Summary: Chapters 13–16

In Chapter 13, “A Call, a Response,” in the aftermath of Trayvon Martin’s death and the creation of the Black Lives Matter movement, Patrisse and her allies lead protests aimed at justice. She defends the language of “Black Lives Matter,” arguing it is not “too radical” but rather necessary, given the obstacles the movement faces. During the protest movement, she encounters hostility but also gains support and sympathy from white Americans. She helps outline the movement’s guiding principles, which aim to make the movement inclusive of Black people of all genders, sexualities, and ages. Although Trayvon Martin’s death is the main catalyst for the movement, even as the protests occur, innocent Black people continue to die because of police and other racist violence. The murder of Mike Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, sets off a new flashpoint in the struggle for justice.

In Chapter 14, “#SayHerName,” Patrisse meets her friend Opal Tometi for the first time in person in Ferguson, which is described as a war zone. As heavily militarized police try to intimidate peaceful protestors, Patrisse criticizes how all the money spent to oppress the people of Ferguson could have been used instead to provide better lives for them. Patrisse also emphasizes the Black women who have been murdered by or because of police, notably Sandra Bland, who inspires the #SayHerName hashtag. While organizing protests, Patrisse learns she is pregnant.

Chapter 15, “Black Futures,” focuses on Patrisse’s pregnancy as it becomes both physically and emotionally painful. The baby’s father, Patrisse’s friend JT, closes himself off to her, and Patrisse doesn’t yet know he is dealing with personal grief. In her time of need, Patrisse turns to her new romantic interest, Future. Future, a genderqueer Canadian whom Patrisse is helping start a Black Lives Matter chapter in Toronto, offers emotional support, and the two become close. They want to live together, but Future is prevented at first from entering the country. When they are finally united, they marry in 2016 and start raising Patrisse’s son, Shine, together.

In the final chapter, “When They Call You a Terrorist,” Patrisse recounts the mixed emotions of election night 2016, when the victory of legalizing marijuana in California is overshadowed by that of Donald Trump. The legalization of marijuana should be a triumph, but Donald Trump’s win demonstrates to Patrisse how deeply racism and misogyny have compromised the average American. Although Patrisse considers leaving the country, she resolves to stay and fight “here, where I can continue to help bring [equal rights] into existence.”

Analysis: Chapters 13–16

Part of the reason for the memoir’s existence is Patrisse Khan-Cullors’s desire to defend against its critics the movement she helped create. One of the most frequent criticisms of Black Lives Matter, even from those who might otherwise support its goals, is that the phrase “Black Lives Matter” is too radical or alienates potential allies. Khan-Cullors pushes back against this idea, arguing that radical change is indeed necessary if racism and other injustices are to be effectively combatted. Chapter 13 functions as a manifesto that outlines the central goals of the movement. These go beyond ending police violence to include diverse issues like better health care, affordable housing, and safety and acceptance for queer and trans people. She considers her generation as one called to action by the injustices they have suffered and empathizes with the victims of police violence because they could have been her own siblings.

Both #BlackLivesMatter and #SayHerName began in response to a perceived misunderstanding or miscommunication in mass culture. Black Lives Matter pushes back against the devaluing of Black lives in general, and #SayHerName attacks the minimization of the deaths or disappearances of Black women in particular. Specifically, #SayHerName began after the murder of Sandra Bland, which the arresting police tried to pass off as a suicide. In organizing protests, Patrisse and her allies take the calculated risk to protest in liberal spaces such as a Democratic candidate forum. Although these actions may risk alienating some people who might otherwise support the movement, they also force an otherwise apathetic or complacent white public to confront the issues that Black Lives Matter represents.

Shifting from the large-scale drama of the protest movement to personal life once more, Patrisse focuses on her pregnancy and her romance with Future. This shift shows that individual lives, like the events of the world, are continuing simultaneously. Patrisse struggles with her pregnancy but finds solace in her relationship with Future. Future, a Canadian, represents how the struggle for Black lives is not solely an American problem but rather a global fight.

Finally, Patrisse reflects on her apprehension and sadness after the 2016 election victory of Donald Trump. While recognizing that Trump’s opponent, Hillary Clinton (born 1947), would also have maintained the racist system of the United States, Patrisse regards Trump as more openly hostile to her people. Even the victory of legalizing marijuana in California seems meaningless against the setback. However, Patrisse and her allies refuse to give up and continue organizing. Her decision to remain in the country, despite the temptation of leaving for Canada, is rooted in her commitment to continuing the struggle for the rights and dignity of Black Americans. In the final pages, she again rejects being labeled a terrorist and turns the accusation around, arguing that the real terrorism is the system of oppression that targets and exploits Black people.