Forum from the Archives: Remembering George Floyd and the Racial Reckoning He Sparked

This book tells the story of George Floyd, a beloved figure from Houston's housing projects, as he faced the systemic pressures of being a Black man in America. It examines his family roots in slavery and sharecropping, the segregation of his schools, the overpolicing of his community, and the callous disregard toward his struggle with addiction. Drawing upon hundreds of interviews with Floyd's closest friends and family, his elementary school teachers, varsity coaches, civil rights icons, and those in the highest seats of political power, the authors offer a poignant and moving exploration of George Floyd’s America, revealing how his tragic experience brought about a global movement for change.

Between the World and Me is a personal and literary exploration of America's racial history. Written as a series of letters to his 15-year-old son, Samori, Ta-Nehisi Coates reflects on his own experiences growing up in Baltimore, his education at Howard University, and his career as a journalist. The book delves into the realities of being Black in America, including the historical and ongoing impacts of slavery, segregation, police brutality, and mass incarceration. Coates shares personal anecdotes and historical insights to prepare his son for the challenges he will face as a Black man in America, while also offering a broader critique of American society and its treatment of Black bodies. The book is a powerful and emotional exploration of identity, history, and the struggle for racial justice.