The Moment: Thoughts on the Race Reckoning That Wasn't and How We All Can Move Forward Now

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Toni Morrison once said, The function, the very serious function of racism is distraction. In The Moment, Bakari Sellers brilliantly and precisely cuts through the noise of the calculated, well-financed, and relentless campaign by conservative media, think tanks, and politicians to end the post-George Floyd racial reckoning and reverse the civil rights victories of the past fifty years. This is a must-read!Joy-Ann Reid, New York Times bestselling author and host of MSNBC's The Reid Out

The New York Times bestselling author of My Vanishing Country examines the modern political landscape and policies that are impacting Black families and communities and offers solutions for a better tomorrow.

In late May in 2020, while discussing the murder of George Floyd on CNN, Bakari Sellers spoke from the heart sharing devastating insight that touched millions around the world: Its just so much pain. You get so tired. We have black children. I have a 15-year-old daughter. I mean, what do I tell her Im raising a son. I have no idea what to tell him. Its justits hard being black in this country when your life is not valued and people are worried about the protesters and the looters. And its just people who are frustrated for far too long and not have their voices heard.

In this powerful and persuasive book, Sellers expands on the issues he addressed in his New York Times bestseller My Vanishing Country, examining national politics and policies that deeply impact not only Black people in his home state of South Carolina but the lives of millions of African Americans in communities across the nation. Four years later, Sellers has an answer to the question he raised on CNN, offering much-needed prescriptions to help all Black American lives.

Sellers explores inequities in healthcare, education, early childhood education, and policing, drawing on interviews with numerous thought leaders such as pioneering voting rights and poverty activist the Rev. William Barber, and Ben Crump, the civil rights legend who successfully uses the law to achieve justice for people of color in racially charged cases. He also shares his thoughts on conservative media and the forces and dark money behind firebrands such as Tucker Carlson. This thoughtful and practical work is a timely meditation on the state of our world today and how we can all play a part in making it better for tomorrow.

Reviews

Toni Morrison once said, The function, the very serious function of racism is distraction. In The Moment,BakariSellersbrilliantly and precisely cuts through the noise of the calculated, well-financed, and relentless campaign by conservative media, think tanks, and politicians to end the post-George Floyd 'racial reckoning' and reverse the civil rights victories of the past fifty years. This is a must-read! Joy-Ann Reid, New York Times bestselling author and host of MSNBC's The ReidOut "Bakari Sellers takes the baton his father, Cleveland Sellers passed to him and makes ferocious social justice strides with his new book,The Moment. In crisp language and stellar reporting, Bakari takes us through why the recent 'racial reckoning' after the uproar of George Floyd's murder was not only the briefest in American history, but also why that brevity was not accidental. This is essential reading." Angela Rye The truth hurts. The truth also heals as evidenced inThe Moment, Bakari Sellers timely examination of institutional white nationalism, black resistance and resilience, and the political and media players who are determined to keep the status quo for fear of losing their privileged roles in a rapidly changing, multi-complexionedAmerica." Charlamagne tha God An urgent, astute synthesis of many hard truths...'Spanning the Civil War and the civil rights eras,' writes Sellers, 'this country has experienced two reconstructions followed by a white supremacist pushback against each,' and the author links this to post-Obama voter suppression. 'The supporters of white supremacist philosophywhether they be Donald Trump, Jesse Watters, Megyn Kelly, Mitch McConnell, or otherswant to maintain all the power.' In impressively concise fashion, Sellers makes a host of pertinent arguments crisply and effectively, disturbingly documenting the overtness of efforts to maintain structural racism across the country. Kirkus Reviews(starred review) Brother Bakari Sellers is determined to look past the many distractions of our public discourse to see the potential for an America that works for all of us. In this book he not only shines a light on the lies that are being used to divide Americans; he offers real hope that this moment might be the beginning of a Third Reconstruction. Rev.Dr. William J.Barber II, author of White Poverty: How Exposing Myths About Race and Class Can Reconstruct American Democracy "In The Moment, Bakari Sellers manages to capture the frustration and struggles felt by those who are dedicated to fighting inequality while offering hope for the future. The book is essential for anyone seeking to understand the evolution of the civil rights movement as well as the political, social, and economic obstacles that prevent racial progress." Michael Harriot, author of Black AF History: The Un-Whitewashed Story of America

Author Bio

Bakari Sellers made history in 2006 when, at just twenty-two years old, he defeated a twenty-six-year incumbent state representative to become the youngest member of the South Carolina state legislature and the youngest African American elected official in the nation. In 2014 he was the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor in the state of South Carolina. Sellers is a CNN political analyst. In 2020 he was named to Time magazines 40 Under 40 list. Sellers is also a practicing attorney who fights to give a voice to the voiceless. He lives in Columbia, South Carolina, with his wife and children.