Title: I Can’t Breathe: A Killing on Bay Street
Author: Matt Taibbi
First published October 24, 2017
336 pages, Kindle Edition
Rating: 4.39
Overview
On a summer’s day in 2014, Eric Garner, a 43-year-old black man, took his last breath on a Staten Island sidewalk. His death was the result of an illegal chokehold, administered by a police officer during his arrest for selling bootleg cigarettes.
Garner’s final words, “I can’t breathe,” echoed across the country and were a rallying cry for the Black Lives Matter movement. Yet, despite the video evidence and public outcry, the officer responsible was never charged.
In I Can’t Breathe: A Killing on Bay Street, Matt Taibbi delves into the heart of this tragedy, exposing the complex web of social, economic, and political factors that allowed it to happen. Through intimate character portraits and a masterful command of narrative, Taibbi explores the flaws and contradictions of Eric Garner’s life, revealing a man who was neither victim nor villain but a person with a complicated history and a fierce determination to provide for his family.
Taibbi also exposes the systemic issues that contributed to Garner’s death, from mass incarceration and racial disparity in law enforcement to the perverse incentives of our penal system. With gritty detail and unflinching honesty, I Can’t Breathe is a scathing indictment of the broken justice system and a powerful call to action for a more just and equitable society.
Editoral Review
Matt Taibbi’s “I Can’t Breathe: A Killing on Bay Street” is a captivating and powerful work of non-fiction that explores the tragic death of Eric Garner, a man who was killed by NYPD officers in 2014. Taibbi, a journalist and bestselling author, writes with a gripping, investigative style that keeps the reader engaged from beginning to end.
The book takes place in Staten Island, New York and follows the events leading up to Garner’s death, the aftermath of his killing, and the subsequent trial of the officer who was responsible for his death. Taibbi skillfully blends together personal stories, legal analysis, and cultural commentary to provide a comprehensive picture of this tragic event.
One of the strengths of “I Can’t Breathe” is Taibbi’s ability to portray the complex, nuanced nature of Garner’s story, which goes beyond just a case of police brutality. He explores the socio-economic and racial factors that contributed to the circumstances of Garner’s life and his death, painting a larger picture of the systemic issues facing communities of color in America.
Taibbi’s writing is as captivating as it is informative, and his ability to weave together different narrative threads is truly impressive. He presents a cast of characters with nuance and depth, from Garner himself to the police officers and prosecutors involved in the case.
Taibbi’s descriptions of the trials and legal proceedings are particularly engaging, as he provides insightful analysis of the legal strategies employed by both sides. However, one potential drawback of the book is its dense and exhaustive coverage of the trial, which could be overwhelming for readers who are not well-versed in legal jargon or courtroom procedures.
Additionally, while Taibbi is successful in providing an in-depth portrait of Garner’s life and death, some readers may find the book’s focus on the trial to be distracting from the larger issue of police brutality and systemic racism in America. Overall, “I Can’t Breathe” is a compelling and important work of journalism that shines a light on one of the most significant cases of police brutality in recent history.
Taibbi’s writing is both informative and emotionally resonant, making this book a must-read for those seeking to understand the systemic issues facing communities of color in America. Rating: 4/5 stars.
While the book could be overwhelming in its coverage of the trial, Taibbi’s writing is engaging and informative, making “I Can’t Breathe” a powerful and necessary read for anyone interested in issues of race, policing, and justice.
