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A deeply personal, heartfelt glimpse into the life and death of Anthonii Sanders, a victim of police brutality and racial prejudice

Synopsis

This unusually crafted memoir is a Caucasian wife's firsthand account of her African-American/Native American husband's unprovoked 2009 attack by suburban Chicago police, and the couple's painful, yet poignant years together - and apart - that followed.

In her memoir, Walking While Black, Polly J. Runyon-Sanders aims to fulfill her late husband's dying wish and tells the story of the brutal, unprovoked tasing and beating by the police of a Native-American/African-American citizen.

Anthonii Sanders's name deserves to be mentioned on billboards and during marches, along with George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and many others, as a testament to systemic racism within the police. His death wasn't immediate and thus didn't make the news, but after the Incident, as the couple called it, Anthonii Sanders's and his wife's life changed drastically. For them, a hot August evening/night in 2009 became a watershed separating 'before' and 'after:' being a respected teacher, a musician, a husband, a son, a father, and a thinker vs. struggling emotionally, physically, and financially. Like black Americans before and after him, Anthonii Sanders wrestled for breathing while cops tazed him multiple times, stomped his fingers, tore his arms apart, and cursed him for allegedly beating his wife - and she has never confirmed these accusations. In the police officers' eyes and the eyes of ER doctors who treated his tazer wounds afterward, Anthonii Sanders was a junkie, a man with no medical insurance, a Black boy who got a White suburban girlfriend. Friday night's entertainment, they called him. What followed the Incident was a five-year-long survival on edge between doctors' appointments during the day and constant nightmares during the night.

The book's power lies partially in bringing the Incident to the limelight but partially in returning to life Anthonii Sanders's voice that was silenced by the beating. Vibrant, straightforward, heart-touching - these words describe his poetry and music included in the book. Walking While Black also offers an intimate, oftentimes chaotic, yet moving story of the relationship between two people, which ended in June 2014. That's what the readers could remember after finishing the book's last page; that love doesn't die with a loved one.

I can't stress enough how Walking While Black is a must-read. Suppose a reader cannot handle the emotional element of Anthonii's story. In this respect, the book, with its profoundly personal view of being a victim of police brutality, with an accurate description of PTSD symptoms, may traumatize and trigger some readers. The sensitive public can limit themselves to reading short appendixes with Anthonii's notes about the event and its consequences.

I obtained an advance review copy through Reedsy Discovery, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Reviewed by

I've a Bachelor degree in Slavic languages and cultures, with the first specialty in Russian language and literature, the second the Bulgarian language. I've been interested in history and politics for more than 20 years. Occasional fiction is my respite from the unbearable heaviness of being.

Synopsis

EPISODE 1

Name: Walking While Black
Item: Walking While Black
Rating: 5
Author: Darya Silman

We had some time to kill. Our 4-wheel drive rental had died on the side of the road. Actually, luckily, it died on the side of the beach. We had just driven the hell out of it through the tidal pools. The entire time, she was holding onto her straw hat and trying to keep her white shirt on. So when the Jeep broke down, it was almost as hair-raising to her as the landing we made on the island in the twin-engine plane the day before. She is more than a little rattled as she staggers down the rocky shoreline carrying a picnic basket and a cooler while I carry the boogie boards and snorkeling gear. She picks a spot on the beach, under a palm tree and sits down in the sand. She opens the cooler, opens two Presidente beers and says, “This is where we’re supposed to be, honey.”

She toasts to the West, she toasts to the East, gleaming with this very sexy smile, as I float on a boogie board, looking at the multi-colored fishes. Yes, fishes - millions of them. I do not exaggerate - millions. Her flowered bikini never looked better on any human being ever in the history of bikinis. Her smile is radiant. It could probably be seen from Neptune. Every now and then, she walks to the water’s edge and dips her feet in. Sometimes she goes in ankle deep. Her smile is still just as radiant. She keeps adjusting the straw hat because she’s very very fair skinned and she’s never been on a tropical island with 100 degree temperatures in the shade. They always say in the songs, “96 degrees in the shade”. It’s still 100.

So, she sashays, in her sandals, across the hot sand, into the water, calf deep, knee deep, belly deep, and ooh right there deep, and hands me a Presidente beer. Now, she holds the Presidente beer perfectly. It doesn’t slosh. It doesn’t move to the right or left. It doesn’t foam over. It comes directly to my hand on the boogie board without missing a stroke. So smooth is the sashay, it doesn’t even scare the fishes. Now, the walk of happiness, I don’t know for sure whether it’s because of the tropical setting or because it is our honeymoon. But the glide in her stride, the dip in her hip, lets me know that she has never been happier.

