The Ferguson Report: An Erasure

In Ferguson, Missouri, in August 2014, an unarmed black man named Michael Brown was shot and killed by a police officer. This incident sparked protests and turmoil, leading to a Department of Justice report revealing biased policing and court practices in the city. Now, acclaimed poet Nicole Sealey revisits the investigation in a book that redacts the report, an act of erasure that reimagines the original text as it strips it away. The Ferguson Report: An Erasure is an engrossing meditation on one of the most revealing texts of modern times, earning praise for its lyrical beauty and contemplation.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 144 pages
Publication date: 14 September 2023
Publisher: Bloodaxe Books Ltd

In August 2014, a young, unarmed black man named Michael Brown was tragically shot to death by a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri. This event sparked a period of intense protests and turmoil that ultimately led to the release of an extensive report by the Department of Justice. This report detailed biased policing and court practices in the city, exposing the racist policies and practices that had become commonplace, including disproportionate arrest rates and flagrant violence directed at the Black community. The report was disheartening and damning, highlighting the urgent need for change.

Now, acclaimed poet Nicole Sealey has revisited the investigation in a book that redacts the report, an act of erasure that reimagines the original text as it strips it away. While the full document is visible in the background, weighing heavily on the language Sealey has preserved, it gives shape and disturbing context to what remains.

Illuminating what it means to live in this frightening age and what it means to bear witness, The Ferguson Report: An Erasure is an engrossing meditation on one of the most revealing texts of modern times.

Nicole Sealey's work has been praised for its ability to create new moments of lyrical beauty and contemplation out of stifling obfuscations, shining a light on all that the report tries to hide. Shivanee Ramlochan, one of the judges, described it as a poem of resonant cultural and social value.

The Ferguson Report: An Erasure is published simultaneously by Knopf in the US and Bloodaxe Books in the UK. Nicole Sealey's first collection, Ordinary Beast (2017), is published in the UK by Bloodaxe at the same time.

In conclusion, The Ferguson Report: An Erasure is a powerful and thought-provoking book that challenges us to confront the realities of racism and inequality in our society. Nicole Sealey's erasure of the report allows us to see it in a new light, providing a deeper understanding of the issues it raises and the urgent need for change. This book is a must-read for anyone who wants to better understand the ongoing struggle for justice and equality.

Dimension: 229 x 175 x 12 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781780376639