A review by transportedlfl
Better, Not Bitter: Living on Purpose in the Pursuit of Racial Justice, by Yusef Salaam
5.0
Review: Better, Not Bitter
This is such a powerful memoir. As one of the Exonerated Five, Yusef Salaam points out that his life story doesn't begin with his imprisonment, nor does it end with his exoneration. He speaks eloquently about the many challenges he faced in society and the many barriers for men who have been convicted to be able to work and maintain families.
The memoir incorporates passages from the Bible and Qur'an as well as Yusef's original poetry. The writing shifts seamlessly between these verses, individual history, and broad discussion of the societal implications of our "criminal system of injustice." Yusef's photographs further add to the power of his story.
I found the most moving chapter to be the one he wrote for his mother. I can't possibly do it justice. His words deserve to be read in their entirety. So I will stop here by simply saying I highly recommend this book.
Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for this book.
This is such a powerful memoir. As one of the Exonerated Five, Yusef Salaam points out that his life story doesn't begin with his imprisonment, nor does it end with his exoneration. He speaks eloquently about the many challenges he faced in society and the many barriers for men who have been convicted to be able to work and maintain families.
The memoir incorporates passages from the Bible and Qur'an as well as Yusef's original poetry. The writing shifts seamlessly between these verses, individual history, and broad discussion of the societal implications of our "criminal system of injustice." Yusef's photographs further add to the power of his story.
I found the most moving chapter to be the one he wrote for his mother. I can't possibly do it justice. His words deserve to be read in their entirety. So I will stop here by simply saying I highly recommend this book.
Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for this book.