When They Call You a Terrorist: A Black Lives Matter Memoir
Written by Patrisse Cullors and Asha Bandele
Narrated by Patrisse Cullors and Angela Davis
4.5/5
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About this audiobook
"Narrating her own work, Patrisse Khan-Cullors shares the salient moments of her life that led her to become a founder of Black Lives Matter...pain, frustration, and joy [emblazon] each word she utters." — AudioFile Magazine
This program is read by Patrisse Cullors and includes a bonus conversation.
The emotional and powerful story of one of the co-founders of Black Lives Matter and how the movement was born. When They Call You a Terrorist by Patrisse Cullors & asha bandele is the essential audiobook for every conscientious American.
From one of the co-founders of the Black Lives Matter movement comes a poetic audiobook memoir and reflection on humanity. Necessary and timely, Patrisse Cullors’ story asks us to remember that protest in the interest of the most vulnerable comes from love. Leaders of the Black Lives Matter movement have been called terrorists, a threat to America. But in truth, they are loving women whose life experiences have led them to seek justice for those victimized by the powerful. In this meaningful, empowering account of survival, strength, and resilience, Patrisse Cullors and asha bandele seek to change the culture that declares innocent black life expendable.
More praise for When They Call You a Terrorist:
"This remarkable book reveals what inspired Patrisse's visionary and courageous activism and forces us to face the consequence of the choices our nation made when we criminalized a generation. This book is a must-read for all of us." - Michelle Alexander, author of The New Jim Crow
"Steeped in humanity and powerful prose...This is an eye-opening and eloquent coming-of-age story from one of the leaders in the new generation of social activists." — Publishers Weekly
"'When They Call You a Terrorist'...help[s] readers understand what it means to be a black woman in the United States today." — New York Times Book Review
Editor's Note
The importance of solidarity & healing…
This eloquent memoir interweaves Khan-Cullors’ experiences growing up in southern California with a social commentary about the Black Lives Matter movement (which Khan-Cullors helped found), where we are now, and where we can go from here.
Patrisse Cullors
Patrisse Cullors is an author of the New York Times bestseller When They Call You a Terrorist, educator, artist, and abolitionist from Los Angeles. She is the co-founder of the Crenshaw Dairy Mart and has been on the frontlines of the abolitionist movement with Black Lives Matter, Justice LA, Dignity and Power Now, and Reform LA jails. Also the founder of The Center For Art and Abolition, Cullors has popularized the term “Abolitionist Aesthetics” to challenge artists to aestheticize abolition.
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Reviews for When They Call You a Terrorist
468 ratings40 reviews
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Hearing this book in the authors own voice made so much more of an impact than I think I ever would have gotten from reading it myself. Loved the book. Loved her voice.
3 people found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This is a book everyone should read. We are all in jeopardy in this Trump age. We all feel the fear. Equality for all people of all races, orientation, etc. is way past due!! I feel ashamed for not being more active in this and thank God for the people who fight the good fight!!
3 people found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Engaging and enlightening!! This book opened a world that I am a part of yet was somewhat removed from due to the fact that I unknowingly closed my eyes to. Thank you for the eye opening experience!!
2 people found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Devastating, powerful, beautifully written, and filled with facts and true stories that are hard to face but need to be heard. Please read this please read this please read this.
2 people found this helpful
- Rating: 1 out of 5 stars1/5LMAO you are terrorists with a false agenda intended on dividing this nation even further apart than it already is.
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This is a powerful, eye-opening, must-read about racism, homophobia, and our dangerous prison system (and so much more). Highly recommended. We can't fix our problems until we more thoroughly understand what's really happening in America.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5wonderful book. heartwarming memoir and an empowering book for anyone interested in anti-racism work, and also would be a great place to start for folks who don’t understand or support the BLM movement. this is an informative, humanizing, and inspiring book.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Beautifully written with heartbreaking and hopeful anecdotes. A required read for all activists, community organizers, BLM supporters, humans!
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I learned so much from listening to this book. I am aware and hopeful for the future. Big topics are addressed with transparency and accuracy. This is definitely a must read (or listen).
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Such a powerful words. Hearing about the life and love of a queer activist he joys and heartbreaks, Patrisse envites you into that world. She confronts white audiences with facts of what it is like to live as a person of color in the US and provides comfort for those who know her struggle all too well. I couldn't stop listening.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This is a wonderful book outlying some of the hidden and ignored acts of racism that exist actively and passively. The book describes many of the hardships of Cullors life, growing up, and really shows how much of an effect the racist actions and policies of the past have on people today, combined with the current racist actions and policies. It clearly calls for changes to be made and to make them now. It inspire me to act and I will. Remember, Black Lives Matter.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Beautiful. Very insightful for all readers! A must read for everyone
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5What a phenomenal memoir that provided me with the "why, what and how" for Black Lives Matter. Her story with all of it's tragedies, hardships and lows are the breadcrumbs that leads to BLM.
