Epilogue - “Send Her Back”

Summary

This recognition that the struggle over Black and White spaces extends beyond the street and into the corridors of political power is critical to understanding the issues and solutions discussed throughout this book. Incremental changes can be made at the margins within police departments and 911 call centers. But only sweeping legislative change, backed by true voter enfranchisement, can bring about the racial détente needed to protect Black bodies in public White spaces. The reforms advocated within these pages–reallocating police resources, deterring and punishing 911 abuse, reining in self-defense claims, heightening reasonable police use of force requirements, and ending qualified immunity–enjoy broad public support. But these changes elude us because voter suppression tactics deny marginalized communities full voter enfranchisement, because too few Americans equate voting with activism, and because too many people of color are denied meaningful opportunities to occupy the political White space.