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Book2Dragon's Reviews > Five Days: The Fiery Reckoning of an American City
Five Days: The Fiery Reckoning of an American City
by
by
Book2Dragon's review
bookshelves: giveaways-winner, history, non-fiction, political-civil, owned
Apr 14, 2020
bookshelves: giveaways-winner, history, non-fiction, political-civil, owned
I had previously read A Death in Texas and so this title caught my eye. Like the other book, the focus on the aftermath of Freddie Gray's person was an aside to the aftermath in Baltimore and the 5 days of tension and riots. What I really liked about this book, among a few things, was the scope of coverage, the withholding of all the blame on one group or another, and the notes that preceded and followed the narrative bringing us up to 2019 at least.
The problem is not just Baltimore. Racism and the justice system is skewed in this country. No one seems able to fix it. Pointing fingers does no good. It reads as a tragedy with spots of sunlight through the clouds, though mostly there are dark clouds.
The book is fashioned around individuals in the scenario, each given 3-4 pages in a chapter of their own. Not all black, and not all white. Politicians and councilmen seem to have a side seat, but the streets were the stage.
Recommended for anyone interested in current events, civil rights and the legal and political system in America. An informative read, and well done.
The problem is not just Baltimore. Racism and the justice system is skewed in this country. No one seems able to fix it. Pointing fingers does no good. It reads as a tragedy with spots of sunlight through the clouds, though mostly there are dark clouds.
The book is fashioned around individuals in the scenario, each given 3-4 pages in a chapter of their own. Not all black, and not all white. Politicians and councilmen seem to have a side seat, but the streets were the stage.
Recommended for anyone interested in current events, civil rights and the legal and political system in America. An informative read, and well done.
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Quotes Book2Dragon Liked
“Some critics will counter that poverty is a choice made by those that are lazy or who lack the desire to change their loves for the better. I agree that poverty is a choice. But that choice is not made by the people who live under its oppressive effects. Rather, the choice is ours. It's the choice of government that represents our priorities and allocates our investments. Its a choice reinforced by the companies we patronize and the organizations we support.”
― Five Days: The Fiery Reckoning of an American City
― Five Days: The Fiery Reckoning of an American City
“â€� the criminal justice system affects more than the men whose lives are irrevcocably changed when they encounter the system.”
― Five Days: The Fiery Reckoning of an American City
― Five Days: The Fiery Reckoning of an American City
“The stigma and lifelong negative bias that results from even a fleeting encounter with the criminal justice system is absolutely life changing.”
― Five Days: The Fiery Reckoning of an American City
― Five Days: The Fiery Reckoning of an American City
“(his) actions also underscore the limits of symbolic gestures toward social justice that we also often see in the world of philanthropy. We often pay homage to what needs to change and attempt half measures, but we rarely challenge our own complicity in the structural inequities.”
― Five Days: The Fiery Reckoning of an American City
― Five Days: The Fiery Reckoning of an American City
“The truth is that our individual efforts are important but insufficient. Our collective action -- the leaders we elect, the institutions administered in the name of the People, the other stanchions at the table --- offers an opportunity for bigger, longer-lasting action.”
― Five Days: The Fiery Reckoning of an American City
― Five Days: The Fiery Reckoning of an American City
“Throw the bums out" and "Drain the swamp" are popular political slogans. But it's not enough to move people around in a bureaucracy if you don't change the underlying values and let those values reshape tactics and procedures.”
― Five Days: The Fiery Reckoning of an American City
― Five Days: The Fiery Reckoning of an American City
“Our country has a long history, and for much of it the intentional policy of the United States was to create hierarchies of people based on their class, race, and gender.”
― Five Days: The Fiery Reckoning of an American City
― Five Days: The Fiery Reckoning of an American City
“â€� our fates are profoundly intertwined. We have to take care of one another.”
― Five Days: The Fiery Reckoning of an American City
― Five Days: The Fiery Reckoning of an American City
“Poverty is so concentrated because it is generational and, research shows, created with relentless intention.”
― Five Days: The Fiery Reckoning of an American City
― Five Days: The Fiery Reckoning of an American City
Reading Progress
January 19, 2020
– Shelved
January 19, 2020
– Shelved as:
to-read
March 24, 2020
–
Started Reading
April 14, 2020
– Shelved as:
giveaways-winner
April 14, 2020
– Shelved as:
history
April 14, 2020
– Shelved as:
non-fiction
April 14, 2020
– Shelved as:
political-civil
April 14, 2020
– Shelved as:
owned
April 14, 2020
–
Finished Reading
