When They Call You a Terrorist Summary

Why is it that in America, Black lives are so often treated as if they don’t matter? This book reveals personal battles and systemic injustice that led to the birth of the Black Lives Matter movement.

1. Poverty Shapes Childhoods and Community Experiences

Growing up in poverty leaves deep and lasting marks, creating cycles of hardship with few opportunities for escape. Patrisse Khan-Cullors describes her childhood in 1990s Los Angeles, where poverty loomed over her family. Despite her mother working multiple jobs, food was often scarce, and basic appliances like a refrigerator went unrepaired because they couldn't afford replacements. The author and her siblings grew up experiencing daily hunger and a lack of normalcy many take for granted.

The environment exacerbated the challenges. Their neighborhood was filled with liquor stores and fast-food outlets instead of grocery stores that offered fresh, nutritious food. The absence of health necessities and resources forced many families to adopt unhealthy eating habits and lifestyles.

The reality of systemic neglect was a constant reminder of how poverty isn't merely about the lack of money. It creates environments of despair that impact young minds and limit aspirations.

Examples

• The author's family often only ate cereal because they could not afford other food.
• They had to eat cereal with water due to a year-long lack of a working refrigerator.
• Their neighborhood lacked proper grocery stores but was surrounded by liquor stores and fast-food outlets.

2. The Fear of Law Enforcement Begins Young

For Black children, interactions with police are often lessons in fear, rather than protection. Khan-Cullors recalls many alarming encounters with law enforcement from an early age. At just nine years old, she witnessed police officers throw her 12-year-old brother and his friends against a wall for merely talking in an alleyway near their home.

This pattern continued into the teenage years when her brothers were regularly harassed and even arrested simply for being in public spaces at the wrong time. The police acted as a constant, intimidating presence in the neighborhood, creating a culture of fear rather than security.

The dynamic in Black communities shows a stark contrast from predominantly white neighborhoods, where law enforcement is generally seen as helpful. For many Black Americans, the police are a source of danger.

Examples

• Her brother and his friends were stopped and searched while simply talking outside.
• Her mother moved the family to another area, but they continued to face police harassment.
• Harassment by law enforcement was so common that her mother felt powerless to protect her children.

3. Schools in Black Areas Resemble Prisons

The author highlights the disparity in educational environments for Black versus white children. Schools in predominantly Black neighborhoods often resemble correctional facilities, with metal detectors, sniffer dogs, and heavy policing. This harsh environment fosters a sense of criminalization from a young age.

At just 12 years old, Khan-Cullors was arrested for smoking marijuana in the bathroom at her neighborhood summer school, an incident that sharply contrasted with the more lenient treatment she had observed among white peers. It is telling that despite high-school shootings mostly taking place in white-majority schools, Black schools are the ones heavily policed.

The punishment-first mentality in these schools criminalized everyday childhood behavior, pushing Black students into the school-to-prison pipeline.

Examples

• A 12-year-old Detroit girl faced expulsion and prosecution for writing “Hi” on a locker.
• White students faced no consequences for smoking weed at Khan-Cullors’ middle school.
• Black-majority schools were equipped with metal detectors and constant policing.

4. Society Blames Individuals for Circumstances Beyond Their Control

American society often tells stories of personal failure to explain poverty and addiction, ignoring systemic causes. Khan-Cullors describes how her stepfather Alton left their family after losing his well-paying job due to a factory closure. The shame of being unable to provide led him to walk away.

Khan-Cullors also highlights her father's addiction and observes how society expects individuals to bear sole responsibility for struggles with substance abuse. Guidance, mentorship, and community programs, which might prevent these issues from arising, are notably absent in impoverished neighborhoods. This lack of resources only deepens issues like addiction and unemployment.

The societal tendency to judge individuals’ “failures” without acknowledging systemic forces creates unnecessary stigma.

Examples

• Her stepfather left because he felt failed and ashamed after losing his job.
• Her father struggled with addiction in a community with minimal recovery resources.
• Society focuses on individual accountability rather than systemic failures that enable poverty and addiction.

