Todd Brewster Boeken

The Century presents history as it was lived, and as it will be remembered for the next hundred years. Here is a keepsake volume destined to be an essential part of every family's library: an epic journey through the last hundred years, whose heroes are our grandparents, our parents, ourselves

Unarmed citizens shot by police, poisoned drinking water, and mass incarcerations highlight a troubling truth about race and class in America. A leading public intellectual and journalist offers a paradigm-shifting analysis of the current state of emergency, revealing a deeper public chasm exacerbated by systemic denial of freedom and prosperity to significant segments of the population. Through on-the-ground reporting and research, the author examines the emergence of a "Nobody" class—citizens made vulnerable and disposable by unregulated capitalism, public policy, and social practices. Key events, such as the deaths of Michael Brown, Sandra Bland, and Freddie Gray, as well as the Flint water crisis, are reconsidered to illustrate how these issues have developed over time. The analysis delves into alarming trends, including mass incarceration, aggressive policing, failing court systems, shrinking job markets, and the privatization of public resources. This exploration reveals how the current system perpetuates the plight of the vulnerable. Timely and eloquent, this work offers keen insights into the challenges of American democracy, making it essential for anyone seeking to understand the ongoing race and class issues shaping the nation today.