| Title | : | APB: Artists against Police Brutality |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1495607526 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781495607523 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 200 |
| Publication | : | First published October 1, 2015 |
We’ve all seen the a six-year-old Ruby Bridges being escorted by U.S. marshals on her first day at an all-white, New Orleans school in 1960; a police dog attacking a demonstrator in Birmingham; fire hoses turned on protesters; Martin Luther King Jr. addressing a crowd on the National Mall. These pictures were printed in papers, flashed across television screens, and helped to change the laws of this nation, but not necessarily all of the attitudes. Similarly, we’ve seen the pictures of Michael Brown lying face down in a pool of his own blood for hours; protesters with their hands up, facing down militarized policemen. There are videos of Eric Garner choked to death, John Crawford III shot down in Walmart for carrying a toy gun, and 12-year-old Tamir Rice gunned down in broad daylight for the same reason. Artists Against Police Brutality is a benefit comic book anthology that focuses on hot-button issues including police brutality, the justice system, and civil rights, with one primary show pictures and tell stories that get people talking. The proceeds will go to the Innocence Project, an organization dedicated to exonerating wrongfully convicted people.
Bill Campbell is the founder of Rosarium Publishing and the author the novels Koontown Killing Kaper, My Booty Novel, and Sunshine Patriots as well as the essay collection, Pop Politics, Puns, and “Poohbutt” from a Liberal Stay-at-Home Dad. He is the coeditor of the anthologies Tales from Afrofuturism and Beyond and Stories for A Tribute to Samuel R. Delany. He lives in Washington, DC.
Jason Rodriguez is an Eisner and Harvey Award–nominated writer and editor. He is the author of True Stories That Never Happened and Try Looking Ahead, and his work has been published by Dark Horse Comics, Random House, and several small publishers. He lives in Arlington, Virginia.
John Jennings is an associate professor of visual studies at the State University of New York–Buffalo. He is an award-winning graphic novelist and the author of Pitch Black The Art of John Jennings.
APB: Artists against Police Brutality Reviews
-
This anthology of comics, personal stories, and political essays about police brutality is worth reading. It's depressing and moving, as you might guess from the subject matter. It shouldn't be the only thing you read about broken policing, but it's a very good starting point. I was surprised to learn about the extensive history of race riots in the US. For well over a century, it was common for white people to riot against particular racial minorities in their area, including Irish and Chinese immigrants. There are also several interesting fiction and nonfiction invocations of superhero tropes.
-
APB is a varied collection of comics, artwork, essays, and short nonfiction pieces, all focusing on the subject of police brutality and fatal force used against civilians.
I wish that the comics would have been formatted a bit better for e-readers, as I couldn't read the text at all in a couple of them--even on desktop.
The most affecting segment was the last, with a grim roll call of names of civilians killed by police officers. -
This is a wonderful anthology, but I think it sells itself short as a comic book anthology. It has comics and cartoons, sure, but also stories and essays that are powerful and informative in their own right.
-
This book is the perfect example to show that it is true that a picture is worth more than a thousand words and a few words are more useful than chitchat.
Questo libro é l'esempio perfetto per dimostrare come sia vero che un'immagine valga piú di mille parole e poche parole siano più utili di tante chiacchiere.
THANKS TO NETGALLEY AND ROSARIUM PUBLISHING FOR THE PREVIEW! -
Intense. Still emotionally reeling.
-
Want a license to kill? Join the police force. It blows my mind that with all that is happening, we keep being reminded that if cops weren’t allowed to beat and murder with impunity, no one would become cops. What does that say about our current system?
APB: Artists Against Police Brutality is a reminder that cries of “LAW & ORDER!” And “tough on crime” just means “brutalize, incarcerate, and murder Black people!”
And cops know that they have the permission to do that.
There are so many great stories and essays by so many great authors!
I love superhero stories and The Pikesman- “the people’s crusader” is the hero we need right now. Unfortunately, superheroes don’t exist to leave us off the hook to do the work ourselves. (Story by Gary Phillips; art by Rafael Desquitado Jr.)
I loved Waldah Imarisha’s fantastic essay, Alternatives to Policing and the Superhero Model. She makes some fantastic points, referencing Watchmen, Batman, X-Men, the fantastic comic Race to incarcerate, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer! 
Maybe now I’ll go read her anthology Octavia’s Brood which has been sitting on my shelf waiting for me.
“We see through Buffy, though, that instead of looking to external forces such as the police to ensure our safety, we have to activate the Slayer, the superhero in all of us; share the responsibility for the health, safety, and wholeness of our community; and use our collective power to reshape the world around us.”
I love the way this sentence (intentionally or not) speaks to my white privilege. If I’m not part of the solution, I’m part of the problem.
I’ll leave you with a quote from the book:
“The only crime you committed was living in America while being Black. A crime that seems to be punishable by death.” -
A really powerful collection of graphics, poems, essays, and personal stories. I really think everyone should read this. The messages are important, and the anger it induces needs to be planted to spur on the much needed changes we need to make happen in this country.
Thank you the creators and contributors of this anthology for being willing to share your truth, emotions, and honesty with us. I hope it will help open the eyes and the hearts of its readers. -
CW: Police Brutality, murder, discussions of racism
This' a powerful anthology that everyone should read, which explains the systemic racism involved in policing in the United States. Sadly, it's still too relevant to today's world. -
This book is a must-read.
-
I liked that this anthology had a little of everything- essays, fiction stories, comics, drawings.
-
Informative essays and powerful comics. A must read.
-
I read most of the comics, skipped most of the prose
-
Moving. Poignant. Impressive. Passionate. Visceral. Timely. Tragic. Sorrow. Uplifting Voices. Powerful.
-
Quality of some of the writing not so hot, but very important to have in a library.
