who would truly fight for them. All of this, of course, resulted in the state voting in two Democrats in their Senate election, an upset for the status quo that in a large part caused Abrams to be defeated in the first place. With the likes of Kamala Harris elected to the second-highest office in the land, and countless mayors leading their cities to reform long-held, racist policies, Bunn recognized the importance of women helping to lead the cause forward.
Whether you are just beginning to read more about the Black Lives Matter movement or are looking for a way to expand your knowledge on the subject, Say Their Names is well worth the read. I found the collection to not only contain a ton of history and context but also provide a more rounded perspective from the authors and the people featured in their writing. The authors do a fair job touting the successes of the movement while equalling calling for changes in areas that they see as lacking. For example, by having a movement with no central leader, there is sometimes the need for more transparency in how money is being collected and who is deciding how to fund things. The authors also point out the need for more diversification within the movement itself, particularly the need for more women and LGBTQ+ representation. Say Their Names is a fantastic overview of the history, people, and actions taken and needed within the movement for racial justice. I'm thankful that books like this continue to be published and read, and I hope that we all continue to do our part to make a more equitable world.
For more information visit Amazon and Goodreads.
(2021, 44)
I'm glad you liked this one. Sounds like a solid read.
ReplyDeleteIt was extremely informative!
DeleteInteresting that the author points to the murder of Trayvon Martin as an impetus for the BLM movement. That happened just a couple hours from here and I remember the case well. It's also encouraging to see that the authors recognize the need for diversification within the movement.
ReplyDeleteI agree. It is wild to think of how "close to home" some of these instances have been. George Floyd's family lives only a few miles from me.
DeleteWhat a great reading goal to have! Reading more diversely these days feels more important than ever. Glad you're finding (and sharing!) so many interesting books. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks. It really felt like the very least I could do, and I've enjoyed discovering so many books that I otherwise wouldn't have read.
DeleteI am waiting on this one from the library! (It's like we share a brain sometimes!) The George Floyd case really hit close to home for me, being from MN and the Cities. I very clearly remember the day the verdict was read a few months ago. I had bus duty at four but I brought my phone with me because I had to know. A fellow teacher and good friend did the same and when it was announced, we both shrieked and basically jumped on each other in a giant relieved and exhausted hug - social distancing be damned. But there is still such a long way to go in tearing down the old system and building a new and better one.
ReplyDeleteThat was a really bittersweet day. I was happy to see some kind of justice, but sad for the countless others who will never have their own day in court.
DeleteAnd that is exactly the problem. We want to call it justice, but even then that's not exactly true. It's accountability. Justice would be George Floyd still alive. I can't count the number of people who said he was a criminal, so why was I so upset? They made sure to always point out he pointed a gun at a pregnant women (supposedly, there are conflicting stories I feel), and I always remind them that, if it is true, then he should have had his day in court for that and either be found guilty or not guilty by a jury of his peers. Cops don't get to murder guilty people either. Ugh.
DeleteI couldn't agree more. Every American deserves the right to a fair trial, and police killing someone denies them of that right.
DeleteThat is a wonderful goal, Ethan! It's one thing to see racism play out on the news and quite another to read personal accounts. Makes it easier to empathize with others and that is such an important thing to do!
ReplyDeleteI'd love to read more about Stacy Abrams and her efforts. From what little I've heard she sounds like an amazing woman.
I think the essays here would serve as a wonderful jumping off point to further learn about the subjects they cover. Abrams really does seem to have taken what happened to her during her gubernatorial run and made the most of it. She is truly inspiring.
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