American Identity in Crisis: Notes from an Accidental Activist: One Activist's Fight for ID Access and Human Dignity for 26 Million Americans

by Kat Calvin

A trailblazing activist’s passionate and incisive look at why she started a movement to ensure that 26 million Americans have access to the IDs they need to escape poverty and live healthy and productive lives American Identity in Crisis weaves together three remarkable the making of an activist in the wake of the 2016 presidential election; the fight against the onerous rules that are being used to keep vulnerable and targeted populations from participating in all facets of American life -from obtaining jobs and housing to going to the polls- and how we can solve a problem that impacts millions of American adults. Kat Calvin ties all of these threads together in profound ways. In American Identity in Crisis , she takes us on a cross-country tour as she and her team uncover one of the biggest secrets in America and learn how to solve it. We meet veterans, the unhoused, and senior citizens, and learn the story of the fierce advocate who insists on recognizing their humanity and seeing them as souls who are resilient and striving for change.  Told in a voice that is strong and vulnerable; funny and fearless, confident and self-deprecating, American Identity in Crisis is a defense of human dignity and everyone’s right to have access to the pursuit of happiness.

“Kat Calvin has been doing the work. Like, really doing the work—the backbreaking, administratively maddening work of helping individuals without ID get the documentation they need to live, work, and vote. Now she has produced a tremendous, invigorating chronicle of how her life as an ID activist took shape, very suddenly, mid-way through her adulthood. For all those who look at this broken and unjust world and ask, “What can I do?” Calvin offers a resonant, moving, historically grounded answer: here is the story of staring straight at an insurmountably unfair system, taking a breath, digging in, and stepping up to fix it, one step at a time.”

Rebecca Traister, Journalist, Author of Good and Mad: How Women's Anger Is Reshaping America

"Ella Baker. Fannie Lou Hamer. Gloria Richardson. These intelligent, strategic and effective activists and organizers would all be proud that folks like Kat Calvin have stepped up and filled in a void as current day champions for the voiceless who fight for those who are unseen and unheard everyday by many policy makers and political leaders. American Identity in Crisis is a revelation of not only a powerful new leader to watch but also as a treatise that is a must-read for anyone who cares about equity and democracy."

Bakari Sellers, New York Times best-selling author of My Vanishing Country

“In these divisive times, many of us wonder if anything can get done. Kat Calvin has not only lead the way on practical solutions, but now, she has written down the path, so each of us can take part in making our democracy more equitable for all. Don’t miss this inspiring book.”

Piper Perabo, Actress and Activist

"The centuries long fight for all Americans to have access to the vote—a core principle of a democracy—is as valid now as ever. Kat Calvin is on the frontlines of this battle and is fearlessly and forthrightly making the case why millions of Americans without IDs should have access to the franchise. In American Identity in Crisis, she brilliantly makes her case and demonstrates with power and compassion why every human and vote counts."

April Ryan, author of Black Women Will Save the World: An Anthem

“In this stunning book, Kat Calvin shines her light on ID-less Americans, an issue that could have changed the shape of the 2016 election, and currently affects the lives of over 26 million people. Calvin writes with a courageous heart that leaps off the page, as she incisively lays out the contours of this crisis of personal agency, while managing to provide inspiration, and a delightfully whacky sense of humor. Between her work spearheading Spread The Vote, Project ID, and this wildly generous political guidebook, I think it's only fitting to identify Kat Calvin as an American hero.”

Lauren Duca, Journalist, Author of How to Start a Revolution: Young People and the Future of American Politics

Genres: Politics, Nonfiction

176 pages, Hardcover

Published September 19, 2023

About the author

Kat Calvin is the Founder and Executive Director of Spread The Vote + Project ID and the Co-Founder and CEO of the Project ID Action Fund. A lawyer, activist, and social entrepreneur, Kat has built a national organization that helps Americans obtain the IDs they need for jobs, housing, and life and that also allows them to go to the polls and is working towards the passage of the IDs for an Inclusive Democracy Act. Her book American Identity Crisis will be released on Amistad by Harper Collins on September 19, 2023.

Kat is one of the TIME Magazine 16 People and Groups Fighting for a More Equal America, 2018 Fast Company 100 Most Creative People in Business, and has been a Business Insider 30 Under 30, The Grio 100, and more. Kat has been featured in the New York Times, LA Times, Washington Post, Atlantic, Essence, Glamour, NPR, PBS, BET, Marie Claire and many more print and digital outlets. She has been a guest commentator on MSNBC, CNN, Headline News, Sirius XM, and more. She is a frequent keynote speaker and a sought after voice for her expertise and opinions on politics, voting, ID related issues, and more.

Along with STV/PID, Kat is an enthusiastic photographer, an avid traveler, a fellow in the Royal Arts Society and their Los Angeles Ambassador, and leads the LA chapter of The Outbound City Project. She writes weekly insights and pop culture recommendations at Hot Takes and Applesauce.

Kat attended Mount Holyoke College and the University of Michigan Law School. She is an Army brat mostly from Seattle and Arizona and currently lives in Los Angeles.

