MarkWhitaker“writeswiththeeyeofajournalistandearofapoet“(TheBostonGlobe)totellthestoryofthemomentousyearthatredefinedthecivilrightsmovementasanewsenseofBlackidentity,expressedintheslogan“BlackPower,“challengedthenonviolentphilosophyofMartinLutherKing,Jr.andJohnLewis.In“crispprose“(TheNewYorkTimes)andnovelisticdetailSayingItLoudtellsthestoryofhowtheBlackPowerphenomenonbegantochallengethetraditionalcivilrightsmovementintheturbulentyearof1966.SayingItLoudtakesyouinsidethedramaticeventsinthisseminalyear,fromStokelyCarmichael’smiddle-of-the-nightousterofmoderateiconJohnLewisasachairmanoftheStudentNonviolentCoordinatingCommittee(SNCC)toCarmichael’simpassionedcryof“BlackPower!“duringaprotestmarchinruralMississippi.FromJulianBond’shumiliatingandracistousterfromtheGeorgiastatelegislaturebecauseofhisantiwarstatementstoRonaldReagan’selectionasCaliforniagovernorridinga“whitebacklash“voteagainstBlackPowerandurbanunrest.FromthefoundingoftheBlackPantherPartyforSelf-DefensebyHueyNewtonandBobbySealeinOakland,California,totheoriginsofKwanzaa,theBlackArtsMovement,andthefirstBlackstudiesprograms.FromReverendMartinLutherKing,Jr.’sill-fatedcampaigntotakethecivilrightsmovementnorthtoChicagotothewrenchingoustingofthewhitemembersofSNCC.Deeplyresearchedandwidelyreported,SayingItLoudoffersbrilliantportraitsofthemajorcharactersintheyearlongdramaandprovidesnewdetailsandinsightsfromkeyplayersandjournalistswhocoveredthestory.Italsomakesacompellingcaseforwhythelessonsfrom1966stillresonateintheeraofBlackLivesMatterandthefiercecontemporarybattlesovervotingrights,identitypolitics,andtheteachingofBlackHistory.
