Nobody ─ Casualties of America's War on the Vulnerable, from Ferguson to Flint and Beyond

One of America’s leading intellectual voices presents a powerful, thought-provoking analysis of the string of deaths of unarmed citizens like Michael Brown, Eric Garner, and Freddie Gray—finding deeper meaning and important insights on the intersection of race and class in America today.

The wave of protests following the deaths of Michael Brown, Eric Garner, Freddie Gray, and other unarmed citizens marked a pivotal moment in the civil rights struggle in America, destined to be ranked with Selma and Little Rock, Birmingham and Watts on the timeline of the national struggle for freedom.

In Nobody, scholar and CNN political commentator Marc Lamont Hill thoughtfully broadens the conversations around the moment to offer a compelling analysis of race, class, and social worth. As Hill skillfully demonstrates, Brown’s death brought to light a growing crisis in America: the existence of a group of citizens who are made exploitable and disposable by the machinery of racism, unregulated capitalism, and more. The “Nobody” class.

Hill recounts the details of tragedies like Brown’s death and draws upon first-hand reporting and careful historical analysis to show how the “Nobody” class has emerged over time and how forces in America have worked to preserve and exploit this group in ways that are both humiliating and harmful.

Timely and provocative, Nobody is a compelling must-read for anyone wanting to better understand the race and class issues that continue to leave their mark on our country today.

Marc Lamont Hill is an award-winning journalist and host of BET News, as well as a political contributor to CNN. He is a Distinguished Professor of African American Studies at Morehouse College. Prior to that, he held positions at Columbia University and Temple University. He lives in Atlanta and New York City.

Todd Brewster is a longtime journalist who has worked as an editor for Time and Life and as a senior producer for ABC News. He is the coauthor with the late Peter Jennings of the bestselling books The Century, The Century for Young People, and In Search of America, and the author of Lincoln's Gamble.