State of Emergency

“A masterful book…reaffirms the urgency of the current state of Black people in America and the power we all have to win transformative change.” —Marc Lamont Hill, New York Times bestselling author

“Gives us the words and tools to fight for the justice our families deserve.” —Tamika Palmer, mother of Breonna Taylor

“A powerful voice in consistently reminding us that we all have a stake in the fight for a just, fair, and equitable America.” —Jada Pinkett Smith, actor, producer, entrepreneur

Social justice leader Tamika D. Mallory states her case for action in this searing indictment of America’s historical, deadly, and continuing assault on Black and brown lives.

Drawn from a lifetime of frontline culture-shifting advocacy, organizing, and fighting for equal justice, State of Emergency makes Mallory’s demand for change and shares the keys to effective activism both for those new to and long-committed to the defense of Black lives.

From Minneapolis to Louisville, to Portland, Kenosha, and Washington, DC, America’s reckoning with its unmet promises on race and class is at a boiling point not seen since the 1960s. While conversations around pathways to progress take place on social media and cable TV, history tells us that meaningful change only comes with radical legislation and boots-on-the-ground activism. Here, Mallory shares her unique personal experience building coalitions, speaking truth to power, and winning over hearts and minds in the struggle for shared prosperity and safety.

Forward-looking, steeped in history, and rich with stories from life on the margins of American life, State of Emergency is a revelatory examination of the challenges we face, of the forces we must overcome, and a blueprint for all who maintain hope for social equity and a better tomorrow.