"A former NBA player and current activist and MSNBC commentator returns with a collection of dozens of interviews on the subject of race in America--all supporting the efforts of athletes to speak out and up...Voices of pain, anger, and hope resound through these pages--and through the reader's heart."
--Kirkus Reviews
"Etan confronts our collective challenges and reminds us that life is not just a game, but demands a constant struggle for justice."
--Amy Goodman, Democracy Now
Featuring interviews by former NBA player Etan Thomas with over fifty athletes, executives, media figures, and more--and interwoven with essays and critiques by Thomas--We Matter shares the personal tales and opinions of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bill Russell, Dwyane Wade, Russell Westbrook, Steve Kerr, Oscar Robertson, Mark Cuban, Michael Bennett, Carmelo Anthony, Derrick Rose, Swin Cash, Alonzo Mourning, Chris Webber, Jemele Hill, Anquan Boldin, Jamal Crawford, Juwan Howard, Ray Jackson, Shannon Sharpe, James Blake, John Carlos, Laila Ali, Michael Eric Dyson, Joakim Noah, Eric Reid, Adam Silver, Soledad O'Brien, John Wall, Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, Bradley Beal, Tamika Catchings, Curtis Conway, Harry Edwards, Chris Hayes, Chamique Holdsclaw, Scoop Jackson, Bomani Johnes, Shaun King, Jimmy King, Ted Leonsis, Thabo Sefolosha, Ilyasah Shabazz, Torrey Smith, Kenny Smith, Michael Smith, David West, Michael Wilbon, Jahvaris Fulton (brother of Trayvon Martin), Emerald Snipes (daughter of Eric Garner), Allysza Castile (sister of Philando Castile), Valerie Castile (mother of Philando Castile), and Dr. Tiffany Crutcher (sister of Terence Crutcher).
This volume will be an inspiration for many different people: sports junkies; young readers who need words of encouragement from their favorite athletes; parents seeking positive messages for their children; activists who want to hear athletes using their voices to address social justice; and schools that need motivational material for their students.
"It couldn't have happened without athletes]...People around the world know my brother's name. I don't know if a lot of people know this, but in the beginning, the news outlets didn't want to run the story."
--Jahvaris Fulton (brother of Trayvon Martin)
"On Facebook someone had reposted the video of various NBA players wearing I Can't Breathe shirts]...and I thought it was Photoshopped. I didn't think it was real...It was really overwhelming because I felt that my voice is being heard."
--Emerald Snipes (daughter of Eric Garner)
"When we saw footage of Russell Westbrook speaking out after my brother's death, and telling the world how wrong it was and that they were going to do whatever our family needs, and that they were going to be there for us, it really touched my family. It meant so much to my father..."
--Dr. Tiffany Crutcher (sister of Terence Crutcher)
"It really touched my heart. If I could personally meet each and every one of the WNBA players, I would give them all a hug and tell them individually, 'Thank you for speaking out and supporting my brother, it was just so brave.' Some people in the spotlight are afraid to speak out, but they weren't at all. They used their voices and their outlet and told the entire world that what happened to my brother and to Alton Sterling was wrong...I can't thank them enough."
--Allysza Castile (sister of Philando Castile)