Our Time Is Now: Power, Purpose, and the Fight for a Fair America

by Stacey Abrams

Hardcover, 2020

Status

Available

Publication

Henry Holt and Co. (2020), 304 pages

Description

"Voter suppression has plagued America since its inception, and so has the issue of identity-who is really American and what that means. When tied together, as they are in our modern politics, citizens are harmed in overt, subtle, and even personal ways. Stacey Abrams experienced the effects firsthand, running one of the most unconventional races in modern politics as the Democratic nominee for the governorship in Georgia and the first black woman major party nominee in American history. Abrams did not become governor, but she will not concede. And the reason she won't is because democracy failed voters. However, fixing suppression isn't enough unless we understand how it works and how identity plays a pivotal role. Suppression and identity altered the 2016 presidential election-and will do the same in 2020. But progress can win, and here Abrams lays out how. In Our Time Is Now, Abrams draws on extensive national research from her voter rights organization, Fair Fight Action, and her 2020 Census effort, Fair Count, as well as moving and personal anecdotes from her own life. Abrams weaves together the experiences of those who have fought for the vote and the right to be seen throughout our nation's history, linking them with how law and policy deny real political power. So much hangs in the balance for the 2020 election, and the stakes could not be higher. Our Time Is Now will galvanize those seeking change. It will be a critical book by the expert on fair voting and access that will show us where we fall short, who America is now, and most importantly, empower us to become the democracy we're meant to be"--… (more)

Rating

(36 ratings; 4.3)

User reviews

LibraryThing member Darcia
If you're an American citizen with the right to vote, then you should read this book.

Confession: Political discussions make my eyes glaze over. I'm an avid reader of social justice, sociology, and psychology, but I rarely read politics. While the basis of this book is politics, focusing on voter
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rights and suppression, the heart of this book is social justice. When the votes of entire groups of people are suppressed based on the color of their skin and/or their lack of financial resources, that's a social problem.

Stacey Abrams lays out the history of voter suppression, from the early poll taxes to the current, less obvious but far more insidious methods of controlling our vote. She offers a lot of insight from her own experiences in Georgia, sharing stories that give us a clear view of how rampant voter suppression still is within our supposed democracy.

Corruption thrives when left unchallenged in the darkness, so read this book, shine the light, and demand the changes a true democracy deserves.

*I received a copy of this book from the publisher.*
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LibraryThing member LibroLindsay
Abrams lays out all the ways voter suppression works during the present--not necessarily new news to anyone who has followed voting and elections, but it is striking all the same. One of the many reasons I love Abrams is her optimism for all the opportunity we have to grow as a country, and it
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comes across loud and clear here and is super energizing.
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LibraryThing member ms_rowse
Breathing easy after this most recent election? Don’t. Love democracy but worried about its future here in the US? The work starts now, and Stacey Abrams eloquently breaks down how and why the old way of doing things just doesn’t cut it anymore. I am inspired by her focus on local governments
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and am making a list of what I can do in Nebraska. This book is 100% worth your time if you believe in a better America.
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Language

Original language

English

Original publication date

2020-06-09

Physical description

304 p.; 8.57 inches

ISBN

1250257700 / 9781250257703

Other editions

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