Tell The Truth & Shame The Devil: The Life, Legacy, and Love of My Son Michael Brown - Hardcover

McSpadden, Lezley

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1942872526 ISBN 13: 9781942872528

Publisher: Regan Arts, 2016

Synopsis

The revelatory memoir of Lezley McSpadden, the mother of Michael Brown (killed by a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri, in 2014), details the life of her son and the legacy of his death. It is a message of hope and inspiration in the wake of innumerable police murders of black men.

'I wasn't there when Mike Mike was shot. I didn't see him fall or take his last breath, but as his mother, I do know one thing better than anyone, and that's how to tell my son's story, and the journey we shared together as mother and son.'

When Michael Orlandus Darrion Brown was born, he was adored and doted on by his aunts, uncles, grandparents, his father and, most of all, by his 16-year-old mother, who nicknamed him Mike Mike. McSpadden never imagined that her son's name would inspire the resounding chants of protesters in Ferguson, Missouri, and ignite the global conversation about the disparities in the American policing system. In TELL THE TRUTH & SHAME THE DEVIL, McSpadden picks up the pieces of the tragedy that shook her life and America to their core and reveals the unforgettable story of her life, her son and their truth.

TELL THE TRUTH & SHAME THE DEVIL is a riveting family memoir about the journey of a young woman, triumphing over insurmountable obstacles, and learning to become a good mother. With brutal honesty, McSpadden brings us inside her experiences being raised by a hardworking, single mother; her pregnancy at age 15 and the painful subsequent decision to drop out of school to support her son; how she survived domestic abuse; and her unwavering commitment to raising four strong and healthy children, even if it meant doing so on her own. McSpadden writes passionately about the hours, days, and months after her son was shot to death by Officer Darren Wilson, recounting her time on the ground with peaceful protestors, how she was treated by police and city officials and how she felt in the gut-wrenching moment when the grand jury announced it would not indict Wilson.

After the system failed to deliver justice to Michael Brown, McSpadden and thousands of others across America took it upon themselves to carry on his legacy in the fight against injustice and racism. TELL THE TRUTH & SHAME THE DEVIL is a portrait of our time, an urgent call to action, and a moving testament to the undying bond between mothers and sons.

About this title

Review

"In a year where clashes between young black men and law enforcement fueled concern, and even anger, the death of Michael Brown could have been just one more incident raising questions about the public and policing. Instead, a community came together and ignited a firestorm of national protests that took this issue to another level. Caught in the frenzy, grieving mother Lezley McSpadden launched head first into a new life of activism. This book gives voice to her journey and allows us all to see what one mother can do to find answers." --Soledad O'Brien

About the Author

Lezley McSpadden is the mother of Michael Brown, and founder of The Michael O. D. Brown We Love Our Sons & Daughters Foundation. The organisation advocates for justice, improving health, advancing education and strengthening families. McSpadden also founded its signature program, Rainbow of Mothers, which was established to support mothers who have suffered the loss of a child. She lives in St. Louis, MO with her family.

About this edition

• Publisher: Regan Arts
• Publication date: 2016
• ISBN 10: 1942872526
• ISBN 13: 9781942872528
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 256