Review: 13 Days in Ferguson

13 Days in Ferguson is one of the most eye-opening books I’ve ever read, and I’ve read thousands of great books.

Captain Ronald Johnson of the Missouri State Highway Patrol was put in charge of the chaotic situation that raged in Ferguson, MO after Michael Brown’s death in August 2014. In this book, he tells his story of 13 days of difficult service in his beloved hometown, about 100 miles from where I live.

My St. Louis Area Experience

As a lifelong Missouri resident, I have traveled north to the St. Louis area hundreds of times. A trip to St. Louis always involves something new and exciting for me. Whether it’s a visit to a Cardinals or Blues game, concert, big mall, museum, zoo, botanical garden, special restaurant or airport, St. Louis equals fun, culture, and a welcome change in my routine.

Mostly I’ve been a taker of St. Louis. A tourist. A middle-class white woman who briefly passes through.

Yet I can’t live without it; the vast amount of my groceries, clothing, supplies and medicine flow south from St. Louis, like they have for hundreds of years. When I’m traveling, I say, “Do you know where St. Louis is? I live about 100 miles from there.” In that way I claim it. But I don’t know the real face of St. Louis like the people of Ferguson do. Like Capt. Johnson does.

I can’t say whether I’ve driven through the St. Louis suburb of Ferguson, but today I shamefully admit that if I have, I made sure my doors were locked. Just like I do when I drive through downtown St. Louis to get to a Cardinals game. Why? It’s an economically depressed area, compared to where I live. It’s where crime happens much more often than in my hometown. It’s where people don’t know me, and I don’t know them.

My August 2014 Experience

God has been working a major change in my heart ever since that August four years ago, right before school resumed. I watched the violence erupt on the morning news and stood slack-jawed, thinking, “This is St. Louis? Not the St. Louis I know.” Each day more fires burned and more arrests were made. Angry people filled the streets every night, shouting and throwing homemade bombs. The National Guard was brought in to control the crowds. I woke up each day to more bewilderment, then frustration, then anger. “Why can’t they just stop fighting and destroying the city?” I thought.

On Sundays in August 2014, I scoured the St. Louis Post-Dispatch to try to understand the conflict. I remember reading a column by a black mother, who said she had taught her sons since they were young to always comply with the police, even if they were unjustly arrested, to hopefully prevent abuse. I glanced over at my two young sons and realized I’d never once feared police brutality against them. I’ve always had the highest respect for law enforcement officers and members of the armed forces, and never considered them turning against me or my family.

My eyes and heart opened to the uncomfortable truth about privilege. Even if we don’t knowingly take on the attitudes of superiority and condescension rampant in racism, we are all affected by them.

August 2014 in Ferguson

In 13 Days in Ferguson, Capt. Johnson gives a play-by-play view of what really happened during those two difficult weeks for Missouri and the whole nation. Michael Brown’s death touched a nerve for people who had felt invisible, marginalized and discounted for generations. This book gives them a voice and affirms their struggles, which I had never really considered before.

13 Days in Ferguson has helped me see various sides of the entire picture of racism. Through Capt. Johnson’s stories, I empathized with the fears of the white cops, the frustration of restless young black men, the deep hurts of black mothers, and the press members’ desire to tell the truth. The excerpt of his powerful, heartfelt speech at Michael Brown’s memorial service resounded in my heart for days after reading.

Capt. Johnson paints a vivid, multilayered portrait of a complex problem with compassion and understanding for everyone involved while still holding criminals responsible for their actions. He had an incredibly tough assignment for those 13 days, which he has turned into a valuable lesson for all who read this book.

Changing My Viewpoint on Racism

From start to finish, this book is packed full of surprising, challenging, thought-provoking viewpoints on racism and prejudice in my home state and the whole nation. I desperately need these paradigm-shifts as a Christian, Caucasian, Missourian, and mother of three.

Capt. Johnson opens the book with a scene of misunderstanding–his misinterpretation of interaction with whites, which instantly disarms you, because you can put yourself in the same situation. He talks about facing prejudice from fellow officers and shares an interesting vignette about being pulled over in his hometown after the riots stopped. I appreciated the humility and compassion in his writing voice. We all struggle with racism in our hearts, and it won’t get any better until we start listening to each other.

Once in a while, a book comes along that permanently changes your perspective on an important topic; 13 Days in Ferguson is that book for me.

Favorite Quotes

“In order for policing to work, we have to come into the community, talk to the people–just like this–and listen. We have to listen.”

“We’ve seen firsthand that every picture is worth a thousand words. We need to start broadcasting and posting positive pictures. We need to show the world that we have survived, that we will be coming back, and that we have learned from this tragedy.”

“We rarely learn from lectures. We learn from our stories. We are our stories.”

Highly Recommended Read

No matter which side of the political fence you stand on, Capt. Johnson has some wise, well-earned opinions to share with you. His voice is gentle yet strong, and I have immense respect for his vantage point.

If you’re looking for a book to challenge your assumptions and help you reconsider your stance on our cultural issues, 13 Days in Ferguson may be the most important book you read in 2018.

Tyndale Momentum graciously provided a review copy of this excellent book for me.

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