The Condemnation of Little B: New Age Racism in America - Softcover

Brown, Elaine

Softcover

ISBN 10: 080700975X ISBN 13: 9780807009758

Publisher: Beacon Press, 2003

Synopsis

Through the story of a thirteen-year-old black boy condemned to life in prison, Elaine Brown exposes the 'New Age' racism that effectively condemns millions of poor African-Americans to a third world life. The story of 'Little B' is riveting, a stunning example of the particular burden racism imposes on black youths. Most astonishing, almost all of the officials involved in bringing him to 'justice' are black.

Michael Lewis was officially declared a ward of the state at age eleven, and then systematically ignored until his arrest for murder. Brown wondered how this boy could possibly have aroused so much public resentment, why he was being tried (and roundly condemned, labeled a 'super-predator') in the press. Then she met Michael and began investigating his case on her own. Brown adeptly builds a convincing case that the prosecution railroaded Michael, looking for a quick, symbolic conviction. His innocence is almost incidental to the overwhelming evidence that the case was unfit for trial. Little B was convicted long before he came to court, and effectively sentenced years before, when the 'safety net' allowed him to slip silently down. Brown cites studies and cases from all over America that reveal how much more likely youth of color are to be convicted of crimes and to serve long-even life-sentences, and how deeply the new black middle class is implicated in this devastating reality.

About this title

About the Author:

Elaine Brown is an activist and former Black Panther Party leader. The founder and cofounder of many activism-driven nonprofit organizations, including the Michael Lewis Legal Defense Committee and the National Alliance for Radical Prison Reform, Brown has presented lectures at universities worldwide. Her published works include The Condemnation of Little B: New Age Racism in America and A Taste of Power: A Black Woman’s Story. Brown resides in California.

From Publishers Weekly:

In this damning, often excruciating account of racism in contemporary American society, Brown, former chair of the Black Panther Party and author of the memoir A Taste of Power, hangs her wide-ranging and well-documented argument on a specific instance of what she sees as emblematic of the problem: the prosecution and trial of 13-year-old African-American Michael Lewis for the 1997 murder of a black father of two in Atlanta. The case against Lewis seemed open and shut: there were eye-witnesses, his own mother testified that he had confessed and Lewis's long history of arrests was against him; not surprisingly he was convicted and sentenced to life as an adult. Brown tackles this story with the eyes and ears of an investigative reporter and spins a narrative that crackles with tension and enormous empathy. Through extensive reporting, she uncovers what she now believes really happened during the murder, exposes who she believes is the killer and describes a scenario whereby an ambitious DA, an inept defense attorney (who literally styles himself after Perry Mason), the press and the white and black communities of Atlanta (who were working together to build up the city's economy and image) may all have found it more convenient to scapegoat and demonize Lewis than convict the real murderer. Interwoven with this is Lewis's own story, an astute investigation into the media-created myth of the predatory black teen, an analysis of school voucher and faith-based community programs, a critique of the careers of Colin Powell and black scholar Henry Louis Gates, as well as the history of violence against African-Americans in the U.S. Packed with detail, strong arguments and flashes of brilliance, Brown's book is extraordinarily powerful. (Feb.) Forecast: Look for short profiles in the glossies focusing on Brown's journey from Pantherism to author and muckraker, and longer think-piece reviews in the left press that give attention to the issues. There's too much history and criticism here for a quick breakout, but those same qualities will give the book staying power, particularly on campus.

Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Beacon Press
• Publication date: 2003
• ISBN 10: 080700975X
• ISBN 13: 9780807009758
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 400