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“In a stunningly original book, Ellis Cose cuts to the very core of free speech battles. Ordinary people are being held captive by earsplitting political voices while not enough Americans are protecting and being freed by listening to the voices of ordinary people. An abolitionist book for this moment, for this time when free speech slumbers in chains.”―Ibram X. Kendi, National Book Award–Winning And #1 New York Times bestselling author
Free speech has long been one of America's most revered freedoms. Yet now, more than ever, free speech is reshaping America's social and political landscape, even as it is coming under attack. It is no coincidence that historically huge disparities in income have occurred at times when moneyed interests increasingly control political dialogue.
Donald Trump's false complaints of “fake news,” incessant skewering of minority groups, and embrace of blatant xenophobia have undermined the value of free speech and endangered democracy, argues acclaimed journalist Ellis Cose, while a torrent of dark money has made the power of untrammeled speech the special province of the wealthy. Social media, meant to bring us closer together, has become a widespread disseminator of disinformation, keeping people divided. Protesting, a hallmark of the First Amendment, is being criminalized or requires compliance from authorities.
The nation―and the world―watches in shock as nationalism is on the rise, race- and gender-based violence spreads, and voter suppression widens. The problem, Cose makes clear, is that ordinary people have virtually no voice at all. This eye-opening, soul-stirring clarion call shows us how we can take our rights back.
