As a white man, I am aware of my privilege. I know that my interactions with police and law enforcement are wholly different than they are with people of color. However, I have never had it explained to me in a such a detailed and profound way as this book. I was able to see some distinct scenarios that affect Black Americans that would not apply to me and my family, and it was truly horrific to think about and try to place myself in the position of someone in these interactions.

This book should make people unsettled, and should be a place to begin a conversation about reform. The stories of Carbado being pulled over at the beginning of the book really pulled me in to the injustice that is all too familiar in police action. The chapters look at different facets of the police system in America, and ends with some thoughts on how to combat it.

I have to be honest, I pushed through the introduction to get to the 1st chapter and thought about setting the book down and coming back to it, but glad I didn't. The first few pages are probably the book's weakest- more tome than exploration. The strength of this book is placing readers into positions where they would be questioning what to do and what the best choice to take might be.

There's a lot to digest here, and while I think on the surface there may not be a lot new in this book, he breaks down the larger issues and looks at what exactly is wrong with the system.

Don't be mistaken- this is not a "burn the system down" or "defund the police" book, but a harrowing look at how the racism in the name of justice affects citizens at their most human level