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A review by kacovarrubias
Five Days: The Fiery Reckoning of an American City by Erica L. Green, Wes Moore
5.0
This book chronicles Baltimore in the days following Freddie Gray's funeral; Freddie Gray died after being police custody in April, 2015. The story is presented through the lens of eight Baltimoreans, and it's an important and heartbreaking book.
I learned of this book when I heard Wes Moore interviewed on Fresh Air. He made the point that Freddie Gray's destiny was set at birth. And in the author's note at the end, he writes:
"There is an unhelpful narrative that people like Freddie Gray somehow deserve what happens to them. That, if Freddie were living his life the right way, then he would not have had that encounter with the police in April 2015. However, every meaningful data point about Freddie point to how he was brought into this world and then how the world treated him, repeatedly and ruthlessly, throughout his life. From his mother's untreated addiction to lead poisoning to failed school, we chose Freddie's destiny for him."
I highly recommend this book.
I learned of this book when I heard Wes Moore interviewed on Fresh Air. He made the point that Freddie Gray's destiny was set at birth. And in the author's note at the end, he writes:
"There is an unhelpful narrative that people like Freddie Gray somehow deserve what happens to them. That, if Freddie were living his life the right way, then he would not have had that encounter with the police in April 2015. However, every meaningful data point about Freddie point to how he was brought into this world and then how the world treated him, repeatedly and ruthlessly, throughout his life. From his mother's untreated addiction to lead poisoning to failed school, we chose Freddie's destiny for him."
I highly recommend this book.