Every now and then I come across someone on the internet talking up one of my books.
Jaiden Grayson, for instance, has apparently “made the same book recommendations for nearly 10 years” — every February for Black History month. Our Enemies in Blue is first on her list.
And here’s a very short summary by someone named David, laying out the basic argument of Enemies in just a couple of minutes.
I am always a little surprised when this happens, but I appreciate the enthusiasm.
Last month, President Trump gave a brief prime-time address in which he boasted of bringing America into a new era of economic prosperity. In those eighteen minutes of self-celebration he cited a number of statistics that were not merely wrong — they were not even lies in the usual sense — but actual absurdities. This led me to thinking about the point of the unbelievable in the MAGA movement, and further led me to thinking about 1984.
Ojalá has published a short essay, reflecting my thoughts. It appears in English and Spanish, both.
Thank you for your attention to this matter!
My new book, Policing the Progressive City: Portland, Oregon, from Settlement to Uprising, recounts the history of policing in Portland, from the time of initial colonization through to the immediate aftermath of the George Floyd riots. It documents the persistence of racism, corruption, and violence within policing, and recounts numerous attempts at progressive reform — arguing finally that reform will never be enough. Indeed, the city’s “progressive” culture is instead deeply enmeshed with state violence.
The book will be officially released next month, but if you order it from me you can get it a bit sooner. It costs $24, inclusive of postage.
“A searing and masterful case study of the history and politics of policing. An essential read for anyone who wants to understand the true nature and function of the police institution and why we should be doing everything we can to dismantle it.” —Alex S. Vitale, author of The End of Policing
“A courageous intervention that forces us to recognize how the ‘progress’ narrative has expanded and entrenched state violence. Readers far beyond Portland will benefit from this history of expansionist police reform.” —Maya Schenwar, author of Prison by Any Other Name
“An incredible, detailed history. . . . A must read for anyone trying to understand why changing the culture of policing is so difficult and why police consistently push back on change.” —Jo Ann Hardesty, former Portland City Council member
For The Comics Journal, I’ve written a review of Ben Passmore’s Black Arms to Hold You Up: A History of Black Resistance. I found the book a bit perplexing. It is at times moving, but it’s extremely fragmentary — and not exactly a history.
