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I can't breathe
336 pages
A riveting, urgent piece of literary journalism that unpacks the devastating roots and repercussions of systemic police violence.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like stepping into a tense, urgent investigation of a modern American tragedy. The narrative moves with a propulsive, riveting energy, blending the rigorous detail of investigative reporting with the emotional weight of literary journalism. It immerses the reader in a somber, heavy atmosphere, driven by an unflinching examination of systemic racism, police brutality, and institutional failure in New York City and beyond. The prose is sharp and critical, guiding the reader from the immediate shock of a violent death outward into a broader, simmering outrage over the deep-rooted discrimination within the criminal justice system. It is a vital, compelling read for anyone seeking to understand the complex, devastating realities of police-community relations and racial profiling in the United States.
- Mood
- tense
- somber
- outraged
- heavy
- Tone
- investigative
- urgent
- critical
- unflinching
- Pace
- propulsive
- Themes
- systemic racism · police brutality · institutional failure · racial profiling · justice and accountability
- The writing
- Riveting literary journalism that balances rigorous investigation with compelling, narrative-driven reporting.
- The arc
- Moves from the immediate shock of a tragic focal point outward into a deep, simmering outrage over systemic injustice.
- Who it's for
- Readers who seek deep, unflinching explorations of systemic racism, criminal justice, and modern American civil rights issues.
Content notes
- police brutality
- violent deaths
- racism
- racial profiling
About the book
A work of riveting literary journalism that explores the roots and repercussions of the infamous killing of Eric Garner by the New York City police--from the bestselling author of The Divide
Description from Open Library.
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