The time for change is now, argues Onnesha Roychoudhuri.
THE MARGINALIZED MAJORITY is a powerful indictment of the current status quo post 2016’s divisive presidential election as well as a decisive, unifying call to arms — we can make change, Roychoudhuri affirms, if only we realise that our voices are already in the majority. Tracing the roots of America’s political landscape from their colonial beginnings, she examines how the present climate is inextricably intertwined with the past, and how it is only through realising the value of the plurality of our identities that we can come together for true change.
In a way reminiscent of Rebecca Solnit’s Hope In The Dark, progressive journalist Roychoudhuri outlines a plan to survive Trump’s America and to push back against the seemingly unstoppable forces against us. Her criticism of leftist ideologies that put objectivity above all and argue that we should leave our identities at the door and not play the ‘card’ (race, gender, etc.) is persuasive. A marginalised person cannot and should not be neutral, she asserts, about the aspect of themselves that is marginalised.
This is an important book, not only for those who care about progressive politics, but for everyone, everywhere.
PRAISE FOR THE MARGINALIZED MAJORITY:
“A powerful discussion about identity politics in an increasingly progressive and diverse society.” — Bookriot
“A timely reminder of who shaped American history in its darkest moments — not the entitled minority, but the marginalized majority. This is a deep meditation on #MeToo, American racism, and the power of truth-tellers, in the company of someone who can shut down a subway bigot by leading a traincar of people in song. Give this book to anyone who could do with a jolt of that kind of creativity, intellect, and joy.” — Raj Patel, co-author of A History of the World In Seven Cheap Things
“A stirring defense of ‘identity politics’ and the need to reclaim narratives as well as a powerful account of the transformation of a journalist into an activist … Combines the reporting chops of an experienced journalist with literary flair and a conversational, common-sense approach that seems far more heartfelt than dogmatic … There have been plenty of books covering similar territory—and there will be many more in the years to come—but rarely are they as persuasive and engaging as this one.” — Kirkus (starred review)
The Marginalized Majority is out on the 12th of July 2018 from Melville House.
(9781612196992, Paperback, £14.99)
