AAB Author Interviews

Summary

In this interview, authors Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely discuss their collaboration on the book *All American Boys*, which addresses systemic racism and police brutality. The conversation covers their emotional responses to events like the George Zimmerman verdict and Ferguson, as well as the importance of white individuals engaging in discussions about privilege and racism. Both authors share personal stories that influenced their perspectives, including Reynolds' experiences with police brutality and Kiely's reflections on white privilege, and their shared goal of fostering honest national conversations on race.

Takeaways

• 📖 The book was co-written by two authors, providing dual perspectives through the characters Sivir and Quinn.
• 📅 The inspiration for the book stemmed from real-life events, including the George Zimmerman verdict and the Ferguson protests.
• 🤝 The authors' partnership was motivated by their shared frustration over racial injustice and the need for a collaborative, honest discussion.
• 🗣️ The book was born out of their deeper, uncomfortable conversations about racism, privilege, and responsibility.
• 👨‍🏫 Brendan emphasizes the need for white people to engage in discussions about whiteness and the long-standing impact of white privilege.
• 📚 Brendan dedicated his half of the book to organizers and educators who helped him understand white privilege and its effects on society.
• 👮‍♂️ Jason relates to Rashad, the character in the book, having experienced similar family dynamics and police brutality in his own life.
• 🚓 Jason shared a personal experience of being unfairly treated by police, describing the emotional and psychological trauma of such incidents.
• 🔍 Brendan acknowledges his white privilege, citing examples like being let off with a warning after speeding, while others face harsher consequences.
• 📢 The authors hope their book sparks honest conversations about racial injustice, encouraging white people to actively engage in dismantling systemic racism.

Q & A

How did the idea for the book originate?

The idea originated during a book tour where Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely were discussing the George Zimmerman verdict. The ongoing incidents of racial injustice, including the Mike Brown case, led them to deeper, uncomfortable conversations that eventually inspired the book.

Why was it important for the authors to co-write the book?

Brendan felt it would be inappropriate to write the book on his own, given its focus on racial injustice. Co-writing allowed them to model the dialogue they wanted to see across the country, especially between people from different racial backgrounds.

What role did the authors' personal experiences play in shaping the book?

Jason drew on his personal experiences with police brutality and growing up in a similar environment as Rashad, the character in the book. Brendan brought insights from his work as an educator and his reflections on white privilege.

How did the authors approach discussing white privilege in the book?

Brendan wanted to take responsibility as a white person by acknowledging and discussing white privilege. He emphasized that the problem of racial injustice isn't just a Black American issue, but also involves white people confronting their own privilege.

What uncomfortable conversations did the authors have while writing the book?

They discussed topics like racial profiling, discrimination, and how privilege affects different communities. Jason and Brendan explored these issues honestly, recognizing the need to confront uncomfortable truths.

How does Jason relate to the character Rashad in the book?

Jason relates to Rashad's upbringing, family dynamics, and experiences with police brutality. He drew from his own personal encounters with law enforcement and those of his friends when developing Rashad's story.

How does police brutality impact communities beyond the physical acts?

Jason emphasized that police brutality is not just a physical act but also involves psychological and emotional brutalization, creating a lasting impact on Black communities across the country.

How did Brendan’s upbringing influence his involvement in the book?

Brendan noted that his upbringing didn’t include direct conversations about race or whiteness, but his experiences as an educator and learning from organizers taught him about white privilege and its legacy, motivating him to address these issues.

Why did Brendan feel a responsibility to speak up about racial injustice?

Brendan felt that as a white person, he had a responsibility not to ignore racial injustice. He wanted to engage in public conversations, particularly with white audiences, to address these issues openly.

What do the authors hope readers will take away from the book?

The authors hope the book sparks honest dialogue about racial injustice, privilege, and the responsibility of both white and Black communities to confront these issues. They want to encourage deeper conversations across racial lines.

Outlines

00:00

🤝 The Beginning of a Joint Venture Amidst Social Turmoil

The speakers recount how their book collaboration began during a tour a year ago, when the George Zimmerman verdict and subsequent social incidents like Ferguson deeply affected them. Both authors, Brendan and Jason, discussed their emotional reactions and frustrations, leading to deeper, uncomfortable conversations about race. The final straw was the Mike Brown case, after which Brendan proposed they address these issues through a book. Brendan shares his motivation as a white person to confront racial problems rather than ignore them, recognizing his responsibility to initiate these conversations.

