touching and interesting activism memoir by a very interesting person who i first heard about when going through the mayoral elections. tysm for the arc. would recommend. 4 stars.

I have nothing but admiration for Maya Wiley. She's a lawyer, professor, and like her parents, an activist. Her parents were activists at a time of great unrest in the United States for people of colour. I grew up in those times and remember it well. It was a hard time for people of colour to get through. And to stand up for your rights then could get you beaten if not killed. For Maya, standing up for her rights and others was ingrained into her from birth. She's still fighting that fight. I love listening to her on the news channels so it's nice to learn more about her as you do with this book. I don't know how she remains so pleasant with some of the things she saw and experienced.

Highly recommend. It's a great autobiography and as an added bonus you'll learn about the fight for civil rights in the 60s.

I was familiar with Maya Wiley from her time as an TV news contributor, so when I saw that her book was available, I had to read it.

It was interesting to learn what the drivers and motivators were that led her to a successful career. It is intriguing to see the professional path that led to a run for NY mayor but even more interesting were the moments that shaped who she became personally.

Early on she talked about her inability to handle or accept mediocrity from herself, something that resonated greatly with me, even though that thought process likely caused her much strife.

Many of us can relate to feeling the need to represent our family when we go out into the world but how Maya discusses this as she got older began to sound less like pressure and more like confidence. She knew she could conquer the task because she was a Wiley and this is what Wiley's do.

Her description of her core familiar relationships were brutally honest and I would warn that the chapter discussing her father's death is very difficult to read (especially if you are grieving) but it all shows how she became the Maya Wiley that we know.

Description
A moving, politically-charged memoir of surviving trauma and the power of activism from MSNBC legal analyst, professor, civil rights lawyer and former New York City Mayoral candidate Maya Wiley.

Born in a country that has repeatedly traumatized her and her loved ones, Maya Wiley grew up in a household that prioritized activism, hope, and resilience above all else. This attitude landed her father on President Nixon’s enemies list as her mother organized third-party political platforms. Still, they modeled hope for their children. In the decades since, she has borne witness as presidents and political figures used racism and fascism to gain power, and as cities have again and again elected white men, effectively shutting out people of color and women from having a political voice. As a result, she has been forced, time after time, to confront death, injustice, and indifference—just as her Civil Rights activist parents did before her.

After a mayoral race that further exposed our country’s deep divisions, Maya is ready to share her story and that of her parents: one of passion, possibility, and compassion in the face of fear and injustice. She takes readers through her unconventional upbringing, her father George Wiley‘s tragic death and the resulting trauma, as well as how her experiences spoke to racial, gender, and class identity. Against this painful backdrop, Maya charts her journey of coming into herself and finding hope in a dire political landscape. She also digs into how her previous struggles informed her platform, driving her to represent those who have similarly felt voiceless or ignored. In facing and sharing her own past, Maya shows readers how they too can remain optimistic in the face of adversity.

Born in a country that has repeatedly traumatized her and her loved ones, Maya Wiley grew up in a household that prioritized activism, hope, and resilience above all else. This attitude landed her father on President Nixon’s enemies list as her mother organized third-party political platforms. Still, they modeled hope for their children. In the decades since, she has borne witness as presidents and political figures used racism and fascism to gain power, and as cities have again and again elected white men, effectively shutting out people of color and women from having a political voice. As a result, she has been forced, time after time, to confront death, injustice, and indifference—just as her Civil Rights activist parents did before her.

After a mayoral race that further exposed our country’s deep divisions, Maya is ready to share her story and that of her parents: one of passion, possibility, and compassion in the face of fear and injustice. She takes readers through her unconventional upbringing, her father George Wiley‘s tragic death and the resulting trauma, as well as how her experiences spoke to racial, gender, and class identity. Against this painful backdrop, Maya charts her journey of coming into herself and finding hope in a dire political landscape. She also digs into how her previous struggles informed her platform, driving her to represent those who have similarly felt voiceless or ignored. In facing and sharing her own past, Maya shows readers how they too can remain optimistic in the face of adversity, professor, and budding politician

My Take:
Maya Wiley initially caught my attention with her legal analyst segments on MSNBC. It wasn't until I read her memoir that I learned about her activist background and legacy, which has given me a deeper understanding of Wiley. This memoir is a great read for MSNBC enthusiasts, political science scholars, those fascinated by American history, and beyond.

I found this book incredibly touching and revealing. It is a didactic novel that is determined to shine a light on racism, fascism and injustice.

Maya Wiley grew up in a household of activists. Her parents wanted to instill a sense of hope and optimism when it seemed there was none for people of color.

I gained insight into the deep divisions in the political climate, now and in the past. We need people who are willing to stand up for equality and the Wiley family is a great example of that.

I’m appreciative to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this amazing 4-star book.