Ten Lives, Ten Demands: Life-and-Death Stories, and a Black Activist's Blueprint for Racial Justice

by Solomon Jones

Told through the powerful stories of Black lives that were ravaged by racism, this manifesto holds 10 demands to rectify racial injustice

Told through his perspective as an activist, acclaimed commentator Solomon Jones tells the stories of real people whose lives and deaths pushed the Black Lives Matter movement forward. He explains how each act of violence was incited by specific instances of structural racism, and details concrete and actionable strategies to address crimes committed by our “justice” system.

These stories and strategies are a critical resource for social justice activists looking to further their anti-racist education. These 10 demands form an actionable plan that is necessary to repair our racist past, change the racist present, and bring justice to the


   1. George Pay financial reparations to Black communities that have been damaged by legalized racism.
   2. Michael Use consent decrees to reform police departments that demonstrate a “pattern or practice” of racism and police brutality.
   3. Hassan Offer compensation for all those who are wrongfully imprisoned.
   4. Breonna Require functioning body cameras and ban no-knock warrants.
   5. Eric All police disciplinary and dismissal records must be made public.
   6. Alton Change federal law to allow prosecution of flagrant lawbreakers within police departments.
   7. Tamir Use independent prosecutors to eliminate prosecutorial conflicts of interest.
   8. Trayvon Eliminate stand-your-ground laws.
   9. Deborah Defund the police and move funds to trained social workers, mental health professionals, and conflict resolution specialists.
   10. Sandra End racial profiling.

Genres: Race, Nonfiction, History

184 pages, Hardcover

Published January 18, 2022

About the author

Solomon Jones is an Essence bestselling author whose novels include The Gravedigger’s Ball, The Last Confession, Payback, Cream, Ride Or Die, The Bridge, and Pipe Dream. He has appeared on NPR and CNN Headline News, and is a contributor to short story collections including Philadelphia Noir and Liar Liar. Formerly a professor of creative writing at Temple University, Jones is an award-winning columnist whose work has appeared in Essence, Newsday, the Philadelphia Inquirer, and the Philadelphia Daily News. Jones, the creator of the Words On The Street Literacy Program, lives in Philadelphia with his wife and children. His next novel, The Dead Man’s Wife, will be published in October 2012 by Minotaur Books, an imprint of Macmillan.

Reviews

[Relena_reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're familiar with this discourse, the ideas in Jones' work aren't new, but the choice to ground them in particular stories adds a depth and humanity that more straightforward scholarly work can lack. This would be an excellent starting point for folks new to the topic.

[Rafael Suleiman · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good book about the need for reform within the criminal justice system and urban policing.

[Professor Kei · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was really informative while paying tribute to victims of police brutality and exposing the systemic design.