05:00

🛑 Conversations on Privilege, Racism, and Responsibility

The conversation touches on the complexities of racism, privilege, and the responsibility of white people to engage in difficult dialogues about whiteness and racism. Jason explains how these discussions highlight that the problems aren't just for Black Americans but require white people to reflect on their own privilege and biases. Brendan talks about his realization that his upbringing never addressed his whiteness, but later experiences, including working with educators and organizers, led him to understand the significance of addressing white privilege and systemic racism in his personal and professional life.

👮 Personal Encounters with Police Brutality and Privilege

Jason shares his personal connection to the book’s character, Rashad, through his experiences growing up and witnessing police brutality. He recounts a specific incident where he and his friends were harassed by police for running a yellow light, highlighting how police brutality is not just physical but psychological. Brendan reflects on how his own white privilege has shielded him from such treatment, recalling a moment when he was pulled over for speeding but let off with just a warning. Both acknowledge the imbalance in society and emphasize the need to address these disparities publicly.

Keywords

💡Police Brutality

Police brutality refers to the excessive or unnecessary force used by law enforcement, often against minority communities. In the video, this concept is central to the book co-written by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely, as they discuss the impact of police brutality on Black Americans and how it influenced the creation of their book 'All American Boys'. Jason relates to Rashad, the protagonist, who is a victim of such brutality in the story, reflecting both personal and communal experiences with police violence.

💡White Privilege

White privilege is the societal advantage that benefits white people over others in various social, political, or economic circumstances. Brendan Kiley addresses this concept in the video, reflecting on how his white privilege has protected him in situations where people of color, like Rashad, face police brutality and discrimination. He emphasizes the need for white people to acknowledge this privilege and engage in conversations to address systemic racism.

💡Racism

Racism refers to prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone of a different race based on the belief that one's own race is superior. In the script, the authors discuss how racism manifests through incidents of police brutality, racial profiling, and systemic inequalities, which are central themes in their book. Jason and Brendan’s dialogue highlights how racism affects both individuals and communities, prompting them to write a book that sparks conversations about these issues.

💡Mike Brown

Mike Brown was an African American teenager whose shooting by a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri, became a flashpoint for discussions on race and police brutality in the U.S. His death is mentioned in the video as a turning point for the authors, particularly for Brendan, who felt it was the 'final straw' that compelled them to take action through writing. The incident inspired deeper conversations about racial violence and became a catalyst for their book.

💡Ferguson

Ferguson refers to the protests and civil unrest that erupted in Ferguson, Missouri, following the police killing of Mike Brown in 2014. In the video, the authors discuss how the Ferguson events impacted their perspective on racial issues in America and played a significant role in shaping their book. The protests highlighted ongoing racial injustice, motivating the authors to model honest conversations about race in their writing.

💡Emotional Brutalization

Emotional brutalization refers to the psychological harm caused by systemic injustice, such as racism or police abuse. Jason Reynolds expands on this in the video, explaining that police brutality isn’t just physical but also mental, where Black communities endure fear and trauma from being constantly targeted by law enforcement. This concept is embodied in the book through Rashad's experiences and how the psychological impact of racism affects him and his community.

💡Dialogue on Race

Dialogue on race refers to open, honest discussions about racial issues, including privilege, discrimination, and systemic injustice. Brendan and Jason emphasize the importance of having these uncomfortable conversations, especially between white and Black communities, to foster understanding and change. The book itself serves as a tool to model such dialogues, aiming to inspire broader discussions across the country.

💡Catalyst for Change

A catalyst for change is an event or action that sparks significant transformation or motivates people to address an issue. In the video, Brendan and Jason identify various events, including the George Zimmerman verdict and the Mike Brown case, as catalysts that propelled them to write their book. These incidents stirred deep emotional responses in them, leading them to create a narrative that challenges societal norms and seeks to inspire activism.

💡Privilege Conversations

Privilege conversations refer to discussions about the inherent advantages certain groups possess in society. Brendan reflects on how his own privilege, as a white person, had not been openly discussed during his upbringing. The video underscores the importance of white people confronting their privilege and understanding their role in perpetuating racial inequalities. The book aims to bridge this gap by encouraging conversations about privilege across different communities.

💡Organizers and Educators

Organizers and educators are individuals who work to raise awareness and bring about change in society, particularly in the context of social justice. Brendan dedicates his portion of the book to these figures, acknowledging their influence on his understanding of race and privilege. The video highlights how these individuals, through their work on the ground, helped Brendan recognize his responsibility in addressing white privilege and racial injustice.

