The Meaning of Freedom: And Other Difficult Dialogues (City Lights Open Media)

Angela Davis' book "The Meaning of Freedom" is a collection of speeches/jeremiads that span the last twenty years of her career as a leftwing civil rights activist. The book is compelling, intellectually provocative, and emphatically charged insofar as social injustice is concerned.Davis is fearless when it comes to raising the issue of civil rights for all people of different races, ethnic backgrounds, sexual orientations, and let's not forget felons. Davis believes the American dream should be a reality that everyone should have access to. Unfortunately, they don't.In most States, the LGBT community still doesn't have the legal right to marriage. Also, felons are relegated to second class status for the rest of their lives, permanently losing the right to vote, all the while, legally being denied work and not being able to apply for social programs in order to get back on their feet. The Clinton Crime Bill is a prime example of this apartheid behavior toward felons in the United States. As a matter of fact "racism plays a major role in determining who is subject to state punishment and who is not!" The reasons why are staggering as Davis points out during the 2000 election in Florida. Overall, 950,000 former felons reside there and if they were given the right to vote, its plain to see that Al Gore would have been elected president of the United States. The real objective insofar as eradicating the civil rights of the incarcerated is to maintain a form of hegemonic despotism in the auspices of a pseudo-democracy, which the Ultra-Right would control."The Meaning of Freedom" as a whole is a relevant book to read considering the Supreme Court ruled that section V of the Voting Rights Act is unconstitutional, which is now leading to the disenfranchisement of minority voters across the country. North Carolina is leading the charges into this reactionary recidivism, a form of constitutional malfeasance.The Trayvon Martin case is another prime example of apartheid in the U.S. with the Stand Your Ground Laws that are being promoted throughout the country and the fact that George Zimmerman was allowed to get away with murder has created a disquieting situation and has set American race relations back nearly sixty years.Davis' main argument is that the system is stacked in favor of the Neoliberals in power and it is up to the American people to find common ground in order to fix this insalubrious situation that has metastasized into an unconstitutional draconian quagmire that can't remain upright for long. Sooner or later our system of governance will discombobulate if we don't recognize the rights of all people around the world, and that this country needs socialistic programs in place in order to allow its people a chance to achieve the American dream.Davis also points out, "In today's era of Global capitalism, resistance to racism can only be effective if it is anchored in global communities of struggle. Our challenge today is to build secure bridges that link anti-racist movements, prison abolitionist campaigns, and immigrant rights movements."Believe me when I tell you, you won't agree with everything she says in this series of speeches. Angela Davis is as far left as it gets and many of her ideas seem pragmatic at first glance. Whether or not her ideas are viable is left up to the reader.As for me, I believe most of her ideas are the only solution to today's problems and concerns.Other books that correlate to this one are as follows:Howard Zinn: "Passionate Declarations"Douglas S. Massey and Nancy Denton: "American Apartheid"Al Gore: "The Assault on Reason"Michelle Alexander: "The New Jim Crow"Chris Hedges: "Empire of Illusion"Tavis Smiley and various authors: "The Covenant with Black America"Marc Ian Barasch: "The Compassionate Life"

I like Angela's ability to send me to the dictionary, I simply didn't know of her focus of attention

Sugar Bear..This book is very educational to the events that surround the injustices of races of color and is informative to the extentionalist views of a system that is set for people of color to fail...I liked the fact that the author stated the facts as truths. To all young adults that want to know their history. I love the book.

Bought to read before attending a speech by Angela Davis. Compilation of speeches she has given. Very good representation of a range of issues over several years. I felt I had a pretty good background in issues of the era when I went to hear the talk.

This collection of writings by Angela Davis show not only how critical a thinker she is, but also how much hope she still has that we can create a new reality. Though she has every reason to be jaded by our justice system, she is not. Instead, what emerges from the pages of this book is a sincere desire and meaningful action for moving our country towards full humanity.

Great read! I recommend it.

I love Angela Davis and this book confirms my affections. I needed a book to review for a college course on racism and sexism in America. Her work is for the progressive person looking for inspiration on a conceptual an obtainable future. A future where classism is chipped at, oppression is seen in all its forms and we are not slaves to capitalism.

Bought as a gift for my daughter. A measure of the gift: she's reading parts out loud to her husband!

Remarkable essays by an amazing woman - highly intelligent analysis and generous spirit.

Angela Davis writes in such an incredible way - she has made the subject so incredibly accessible, relatable and though provoking!!

Great book.

This is an amazing book. I'm not through reading it yet, but I'm enjoying so far.

Gives us all something to think about. Great read.