Being black in America

Institutional racism played a key role in America's beginnings, and it is still present today, although it has taken different form. In housing, health care, education, employment, policing, and more, systemic racism perpetuates inequality and puts African Americans at a disadvantage. This book shows what systemic racism looks like today and discusses efforts aimed at altering this dynamic.

Frustration and anger spilled into the streets in 2020 after yet another Black man was killed by police. George Floyd's death in Minneapolis sparked a huge outpouring of outrage and grief as protests spread to cities all across the nation and the world. Protesters from all walks of life have demanded change because Black Americans should not be afraid to walk or jog or drive on city streets-and they should not have to fear encounters with police.

After multiple police killings of unarmed African Americans, activists have called for immediate and meaningful changes. The focus is on community-police interactions, law enforcement policies, and the defunding of police departments. This book examines what defunding and other reforms entail and offers a look at some of the changes already underway.

"Black Lives Matter was founded by activists Cullors, Alicia Garz, and Opal Tometi in 2013 as a hashtag meant to draw attention to the police brutality and racially motivated violence perpetrated against Black people. The group rose to prominence the following year when authorities in Ferguson, Missouri shot a young Black man, Michael Brown, as he walked down the street. Since that time the decentralized movement, which emphasizes local organizing, has been a driving force in thousands of nonviolent civil disobedience protests again systemic racism"--Provided by publisher.