All Bonaventure Reads Book Report

The annual All Bonaventure Reads (ABR) book for the Class of 2021 was Nobody: Casualties of America’s War on the Vulnerable, from Ferguson to Flint and Beyond by Dr. Marc Lamont Hill. A meticulously metaphoric book with great detail on racism and the oppression of blacks. Although, it highlights the negatives of American history, it positively powers all blacks by reminding the reader that they too are human, although they may not always be treated as so. While doing so, the book portrays the three main values at Saint Bonaventure University: discovery, community, and individual worth. At Saint Bonaventure University, we steadfastly pursue intellectual, spiritual and personal growth in a way that reflects our belief in the wonder, excitement and joy of discovery along life’s good journey. Discovery is
We foster and celebrate practices that nurture living and learning in an atmosphere of caring, respect and mutual accountability.1 The cover of the book itself is the epitome of what a community should be. On the cover, there is a picture of a young black boy in the middle of the street, who no one seems to be paying any attention. Although the picture is fixated on him, behind him seems to be a rally of some kind with thousands of people. As they march through the streets holding signs, it is a truly poignant photo. It is a sincerely inspirational sight, which Dr. Hill also describes in his book. After eighteen year-old, Michael Brown, was shot and killed by police, “...crowds of protesters appeared in Oakland, Los Angeles, Dallas, Denver, Washington, Minneapolis, Chicago, Atlanta, and New York [stood] in solidarity” (Hill 12). People were outraged about Michael Brown’s death, and most of them never even met him. It is beautiful to think that all of these people care enough to get together and try to make a change. There is a strength in numbers and those numerous protesters prove