The Truth Divided

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A book review of The Truth Divided by Nakia Jones

A book review of The Truth Divided by Nakia Jones

Stars: ****

Book Venture Publishing (2018)
Biographies/Racism
124 pages

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This post contains affiliate links.

Summary: The Truth Divided is about Officer Nakia Jones who became known to many after her passionate Facebook post went viral in June of 2016 after the death of Alton Sterling an African American male shot to death by Police in Baton Rouge Louisiana. Officer Jones stepped outside of her uniform and in to her role of a mother of two African American sons, who reacts when her oldest son expresses to her the fear he has of some of the men and women who wear the same uniform she does.

The words that would pierce the heart of any mother, and the words that no mother should ever hear her child say regardless of color. He asked, “Will I be the next African American male to be killed by police?” Within in the first 24 hours of her compassionate video it had been shared over 100 thousand times and viewed over 2 million times. Officer Nakia Jones became a hashtag and her powerful words “If you are white and you are working in an African American community and you dislike or are afraid of people who don’t look like you, you have no business in that uniform take it off,” this is still being shared today.

This book also tells Officer Jones’s desperate plea to the African American Community to stop killing one another, and the humble plea to the community not to target law enforcement officer.

The Truth Divided

With what has been going on in the world lately I was more than happy to review this book. I admit I don’t read a lot of POC authors but not intentionally. I read what I am offered to review mostly and a few I pick myself but I pick based on topic, not author.

The author, Officer Nakia Jones went viral across social media a few years ago when she spoke out about Black Lives Matter and the African-American people who were being killed by police officers. Nakia has a unique point of view on the situation because she is both African-American AND a police officer.

She sees the problem from both sides and wants both sides to see eye to eye.

“Some say that when you make the statement “Black Lives Matter”, you are disregarding other lives, but, in reality, those who use the phrase “Black Lives Matter” are actually empathizing with the loss of lives in the black community at the hand of the police and each other. That doesn’t mean only black lives matter.”

The Truth Divided

She touches on a topic I hadn’t heard of, “Blue Lives Matter.” It’s apparently to help show support for the brothers and sisters in blue. It’s not meant to be a counter to Black Lives Matter and was not created to be that way. But I can see how some black people might take it that way.

She talks about how hard it is to be a police officer in general as well. She shares how she came to be a police officer and all the racism and sexism she endured. She is a very strong woman to keep going and not letting the isms stop her from what she wanted to do.

“We are marriage counselors, parents to children we did not have, suicide preventer. We are the ones who notify families for some of the worst news imaginable. We are comforters, punching bags, and human shields. We are the ones people call when they can’t call anyone else and we are the one who come when no one else will. The truly good officers – I’m talking about the great officers – love their jobs and don’t mind being all these things in order to save a life or to make someone’s quality of life better.”

The Truth Divided

The book is actually VERY short as most of it is taken up by photos and letters and social media messages she received (some negative, most positive.) So it’s a quick read but I think it’s an important read.

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About Kathleen

I've been a nonfiction lover for as long as I can remember. I love children's nonfiction as well and love to share my knowledge and the books I gained them from, with the world. I wish more people would give nonfiction a chance.