Kristian Williams

Our Enemies in Blue has been getting a bit of media attention the last few weeks, during which time the title has stopped sounding like a provocation and started sounding like elementary common sense.

I’ve been quoted in the Washington Post and Teen Vogue, as well as in Showing Up for Racial Justice’s “Call to White People.”  I didn’t realize that appearing in Teen Vogue was a goal of mine until it happened, but now I am inordinately proud of the fact.

Our Enemies in Blue has also appeared on a number of reading lists, including the Oregonian‘s “35 Books about Race, Recommended by Black Portland Writers,” New York Magazine‘s “The Best Histories of U.S. Policing, According to Experts,” and in the UK, the Turnaround blog’s “Black Lives Matter Reading List.” And it featured in Glitter‘s list of free audiobooks about “racism, sexism, and more.”

It is nice to be noticed.

Aric McBay has written a massive two-volume handbook for radical political action, titled Full-Spectrum Resistance.  It offers a theory of social change and practical advice on strategy, organizing, communication, and the like, all illustrated with historical case studies.

I wrote a review for Roar, highlighting the the many virtues and (fewer) shortcomings of the book, along with some ideas of how organizations might use it.

Around the country, and even around the world, cities have exploded in anger over police violence, triggered by the murder of George Floyd.  I’ve written a short essay for Roar examining the particular character of the unrest, and its relationship to concessions and reforms (on the one hand) and the goal of abolition (on the other).

I then elaborate on the theme in an interview with Hard Crackers.

I’ve also written a more personal essay, reflecting on the experience of losing my father in the midst of a pandemic.  That one is at the AK Press blog.

Cities across the country are burning, after police in Minneapolis killed an African-American man who was already in restraints.  Of course those in the streets have a very clear idea of why this is happening, but for the puzzled observer, Roar has published an excerpt from my book Our Enemies in Blue, discussing the function of riots as a response to police brutality.

And for those curious about the historical roots of policing and the structural role of police brutality, AK Press is offering Enemies at a deep discount for the next couple days.