One of Essence's Best Books of the Year
NAACP Image Awards Winner for Outstanding Literary Work
With a foreword by Speaker Nancy Pelosi
"There was no greater friend to the poor, to the lost, to the left
out, and to the left behind. If you want to understand this great man,
read his historic, important book and learn the lessons and values from
his 'moral voice crying in the wilderness' on behalf of our American
democracy." --Rep. John Lewis (D-GA)
Known for his poise, intellect, and influence until his death in October
2019, Elijah Cummings was one of the most respected figures in
contemporary politics, a politician who held fast to his beliefs but was
not afraid to reach across the aisle in the name of friendship and
progress. Since his earliest days in government through his time as a
representative and chairman of the House Oversight and Reform Committee,
he proved his abilities as a politician who could operate at the highest
levels of democracy, serving the people of Baltimore and illustrating
the importance of working with--and for--the underdog.
Yet in his final years of life, Cummings recognized that democracy was
the underdog. We're Better Than This draws from Cummings's own life to
show the formative moments that prepared him for the disturbing first
years of the Trump presidency and spurred him to hold the administration
accountable for their actions. Weaving together the urgent drama of
modern-day politics and character-defining stories from his past,
Cummings offers a never-before-told perspective on how his personal
history, coming of age in South Baltimore, laid the foundation of a life
spent fighting for justice. He goes behind the scenes with the House
Democratic leadership, offering an eye-opening chronicle of the grim
realities of holding the Trump administration to account. Detailing this
moment of unprecedented obstructionism by both the president and
Republicans, Cummings presents a vital defense of how government
oversight defines our collective trust, examining the dangerous
precedent for both parties that exists if the executive branch remains
above public scrutiny.
Part memoir, part call to action, We're Better Than This is the story
of our modern-day democracy and the threats that we all must face
together, as well as a retrospective on the life and career of one of
our country's most inspirational politicians. As we approach another
test of our democracy, the next race for the White House, We're Better
Than This reminds people that in this country we don't elect kings, and
we cannot afford four more years of this false one.