As Black folks, many of us are quite accustomed to having to face inequities in every aspect of our lives, yet we don't give up and continue to forge ahead inspite of the obstacles faced. Our strength to survive and thrive is what sets up apart lije tge tares and the wheat. God bless you Patrisse for being the wheat. - Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The best book that I’ve read in my entire life.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Amazingly written and absolutely stunning urban coming of age & growing into power tale! Must read for black mothers & fathers who need the knowledge of how to heal, encourage, support, push, love, look out for, and protect the young ones in our lives. Patrisse is a lyrical, poetic, powerful, intelligent, and brilliant woman and writer...
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This book is life giving my eyes have been opened. I will never be able to express how deeply this book has touched my soul.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A must read/listen specially during this time we are living. A true eye opener for those who claim to be allies of the BLM movement and a must for those who are trying to educate themselves about what is to be a POC in America.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Breathtaking and highly recommended. It is a memoir, so the first part focuses on the author's childhood. But the paats on organizing and BLM are heartwrenching and inspiring.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I learned so much from listening to Patrisse tell her story in her own words. Black lives DO matter!
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Very moving memoir. I fee this is an essential point of view for all ally’s to hear in order to better understand where the movement is coming from and to help educate and strengthen allyship. Hear these voices and take action from their guidance.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5"When They Call You a Terrorist: a Black Lives Matter Memoir" is a poignant read from one of the founders of the Black Lives Matter movement, about her life as a black queer woman, her family and the injustices they have been dealt.
The audiobook, narrated by Patrisse Khan-Cullors herself, made for a better reading experience, in my opinion. It felt like she was telling me all of those stories, turning the sad ones even sadder and harder to swallow, and the happy ones more joyful. - Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Thought provoking and eye opening. A must read for anyone who is struggling with the current climate of politics and blatant racism in America.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This is essential for anyone who grew up conservative, lives in a small town, or anyone who doesn’t understand the fuss over police excessive use of force. This book is an essential eye opener, and must be read/listened to by every American, regardless their political affiliation.
- Rating: 1 out of 5 stars1/5Terrible! Don't even waste your time on it. No stars
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This is a passionate, moving memoir about racism. It's a heartbreaking, but common story, of poverty, excessive police surveillance, everyday prejudice, and hopelessness. There are many conditions of black lives that are not commonly known, making this book a must-read, but not an easy one.Along with friends, Alicia Garza and Opal Tometi, Khan-Cullors founded Black Lives Matter in 2013 after George Zimmerman was acquitted of the shooting of Trayvon Martin.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I had the opportunity to see the author speak a few years ago and this memoir was just as beautiful as the talk she gave then.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Of the books I’ve been reading to understand and support #BlackLivesMatter, this one was the hardest and the most powerful. The author’s story, illuminating and heartfelt, is equally tragic and inspiring. There was one chapter that was the most difficult chapter I’ve ever read.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5If you do not understand the need or reasoning behind BLM, this is the book to read. Her descriptions of life for poor Black Americans will break your heart and leave you angry at the injustice.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I'm not seeing this book on the lists of anti-racist books to read, but I feel like it is a good addition. I listened to the audiobook, read by the author, which gave that extra little bit to paint the story. This isn't just a book about her forming BLM, but a book about the life that brought her to it, and why she fights. Definitely give it a try.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This was such an incredible, important book. Patrisse Cullors is one of the co-founders of the Black Lives Matter movement. This memoir explains how her life's experiences led to this role.She grew up in a poor area of Los Angeles where laws made it incredibly difficult for Blacks in this country to lead successful lives. Children were stopped and frisked, people were imprisoned for small crimes, wages were low, rents were high, men were missing. She speaks of prisons where inmates are tortured, mentally ill are mistreated, and fear is rampant.Patrisse had some very positive experiences particularly in a school she attended. As a teen she was able to develop her skills as an organizer. Working in small communities and large she helped others to effect change. Black Lives Matter was a reaction to the unbelievable actions following Trayvon Martin's murder, Michael Brown's killing by an uncharged White policeman, and Sandra Bland's questionable suicide among others.Much of this memoir focuses on Patrisse's family and family of friends. I recommend this to all looking for greater insight into the Black experience in America.