Read about a lawyer fighting against an unfair justice system
A Knock at Midnight — Brittany K. Barnett
Hope everyone had a safe holiday weekend—with everything that’s happening in the world, I know we’re all tired, sad, and mad. I’m still trying to form coherent thoughts on a lot of things. We’ll get through this, and know you are not alone. Head here if you need to talk to someone.
What to Read This Week
A Knock at Midnight by Brittany K. Barnett
What It’s About
Brittany Barnett is a well-respected and incredible corporate attorney. But when she comes across the case of Sharanda Jones while in law school, working toward her dream, she realizes her own life could have easily taken a very different turn. Sharanda, like so many Black Americans, was tried and convicted during the war on drugs during the 1990s and early 2000s, where sentencing was harsh and irreversible, no matter the crime. By saying the wrong thing to the wrong person one time, she was given up in a list of names—the police offered to reduce sentences for every name given over to authorities, no matter if they were actually involved in drug trafficking or not—and sentenced to life imprisonment. It was her first and only criminal offense. She had no chance of parole.
Brittany knew all too well how easy it was to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, having had an incredibly similar story to Sharanda’s growing up, and even having to visit her own mother in jail, who was arrested and convicted on drug charges.
Sharanda’s case was not the only one like this, and the further Brittany dug, the more she realized how unfair, unjust, and corrupt the system was, especially as the years went by and laws passed to change mandatory sentencing laws—they just didn’t change retroactively. Now, thousands of people were incarcerated under laws and sentences they would never have received today. Yet they still weren’t free. They were separated from their families—for life—for minor, first-time, nonviolent drug convictions, sometimes harsher sentences than those who were in prison for rape and assault.
Brittany’s story is incredible as she tells, from her own perspective, her experience becoming a lawyer and fighting to free Sharanda and others just like her, going all the way to the president of the United States to do so. Even though she was up against almost insurmountable odds, she did not give up in fighting for what was right and fair.
Why You Should Read It
I remember D.A.R.E. as a kid and being told that if we so much hear the word “drugs” we should tell a grown-up, because our life could be screwed up forever. I grew up thinking that anyone who was in the vicinity of them was a bad guy, not realizing that some kids and teens weren’t given a choice.
I’ve been thinking a lot about rights and freedom lately, as I suspect many people have. While it’s undoubtedly one of the scariest times I can remember, for many people of color, they’ve been experiencing this for decades. It’s important to remember they’ve been fighting against unfair systems for generations, and it’s important for white people to educate ourselves about this injustice. This is an excellent place to start in learning about the crack epidemic and who exactly the war on drugs affected.
Next Up
I’ve been struggling to read this week but have been diving into lots of podcasts, including my perennial favorite Normal Gossip, along with All the Books, because even I, a professional book person, haven’t heard of all the books, and I love listening to other book lovers get excited about what’s coming out.
I’m also planning a big end-of-summer giveaway, so make sure to subscribe and tell your friends to subscribe so you don’t miss it. The winner will receive a big box of mystery books, all ARCs or finished copies that came out in 2021–2022. I’m not sure how many books will be in the box yet, but it will be a good stack, so stay tuned!
More Books
Can’t get enough, or looking for a different recommendation? Browse the archives, or check out some popular past recommendations:
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I'm glad to know about "A Knock At Midnight." It will continue what I began to learn more about when I read Bryan Stevenson's "Just Mercy."