5. The United States Over-relies on Incarceration

The U.S. incarcerates more people than any other country, targeting African Americans disproportionately. Khan-Cullors’ family was no exception, as both her father and brother were imprisoned. The justice system responded to issues like addiction and mental health crises with punishment rather than treatment.

For her father, Gabriel, incarceration became a revolving door due to his addiction, even though he was nonviolent. Her brother Monte, who suffered from mental illness, endured prison time and solitary confinement, which worsened his condition. Upon release, he faced ongoing struggles due to the lack of post-incarceration support.

These examples illustrate how incarceration often ignores underlying problems, leaving affected families to deal with the fallout.

Examples

• Her father was sent to prison repeatedly for drug addiction.
• Monte’s mental illness deteriorated after solitary confinement in prison.
• California prisons house more mentally ill individuals than the state’s psychiatric facilities.

6. Black Lives Matter is a Response to Systemic Racism

The author co-founded Black Lives Matter (BLM) after the acquittal of George Zimmerman, who killed Trayvon Martin. BLM provided an outlet for collective anger over systemic racism and police brutality. Its mission grew to address wider societal injustices beyond individual incidents.

By amplifying stories of victims such as John Crawford and Eric Garner, BLM exposed the frequency and severity of anti-Black violence in the U.S. These stories brought urgency to their call for accountability in law enforcement.

The movement aimed to harness the power of grassroots activism to fight systemic oppression.

Examples

• George Zimmerman’s acquittal galvanized the start of BLM.
• John Crawford was killed while holding a toy gun in Walmart.
• Eric Garner died after being held in a chokehold by NYPD officers.

7. Police Violence Disproportionately Targets Black Americans

Police brutality against Black Americans is not occasional – it is systemic. Black people are approximately five times more likely to be killed by police than white people. In California alone, a person dies at the hands of police roughly every three days.

The movement shared stories of victims like Tamir Rice and Sandra Bland to demonstrate the widespread and indiscriminate nature of such violence. These injustices underscore the urgency of reforming policing systems and addressing institutional racism.

Black communities live in constant fear of encounters with law enforcement, a reality few white Americans understand.

Examples

• Black people represent 63% of police shooting victims in California, despite being a minority.
• Tamir Rice, a 12-year-old, was shot while holding a toy gun.
• Sandra Bland died in police custody after being arrested for a minor violation.

8. Inclusivity is Central to Effective Activism

BLM emphasizes inclusivity, advocating for the rights of all marginalized groups. The movement prioritizes issues faced by Black transwomen, who are among the most vulnerable to discrimination and violence.

This approach ensures that voices from every corner of the Black community are heard, creating a more united and effective movement. Khan-Cullors stresses that only through embracing diversity can the fight for justice succeed.

Black Lives Matter is as much about equality as it is about justice.

Examples

• Black transwomen are frequent victims of violence but are often ignored in broader activism.
• BLM supports non-gender-conforming individuals in leadership roles.
• Inclusivity helps address the unique struggles faced by different members of the Black community.

9. Personal Struggles Can Inspire Broad Change

Khan-Cullors’ determination to fight injustice was fueled by deeply personal experiences. From witnessing her brother’s mental illness mishandled by the legal system to the systemic poverty she encountered, her insights built the foundation for activism.

By mobilizing communities, raising awareness, and demanding justice, Black Lives Matter challenges entrenched systems of white supremacy. Khan-Cullors exemplifies how personal pain can transform into collective action.

Her resolve shows that individuals can make profound societal impacts.

Examples

• She raised $10,000 to aid her brother’s legal defense against excessive charges.
• Trayvon Martin’s death called her to activism, sparking a global movement.
• Her family’s struggles with police and incarceration fueled her commitment to justice.

Takeaways

1. Educate yourself about systemic racism and its effects on marginalized communities.
2. Support organizations that work toward criminal justice reform and racial equality.
3. Challenge discriminatory practices in your own community by advocating for inclusivity.