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The Courage to Hope

How I Stood Up to the Politics of Fear

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About The Book

In the summer of 2010, Shirley Sherrod was catapulted into a media storm that blew apart her life and her job doing what she’d done for decades: helping poor, hardworking people live the American dream. She was a lifelong activist who served as Georgia’s first black director of rural development.

A right-wing blogger, the now late Andrew Breitbart, disseminated a video clip of a speech Sherrod had given to the Georgia NAACP, intending to make her an example of “reverse racism.” The right-wing media ramped up the outrage, and before Sherrod had a chance to defend herself, the Obama administration demanded her resignation. Then, after hearing from Sherrod herself and learning the entire truth of what she said in that speech, the administration tried to backtrack. As public officials and media professionals admitted to being duped and apologized for their rush to judgment, Sherrod found herself the subject of a teachable moment.

The Courage to Hope addresses this regret-table episode in American politics, but it also tells Sherrod’s own story of growing up on a farm in southwest Georgia during the final violent years of Jim Crow. As a child she dreamed of leaving the South, but when her father was murdered by a white neighbor who was never brought to justice, Sherrod made a vow to stay in Georgia and commit herself to the cause of truth and racial healing. With her husband, Charles, a legend in the civil rights movement, she has devoted her life to empowering poor people and rural communities—Americans who are most in need.

The incident that brought Sherrod into the spotlight does not define her life and work, but it strengthens her commitment to stand against the politics of fear and have the courage to hope.

About The Author

Shirley Sherrod lectures nationally on issues of importance to middle class families, the poor, and small communities. She promotes empowerment strategies for economically and socially disadvantaged people and runs educational projects for struggling farmers. She lives in Georgia with her husband.

Product Details

  • Publisher: Atria Books (August 28, 2012)
  • Length: 256 pages
  • ISBN13: 9781451651027

Raves and Reviews

Sherrod sets the record straight on her forced resignation from the Department of Agriculture in 2010. An inspiring memoir about the real power of courage and hope. –Kirkus Reviews

“When I first met Shirley Sherrod, she was advocating for black farmers in Georgia. We needed her expertise for all farmers and she immediately jumped in to work with every farmer, no matter their color. [She] has always stood for equality, and she does not bow to fear. I am proud to have worked together with [her] in the movement to keep family farmers on the land, but I’m even more proud to call her my friend.” –Willie Nelson, President of Farm Aid and music legend.

“The stories of inequality and those striving for solutions may sound familiar to many, but the ability of Shirley Sherrod and her husband Charles and many of those represented in this book to forgive and move forward with strength in the face of these examples is unparalleled and holds invaluable lessons for us all.” – Majora Carter, MacArthur Award-winning environmental activist

“Shirley Sherrod is a survivor.” –The Washington Post

“One of those books that makes you want to yell, cry, and stand up and cheer.” – Terri Schlichenmeyer, WashingtonInformer.com

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