An inspiring vision of how we can build a more just world--one
small change at a time
Long before the pandemic, Ruha
Benjamin was doing groundbreaking research on race, technology, and
justice, focusing on big, structural changes. But the twin plagues of
COVID-19 and anti-Black police violence inspired her to rethink the
importance of small, individual actions. Part memoir, part manifesto,
Viral Justice
is a sweeping and deeply personal exploration of how we can transform
society through the choices we make every day.
Vividly recounting her personal
experiences and those of her family, Benjamin shows how seemingly
minor decisions and habits could spread virally and have
exponentially positive effects. She recounts her father's premature
death, illuminating the devastating impact of the chronic stress of
racism, but she also introduces us to community organizers who are
fostering mutual aid and collective healing. Through her brother's
experience with the criminal justice system, we see the trauma caused
by policing practices and mass imprisonment, but we also witness
family members finding strength as they come together to demand
justice for their loved ones. And while her own challenges as a young
mother reveal the vast inequities of our healthcare system, Benjamin
also describes how the support of doulas and midwives can keep Black
mothers and babies alive and well.
Born of a stubborn hopefulness,
Viral Justice
offers a passionate, inspiring, and practical vision of how small
changes can add up to large ones, transforming our relationships and
communities, and helping us build a more just and joyful world.