The Condemnation of Little B Book Review

Elaine Brown, former Black Panther chairwoman and founder of Mothers Advocating Juvenile Justice draws from her activist roots in her book The Condemnation of Little B to challenge the trial and prosecution of 13-year-old “Little B”. Michael “Little B” Lewis was arrested and sentenced to life in 1997 for allegedly shooting and murdering Darrell Woods, “model father and citizen” within the black community. Through Brown’s personal investigation she offers evidence of what she believes actually happened the night Woods was murdered. To Brown the swift and unjust conviction “Little B” becomes emblematic of the racial problem that America is facing today. She uses the story of “Little B” to frame her main argument that asserts that racism in America has evolved into a “New Age” in which our societal institutions, such as the media and the justice system, are currently serving to disproportionally marginalize millions of African American youths further into poverty and incarceration. Brown’s book is intended to challenge the way, in which one views the media in America and our current justice system and it’s relationship with race. I found Brown’s book to be every intriguing and challenging and I recommend it to everyone.
One of the thought provoking themes that Brown highlights in her book is related to what she says is a “collective consciousness” that angry whites and certain segments of the black population have come to share. Brown argues that this “awareness” stereotypes black male youth as menaces to society that are responsible for the deterioration of America. According to Brown this “consciousness” has become the common sentiments that most Americans share. She provides evidence for this with the presentation of the numerous sensationalized editorials and opinion papers about “Little B’s” case that unanimously condemn and demonize the boy. This media created myth of the “predatory black teen” supports her overall thesis that there are societal institutions...