Reading Black Lives, American Love was a powerful and deeply moving experience. This thoughtfully curated collection of essays resonated with me through its honesty, urgency, and heartfelt reflection. I’ve always understood the core message of the Black Lives Matter movement-not just as a political stance, but as a deeply human response to generations of injustice and systemic mistreatment faced by Black people in America. What stood out most was how clearly and compassionately the essays conveyed that saying “Black lives matter” isn’t about excluding anyone; it’s about recognizing the value of lives that have too often been overlooked or devalued. It’s a call for dignity, equality, and basic human decency. I truly wish more people on the other side of the conversation could see it this way. Too often, simply hearing the phrase sparks anger and defensiveness when it should invite empathy, reflection, and a shared commitment to justice. Kudos to D.B. Maroon for beautifully tying together these powerful voices and messages in such a meaningful and impactful way. I highly recommend this book to anyone seeking a deeper understanding of race, resilience, and the urgent need for change — it’s both enlightening and inspiring.

A huge thanks to NetGalley, the author & the publisher for the opportunity to read this advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

An essay collection about the importance of the black community. I think I might have enjoyed this more if it had been arranged differently. I was trying to find a thread throughout the essays but then it kept jumping back and forth from places and times.

Honestly, from the back cover, I was expecting something different and with a slightly more historical angle, given the references to events that occurred in the 17th century. Historical notes are present, but are limited to individual essays: the vast majority of the contributions focus on very recent events and consist of autobiographical essays. Some of them very touching (the story of the New York woman originally from Morocco who witnesses the collapse of the Twin Towers while on vacation in her home country will probably stay with me for a long time), but here's the thing: there's very little history, and I honestly didn't get that from the back cover.
However, it's a good book. Pleasant, easy to read, and thought-provoking.