Highlights

The authors co-wrote the book, bringing perspectives from both Sivir shots and Quinn, providing dual viewpoints on the story.

The catalyst for the book was the George Zimmerman verdict and subsequent conversations during a book tour between the authors, Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiley.

Jason Reynolds discusses how emotionally impacted he was by the Zimmerman verdict, expressing his frustration during the tour.

The authors' discussions deepened after Ferguson and the Mike Brown case, prompting them to explore these social justice themes more seriously.

Brendan Kiley talks about his motivation to respond to racial injustice as a writer and a white person, taking responsibility to address systemic racism.

The book aims to model the dialogue the authors hope to see nationwide, especially about race and white privilege.

Jason and Brendan tackled difficult conversations about white privilege, emphasizing the importance of white people engaging in these discussions.

Brendan reflects on how his education work helped him understand the reality of white privilege and power, influencing his contribution to the book.

Brendan Kiley acknowledges the need for white people to look in the mirror and confront how their identity impacts the broader society.

Jason Reynolds shares his personal experiences with police brutality, recounting an incident where he and friends were harassed by police over a minor traffic violation.

Jason discusses the psychological and emotional impact of police brutality in black communities, beyond just the physical violence.

Brendan discusses his own experience being pulled over and let off with a warning, contrasting it with Jason's experiences of police harassment, which highlights white privilege.

Both authors discuss the importance of standing up and addressing racial injustice, with Brendan acknowledging that he doesn't always act but wants to do more.

Brendan emphasizes the need for public conversation about systemic racial inequality, particularly among white people.

The book, 'All-American Boys,' aims to shed light on the issue of police brutality and race relations in America, sparking much-needed conversation.

