We Want To Do More Than Survive

Bettina L. Love in her book We Want to Do More Than Survive addresses what is needed for people of color in the United States to thrive rather than merely survive. She passionately argues for the need to create new systems and structures for educational, political, economic, and community freedom. While Love as an educator focuses the book primarily on the educational system, she also addresses the challenges that must be confronted in the wider American culture. She recognizes the intersectionality of race, class, gender, sexual orientation, religion, nationalism, and dis/ability. Love advocates for abolitionist teaching, which is working in solidarity with communities of color to eradicate injustice in and outside of schools. Love defines what abolitionist teaching is and what it must accomplish, but this is not a how-to book providing a specific process for implementation. The strength of the book is to get readers to recognize that those on the margins of society are excluded because of systemic barriers. Educational reforms will be ineffective unless they address the root causes of injustice. Educators are not the only ones who should read this book. Every American concerned about the future of our nation can learn much from reading this volume.