Open Season

Legalized Genocide of Colored People

By: Ben Crump

Narrated by: Korey Jackson

Length: 7 hrs and 57 mins

Publisher's summary

The president of the National Bar Association and one of the most distinguished civil rights attorneys working today reflects on the landmark cases he has battled - including representing Trayvon Martin’s family - and offers a disturbing look at how the justice system is used to promote injustice in this memoir and clarion call as shocking and important as the best sellers Just Mercy and Slavery by Another Name and Ava DuVernay’s film 13th.

Benjamin Crump firmly believes in the Constitution and its legal protections - that civil rights legislation covers all Americans, not just those privileged by race, wealth, or pedigree. A fierce and passionate advocate, he has devoted his career to fighting for justice for America’s marginalized. Open Season is his inspiring journey working on some of the most egregious cases that have shocked the nation, including those of Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown.

Shaped by his first-hand experience handling civil litigation matters in state and federal courts throughout the country, Open Season reveals the often hidden and systemic injustices minorities face, and illuminates how discrimination in the courthouse devastates real families and communities. Chronicling some of his most memorable legal battles, this brilliant litigator shockingly makes clear how our system is devised for certain people to lose and others to win, and, using evidence and facts, exposes how it is legal to harm - with the intent to destroy - people of color.

Crump offers a cogent analysis of legal tenets, including the 13th Amendment, the 1951 Genocide Petition to the United Nations, and controversial Stand Your Ground laws. He compares how race detrimentally influences sentencing, and reveals how police unions protect officers who shoot unarmed civilians. He also makes clear how budget cuts for education, the proliferation of guns, and high unemployment rates all directly contribute to higher crime rates.

America must live up to its promise to protect the rights of its citizens equally, Crump maintains. Thoughtful, well-reasoned, and powerfully persuasive, Open Season details one man's life mission preserving the hard-won justice for all.

©2019 Ben Crump (P)2019 HarperAudio

Excellent, engaging, wide ranging

Engaging and powerful and wide ranging book in addition to covering the criminal justice system and the courts and policing, it also addressed environmental racism educational racism housing discrimination and racism. Vivid examples of real people and discussion of the trends and laws and policies that these very human examples illustrate.

Great

I learned so much from listening on cases I had no knowledge of in the news or in print.

Amazing, strong, intriguing, thoughtful!

Absolutely one of the best books to listen to in today's climate. I have learned more from this book than I have ever learned from the news or any articles.

Informative

Very good book, very informative about the American judicial system toward so called black and brown people.

An Important Book!

I recommend Open Season for anyone who really wants to know what the cry "Black Lives Matter" is all about. This book is a detailed narration of, not just past racial injustices in the justice system, but of the current injustices in the headlines today. Open Season is an important chronicle of the state of POC and poor whites in the American Justice system. After listening to this book, I'm convinced more than ever that the word "genocide" is not an overstatement or exaggeration when it comes to the state of black people in America.

The author, Benjamin Crump, is probably the most well-known civil rights attorney in America today and, in this book, he makes a riveting and persuasive argument that a silent genocide is being waged on "colored" people in America. Even though Mr. Crump uses the word "colored people" in his title, after listening to this book, I convinced more than ever that the word genocide is not an overstatement or exaggeration when it comes to the state of black people in America.

What really makes "Open Season" stand out and apart from many other important books about the conditions of POC in the American justice system is Crump's storytelling ability and the fact that he's been involved, as legal counsel, in most of the high-profile cases that he writes about. From Trayvon Martin to Marissa Alexander to Philando Castille (and many others profiled in this book), Crump is able to humanize the most complex legal cases and make a convincing argument of the role that racial biases played in their outcomes, in such a way, that even a child could understand and see the racial injustices. This book was a fascinating and fast read. I listened to the entire book in one night.

While this book should be mandatory reading for law students, lawyers, and judges, I also highly recommend to anyone who has ever questioned if we are living in a post-racial America or why, in 2013 and beyond, we still have to remind some people that BLACK LIVES MATTER!!

Heartfelt, emotional bombshell.

A eye-opening truth that everyone should listen. I can't believe how aweful the world is because of the color of one's skin.

exceptional read extremely informative

really eye opening and informative must read for anyone looking to understand the American criminal justice system

Riveting and very Insightful.

One of the best and well written books I've read in years a must read,for aure.

"GREAT BOOK "

Thanks for the history lesson that most of us did not get in our public schools. continue your advacatcy and fighting for the cause. you have motivated me to give a piece of myself to the cause.

Awesome

This a book for everyone to listen too, If you support people of color or not. This book breaks down the systematic and overt racism and inequality the system has handed people of color since the beginning of this nation. If you truly want to know why Black Lives Matter and steer this country towards true equality YOU MUST LISTEN. No more hatred for hatred sake it is time to understand and break the cycle.