Transcripts

I mean you guys co-wrote this book

together in tandem what's really cool

about the story is that you hear you see

Sivir shots perspective and then you're

living it through Quinn's eyes so I mean

how did you guys how did you guys come

up with this first of all you know what

was what was kind of the catalyst in the

moment you know it's a year ago Brendan

and I were on tour for two other books

the publishing company sent us out to

get there and it just so happens that

the George Zimmerman verdict had just

come down and so that I was reeling on

the inside emotionally and and what made

it complicated was that I was on tour

with the stranger and so I couldn't I

didn't feel like I could sort of express

myself but it turned out that I could

because Brendan was just as upset and

just as frustrated and so as that tour

continued and these incidents continue

to happen we talked about it further and

we got deeper and more uncomfortable and

more honest and within that discussion

and where we stood and then Ferguson

happened and Mike Brown with the Mike

Brown case I mean that was sort of the

final straw and Brendan came to me and

he said hey maybe have to do something

yeah I mean Brendan what were you how

are you living this and then what kind

of conversations and questions were you

were you having well it's sort of

twofold one I'm thinking about I'm

thinking about what I keep seeing over

and over and over again on the news and

this was a year ago and it's still

unfortunately the case today we look at

these clips even just last night you

know and it's they keep sort of coming

up over and over again and so I'm

thinking about the need to respond as as

writers because that's what we do and

and then how to respond in particular as

a white person in America because you

know all too often I feel like it's it

the narrative is let's put some of this

behind us and I feel like as actually as

a white person it's my responsibility to

say no no no we can't put it behind us

until we're doing something about it and

so for me I want to jump into this and

say I'm as responsible as the next

person I'd like to get something going

so that we can talk about this more

honestly and I could never write the

book myself because what I think it

would be a foolish thing to do if you

try to write that

by myself and so it makes a lot more

sense for us to partner and kind of

model the dialogue in our book that we

hope we can have across the country yeah

I mean what kind of conversations

uncomfortable conversations did you guys

really have about racism and upbringing

absolutely I think I think some of those

conversations have a lot to do with my

privilege right how did you get into the

muck and the mire of the conversation of

privilege especially talking to

strangers

right and so I we're having discussions

about listen these are the things that

are happening in my community and the

reason that these things are happening

most of the time are based on racial

profiling fear discrimination

discrimination racism poverty all the

other different prejudices right right

and it isn't necessarily always or if at

all for that matter black Americans

problem right it's always seen as like

well this is a black American problem

the truth is the problem has not is not

with us right the problem is about white

people not talking to white people about

lightness enough yeah and that was sort

of the conversation that Brendan and I

wanted to have and that Brendan was

totally gained - ed yeah I mean Brendan

were you was this like a new concept for

you or is there anything from your

upbringing or that like led you to this

- led you to a revelation

Jason cashing it out and and it kind of

feels like a revelation in some way

right I mean I feel like the there isn't

a point in my childhood upbringing where

somebody said to me hey this is your

white and this is what it means to be

white no one's ever no one ever said

that to me you know exactly but I do

have to say and one of the reasons why I

dedicated my half of the book to

organizers and educators is because so I

worked in a high school for ten years

before embarking on these most recent

writing projects and I learned a

tremendous amount from people who are

doing this work on the ground people who

are talking a lot about white privilege

and white power and the long legacy of

in our history has lived today and so

for me I was I was bringing those

experiences that other organizers had

really helped teach me other educators

have helped teach me to look in the

mirror and say like oh it's not just

Brendan Kiley it's Brendan Kiley I'm a

white man and what does that mean when I

walk into a space and so for me

to try to be as honest as possible about

all of that when talking with Jason to

say look this is a this is an issue

where we know the numbers are that more

often than not it's young people of

color who were affected by police

brutality but as a white person what I

can't do is just stay back and watch it

on the news and say oh that's a shame

instead I have to say I want to make

this a public conversation and in

particular talk to lots of white kids

talk to my white family talk to the the

white folks in my neighborhood to make

this an actual conversation not just

something that's over there yeah I mean

is there anything out of biographical

for either of you I mean we can start

with Jason do you relate to Rashad I

mean Rashad's upbringing and what Rashad

went through I mean he's he is slammed

to the ground and and beaten you know

jumped on and beaten in this book I mean

I hate to Rashad in numerous ways in

numerous ways I relate to is that

bringing our relates to his environment

and where he's growing up I relates to

his family dynamic right and the fact

that he had sort of an older brother who

I was rooting for a thing and he had

parents he had a father who sort of

questioned some of it right and his

father was sort of a you know a heart a

heart a heart but kind of guy right a

hard-edged kind of guy who was I look

this was gonna take for you to survive

even if I started to necessarily agree

with those things a mother who was

always sort of the referee right and

sort of trying to figure out how to

allow her child to be fully factored

actualizes life fully without the sort

of pressure of his father's South Asian

- whatever that may be in this case the

ROTC or the police force and the

military and all these sorts of things

and furthermore I I totally can relate

to police brutality I've had many many

friends who have gone through it and

I've had my own experiences as a young

teenager I remember being pulled over

for running a yellow light and with four

of my friends and the cops pulled us

over and we all had to get out of the

car and get the lay down on our stomachs

as he tears the car apart looking for

nothing we ran a yellow light and then

after he doesn't fact he rips the car

apart and takes everything out of the

vehicle he lets us all go and and speeds

off as if nothing was wrong and we were

bullied and I think police brutality is

often seen as such a physical act when

really it's a psychological act is

psychological brutalization that takes

place in black communities all over this

crunch

we're young people have been bullied by

police officers just an abuse of power

like and that is the actual

brutalization that takes place not just

a physical polarization but a mental and

emotional brutalization as well right

and I mean Brendan Quinn sees something

and he doesn't know what to do I mean

have you had that moment in your life

where you you witness something you ever

heard something and and had to struggle

with whether to stand up yeah I mean I

think it's twofold again it's one of

these things where I feel like I see it

all the time and so it'd be it'd be a

lie to say you know there are more times

or have not done something than what I

have because I see it all too often

whether it's on the news or even just

living in New York you know you see you

see cops on the subway and you see you

see people missing cabs you see all of

these moments where where my own white

privilege is this kind of shield and

Vail that's in front of me and so I wish

I could say I stood up every single time

but I don't want to I don't want to

pretend that I have but that said I feel

like I'm thinking about a known memory

of a time when I was pulled over by a

police officer and and I was breaking

the law and and I was going 30 miles

over the speed limit and I was I was let

off with a warning and that kind of

memory lodges in my brain and and I and

I say so I don't just want to brush that

off I want to say okay I know that's to

compare our two stories just now I want

to do something about that so that

everybody knows that that is it just

can't be the case anymore we can't live

in this you know this unjust imbalanced

Society yeah for sure well Jason

Reynolds Brendan Kelly thank you

all-american boys is the book and

everybody should take a look thank you

guys so much

[Music]

[Applause]