Through the story of a thirteen-year-old black boy condemned to life
in prison, Elaine Brown exposes the 'New Age' racism that effectively
condemns millions of poor African-Americans to a third world life.
The story of 'Little B' is riveting, a stunning example of the
particular burden racism imposes on black youths. Most astonishing,
almost all of the officials involved in bringing him to 'justice' are
black.
Michael Lewis was
officially declared a ward of the state at age eleven, and then
systematically ignored until his arrest for murder. Brown wondered
how this boy could possibly have aroused so much public resentment,
why he was being tried (and roundly condemned, labeled a
'super-predator') in the press. Then she met Michael and began
investigating his case on her own. Brown adeptly builds a convincing
case that the prosecution railroaded Michael, looking for a quick,
symbolic conviction. His innocence is almost incidental to the
overwhelming evidence that the case was unfit for trial. Little B was
convicted long before he came to court, and effectively sentenced
years before, when the 'safety net' allowed him to slip silently
down. Brown cites studies and cases from all over America that reveal
how much more likely youth of color are to be convicted of crimes and
to serve long-even life-sentences, and how deeply the new black
middle class is implicated in this devastating reality.