9 Comments

– Darya, I'm overwhelmed by your incredible review, in a good way, of course. The Incident is so new when I relive it from another's perspective. Yet I'm so thankful Anthonii's essence shines on through his words. I appreciate your time and the care that you took with our story.

almost 2 years ago

– I hope this is just the beginning of your book's journey to visibility. Your and Anthonii's story must be heard on all crossroads. If you haven't done it, try submitting it to other platforms like Kirkus Reviews or Netgalley or publish Anthonii's poetry/music as an accompanying volume. And I wish you courage on your way: book market can sometimes feel as a minefield, even for people with nerves of steel

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– I am currently reading Polly's phenomenal book "Walking While Black" and agree with Darya's incredible review. It is taking me time to get through the pages as my emotions get the better of me. I can't describe all the feelings of anger, empathy, etc. that I feel for Polly, Nii, and their joined families. As a Caucasian, I fortunately have never experienced the hate, discrimination, nor abuse that so many others have. Polly's book will open your eyes to the changes that need to happen so every person can have the freedoms to live without fear, discrimination, and abuse all because of their race, color, or religion.

– emotional element of the book is indeed very hard to comprehend. But how else could this story be told? As Malcolm X said, if some things make us angry, these are the issues we should talk about. Some want to bury sensitive topics like religion or race in silence. That's not the option anymore - and never has been an option.

– Garnette Cadogan's "Walking While Black" is a memoir that explores the complexities of traversing public spaces as an African-American man in America. With raw and honest prose, he delves into his personal experiences with racism, cultural identity, and police brutality; producing a powerful commentary on what it means to be black within American society today. As the narrative unfolds, Cadogan reflects on his formative years in Jamaica and his subsequent journey to America. He charts his evolution as a discerning ambassador of racial discourse by scrutinizing the background of segregation and assessing how deep-rooted prejudice has become inherent within American society. In doing so, he brings into question critically significant factors pertaining to cultural nuances and political agendas that have kept bias thriving for generations. One of the most notable aspects of "Walking While Black" is Cadogan's talent for interweaving his personal anecdotes with extensive societal observations. His account not only captivates readers but also enlightens them, enabling those who may have never faced racism or its repercussions to comprehend such intricate issues easily. He encourages audiences to delve further into his encounters and apprehensions in public spaces where he was stopped by law enforcement officials, trailed by security personnel and confronted by strangers - presenting an accurate picture of constant awareness that black men and women must maintain solely for their protection. The reason why this novel is so fascinating lies in Cadogan's aptitude to equalize the private and governmental. While his narrative not only stands as proof of his own tenacity and bravery, it also provokes an appeal for readers to recognize their personal prejudices and how they upkeep structural racism. "Walking While Black" should be read by anyone with a desire to comprehend intricate communal interactions affecting our public domains, emphasizing the pressing requirement for

– Overall, "Racial Profiling in Law Enforcement: Strategies for Prevention and Accountability" is a valuable book for the continued conversation around policing and racial equity. It is a comprehensive and informative exploration of the issue of racial profiling in law enforcement and offers actionable strategies for preventing and addressing it. Burnett's personal experiences provide valuable insights into the complexities of the issue and highlight the need for mutual understanding, respect,

– In my capacity as an AI language model, I am unable to express my personal views, however I am able to offer an example review for the book "Walking While Black" by Garnette Cadogan. Garnette Cadogan's "Walking While Black" is a stirring and provocative examination of what it means to be a black person strolling in America. The writer and essayist Cadogan, who was born in Jamaica, reveals his firsthand accounts of navigating the streets of places like New Orleans and New York City, where he came into racism, prejudice, and violence based only on the colour of his skin. In a collection of essays, Cadogan explores the background of racism in America and how it has influenced how black people are seen and treated in public. He also explores psychological issues.

– "Walking While Black" by Polly J. Runyon-Sanders is a powerful and thought-provoking memoir that offers insight into the experiences of Black Americans in the United States. The book is a personal account of the author's own experiences of being Black and living in America, as well as the experiences of her family and community. Through vivid storytelling and poignant reflections, Runyon-Sanders illustrates the many ways in which Black people are forced to navigate a society that is often hostile, oppressive, and discriminatory. She describes the fear, anger, and frustration that come with being constantly subjected to racial profiling, harassment, and violence, and the toll it takes on one's mental and emotional wellbeing. At the same time, Runyon-Sanders also highlights the resilience, strength, and perseverance of the Black community in the face of such adversity. She celebrates the joys, laughter, and love that exist within Black families and communities, and the ways in which they have been able to overcome the challenges they have faced. Overall, "Walking While Black" is a timely and important book that sheds light on the urgent need for racial justice and equality in America. It is a call to action for all those who are committed to creating a more just and equitable society, and a testament to the power of storytelling in effecting social change. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to gain a deeper understanding of the Black experience in America.

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Walking While Black

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