Bigger Than Black And Blue: candid conversations about race, equity and community collaborations

Book Synopsis: Youth and Gang Violence Prevention Specialist, Robert David, and Police Chief, Scott Booth, arrived in Danville, Virginia a few short months apart in 2018. Both had a vision to usher the former Capital of the Confederacy and Civil Rights hot spot into a new era. Focused on equity, accountability, and community-driven police work, the two men were determined to build a new Danville, one where residents, civic organizations, and government agencies operated in unison. It was a sizable goal for the pair, who found themselves in the same room on many different occasions sharing the same mantra about the importance of community-based initiatives. David and Booth not only talked about collaboration, they actually demonstrated it through their work together, drastically lowering violent crime rates in the growing city. Naturally, when Danville and the rest of the country began to grapple with a series of African American deaths at the hands of police officers, the two were already in a place to honestly engage about their professional insights on police defunding, civil unrest, and the status of race relations in America. Bigger than Black and Blue: Candid conversations about race, equity, and community collaboration is a must-read for those who desire an opportunity to hear two distinct, but synchronous voices that articulate their unique perspectives about the complex relationship between African American communities and law enforcement.