Black Life Matter: Blackness, Religion, and the Subject

In Black Life Matter, Biko Mandela Gray employs a philosophical eulogy to honor Aiyana Stanley-Jones, Tamir Rice, Alton Sterling, and Sandra Bland, emphasizing their irreducible significance in the face of police brutality. He argues that the police who killed them reduced them to their bodies, turning black lives into tools of the state. Gray's "sitting-with" method seeks to defend the dead and the living, demonstrating that these four black lives speak to a mode of life that exceeds the constraints of antiblackness.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 176 pages
Publication date: 29 November 2022
Publisher: Duke University Press

In his profound and philosophical exploration of Black Life Matter, Biko Mandela Gray pays tribute to the lives of Aiyana Stanley-Jones, Tamir Rice, Alton Sterling, and Sandra Bland, recognizing their immeasurable significance in the face of relentless police brutality. Through the lens of his unique theoretical approach, known as "sitting-with," Gray endeavors to safeguard both the deceased and the living. He unveils the devastating reality that the police who took the lives of Stanley-Jones and Rice reduced them to mere physical bodies, perpetuating a harmful narrative that equates black lives with tools used by the state to justify its violence and existence. Gray delves into the emotional resonances of blackness, highlighting the tragic circumstances surrounding Bland's arrest and subsequent death, which expose the profound impact of blackness on society. He further argues that Sterling's physical movement and speech before his tragic end point to black flesh as an unruly living matter that transcends the confines of the black body.

Gray's profound analysis reveals that these four black lives were not merely victims of brutal violence but symbols of a way of life that defies the narrow confines of antiblackness. He emphasizes that their stories transcend the mere headlines and highlight the urgent need for systemic change and a deeper understanding of the complexities of black experiences. Through his philosophical eulogy, Gray offers a powerful testament to the resilience and dignity of black lives, reminding us of the importance of empathy, compassion, and justice in our collective pursuit of a more equitable and inclusive society.

Weight: 268g
Dimension: 152 x 229 x 15 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781478014843