Reviews

[Lilly · Rating 5 out of 5]

an extremely important book that talks about how vital IDs are to every american, especially vulnerable populations like those with disabilities, BIPOC, indigenous, and LGBTQ+. whether you care about the housing crisis or not, this book gives you more insight on the lives of people you see everyday and tells you how the american identity crisis impacts everyone, even if you already have an ID.

so glad i bought this book!! found it by chance at the housing works bookstore in NY.

minor note: i also like that there are takeaways at the end of each chapter ^ - ^

[Amir Talai · Rating 5 out of 5]

A simple and vital story about a massively unreported problem in the US (and only in the US). This book will shift how you view the *ten percent* of american adults who don't have a valid ID. Bonus, Calvin's writing is breezy and sometimes even funny, making the book a great choice to pick up and finish quickly before sharing it with someone you respect, since you'll definitely want to share it.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

An extremely important story about an issue that not too many people know or think about. I learned so many things I did not know, like there are over 20 million people in the US who do not have a proper ID. This book explains how and why getting documentation can be difficult for some people, mainly poor and minority folks. The author also explains the implications of not having an ID and how that can affect every aspect of a person's life, from healthcare to voting to housing. Not only does she state the problems, she also offers her own solution to the problem. Kat is a very inspirational person. She's changing history and helping so many along the way. I really enjoyed her voice and her personality shown through the pages. She made an excellent reading experience, being articulate, well informed, and doing it all with humor is difficult, but she nailed it! I really hope she comes out with more work because I will be picking it up.

[Mary O'shea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned so much about the difficulties facing those without identification in this country. Kat Calvin spells out the bureaucratic catch 22 and mess involved with what should be a basic act of providing identifications for Americans. She lays out the information mixing the laws with personal accounts, and at the same time with great sensitivity and humor. She also provides a great summary for each issue addressed with each chapter. This is truly a crisis in America and requires attention, and I don't mean requiring identification for voting. It requires a way that the unhoused, the marginalized and the low income can have access to gaining identification without having to spend money. Many people can not apply for jobs, apartments, access to VA benefits they have a right to, simply because they do not have a laminated plastic identification. This is a quick read that is well worth everyones time, attention, and support.

[Michael McCue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kat Calvin founded an organization to help get people to vote. Then she discovered that many folks weren't voting because they lack identification papers. Soon after that she learned that not being able to vote was the least of the problems of people with out IDs. Housing, health care and nearly every thing else requires an official photo ID. I didn't know that most homeless shelters require IDs just to come in. No wonder people are living on the streets. 3There are over 20 million people in the United States who don't have a proper government issued photo ID. Calvin's book shows why it is so hard for this people to obtain the needed documents. This book also shows how politicians of one party have purp0sely made it harder to vote and more dificult to get the needed documents. At the end of the book the author makes a su.ggestion for a nationl ID to fix this problem.

[Katie Bruell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those rare times when I really wish Goodreads had 10 star ratings. I read a lot of social justice books. This one is head and shoulders above so many of them because it's clear, direct, and hilarious. Kat is obviously an amazing person and we should all send her and a librarian and a park ranger to Mars. But I'm glad she's here on Earth still, working on this super important issue. Read this book!

[Alicia Spanswick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have not been so jazzed in a long time. This is so tangible. This is so real. How can we positively change 26 million American lives? Make sure they have ID. I have not felt a passion sparked like this in so long. I can’t wait to dig in and start helping.

Thank you for enlightening me about this problem and making me laugh and cry and cringe and shudder once or twice. Great read and outlining a crisis no one is talking about.

[Kyra · Rating 5 out of 5]

After putting this book down and then picking it back up again and putting it down and picking it back up again I finally FINALLY finished it and wow. Can I just say we have a lot of work to do in this country? (On tonight of all nights especially.) But reading this book is a good way to start. Truly there was so much I thought I knew that I didn’t and so much that I just didn’t know, and it is all important and relevant and I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

[Courtney Cooperman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kat is one of the most incredible activists I’ve ever had the privilege of crossing paths with! Her book is an informative, digestible, and relatable account of how she came to discover the American identity crisis that runs much, much deeper than voter ID, and how her orgs are working at the individual and systemic level to secure IDs for all.

[Hatie Parmeter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is literary journalism at its best. Kat shares stories of real people along with incredible facts on the ID crisis and why it should matter to everyone. Her writing is personal and relatable, funny and Informative.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Take action. Read to understand.

Easy read that explains to average Americans what is a looming crisis. Non-partisan look at the essential ID and what it means for our economy, public health, and future prospects.

[Louise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent readable information about ID's and our govt requires them but leaves getting them up to the individual with a myriad or requirement that make it difficult. Rules changes after 9/11.

[Erica Warren · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want to understand the problems in the U.S., please read this book

Just read it. It’s very insightful. It will have you thinking about our society in new ways. Just read it.

[CJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

A funny and informative book about the overly complicated ID system in the USA that results in our citizens being unable to access jobs and services, or vote. Can’t recommend enough.

[Lisa Horner · Rating 5 out of 5]

You will think differently about IDs after reading this book. Recommended.

[Bella Day · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super powerful story about a powerful woman. I enjoyed every single line in this book, it was definitely one of the most inspiring books I've ever read

[Cieara Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was heart wrenching, eye opening, and inspiring. Every person needs to read this book. Every. Single. Person. And then? We each need to take action to make change.

[Adrienne Naibauer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book on ID's, voting laws, and how not all Americans are able to vote, find jobs, or even housing. American Identity in Crisis is a must read!

[Roxy Beers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely worth the read, very informative. Only 3 stars because part of it felt too conversational/ joking for such an important topic.

[Kelsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A crucial topic written in a way that’s entertaining and relatable.

[Adam Gercak · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book will make you laugh, and while your laughing you're going to get angry that a problem like getting a state ID or DL should be this hard.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone who works with the homeless, disabled, etc, this was a very insightful read! It's hard enough to get services like disability, but imagine if you can't get an ID to even start the process! And as she points out, it's not like the government doesn't know who you are (especially for veterans!) This is just another thing that most countries have simplified, but for some stupid reason, we have to make it harder for people. Ugh.