The issue of institutional racism and systemic injustice dominates the present racial discourse in America. Ongoing manifestations of police brutality that disproportionately affect African Americans, injustices in the legal system, and mass incarcerations of people of color extend social debates to a broader discussion of racism in America. The ongoing freedom struggle addresses the ways in which power structures perpetuate oppression and inequalities.

The Black Lives Matter movement emerged in 2012 as a response to current incidents of police brutality and racial violence against Black people. As a social and political movement, Black Lives Matter advocates antiracism and criminal justice reform. It seeks to dismantle white supremacy and empower Black communities for self-determination and liberation. As a concept, “Black lives matter” serves as an affirmation of Black humanity and resilience against oppression. The movement embraces an expansive approach to equality by advocating for freedom for all marginalized groups either based on gender or ethnicity.

The Black Lives Matter movement is part of what Jemar Tisby describes as the modern-day civil rights movement that emphasizes structural racism and the urgency for antiracist action. Tisby’s book contributes to this ongoing debate about racism, illustrating how institutional racism remains embedded in American society.