Better Than We Found It: Conversations to Help Save the World

Description

From the New York Times best-selling author of The Black Friend and a seasoned activist comes an indispensable guide to social and political progressivism for young people and anyone wanting to get more involved.
 
What is disinformation, and how does it influence our lives? How did the wealth gap become so staggeringly wide? Why do so many Americans lack access to quality health care? And—most importantly—what can we do about it all? Through a combination of personal anecdotes and interviews, authors Frederick Joseph and Porsche Joseph make a compelling case for tackling some of the biggest issues of our day, from gun violence, the prison system, transphobia, and indigenous land theft to climate change, education, housing, and immigration. Covering sixteen topics and featuring more than two dozen interviews with prominent activists, authors, actors, and politicians, this is the essential resource for those who want to make the world better than we found it.

Featuring interviews with:
Mehcad Brooks
Keah Brown
Julián Castro
Sonja Cherry-Paul
Chelsea Clinton
Charlotte Clymer
Mari Copeny, aka Little Miss Flint
Greg D’Amato
Jesse Katz
Amed Khan
Daniel Alejandro Leon-Davis
Willy and Jo Lorenz
Ben O’Keefe
Brittany Packnett Cunningham
Anna Paquin
Robert Reich
Brandon T. Snider
Nic Stone
Anton Treuer
Andrea Tulee
David Villalpando
Elizabeth Warren
Shannon Watts
Natalie Weaver
Brandon WolfWhile this material is both accessible and enlightening, the most compelling parts of the book are when the co-authors share personal experiences. They tell stories about events they’ve witnessed, recalling their emotions and reactions, and explaining the lasting effects. . . . Whether considered individually or taken as a whole, these crucial topics will shape the future, and the Josephs want readers to be ready to join the conversation.
—Booklist (starred review)

Using an approachable first-person narration, the Josephs tackle a wide range of topics, including the climate crisis and environmental racism, wealth gaps, and gun violence. . . . While maintaining a warmth and sense of hope that keeps readers engaged, this worthy read offers necessary deep dives into relevant topics.
—Publishers Weekly

Perfect for anyone interested in helping others or getting involved to help the current generation be better and more informed. . . . The matters are current and provide a tell-tale sign of the times for future readers to consider.
—School Library Connection

Now more than ever, young people yearn to drastically change the world, and the question so many of them pose is how? The Josephs have not only provided answers to the hows but also the whys and the why nows. Better Than We Found It is the manual for change that every young and not-so-young activist-in-the-making needs. This book will empower a generation.
—Angie Thomas, author of The Hate U Give

Better Than We Found It is an unflinching and incisive clarion call, road map, and lighthouse guiding us toward social change and collective liberation in these tough times. Fred and Porsche Joseph demand that we dig deeper into the rotted roots of injustice in order to stand tall on the mighty shoulders of our revolutionary predecessors. Vital and radically profound!
—Ibi Zoboi, New York Times best-selling author and coauthor of Punching the Air

This is a text that not only debunks the myth that certain topics are ‘too complex’ for young people but also breaks said topics down in a way that young people can understand, identify with, discuss . . . and push back against. Should be required reading for every high schooler in America.
—Nic Stone, author of Dear Martin

Delivering clear, approachable, and intentional messaging, Better Than We Found It enables its audience to understand the biggest issues of our time in order to reflect, repurpose, and revolutionize our future. Serving as the catalyst to understanding so many of the crises facing our current generation of young people, Better Than We Found It is THE essential bread-crumb trail to initiate readers’ understanding of the widespread inequalities in our world and to help them do something about them. Better Than We Found It is an invitation to safeguard the future, a powerful and accessible book that empowers readers to disengage from detrimental systems of regressive inequity in order to build a progressive and hopeful tomorrow.
—Willy and Jo Lorenz, writers and cofounders of the Progressivists

Insightful, heartfelt, and informed, Better Than We Found It lives up to its name.
—Dr. Anton Treuer, educator and author of Everything You Wanted to Know about Indians But Were Afraid to Ask

In this comprehensive, intersectional callout of inequitable systems and institutions, the Josephs call us in, focusing our attention on not only what is important to fight against but also what is critical to fight for. This book is urgent, as is the work we each must do to dismantle oppressive forces that work to divide and destroy us.
—Dr. Sonja Cherry-Paul, educator and coauthor of Stamped (for Kids)

Better Than We Found It is a singular guide to making the world just that—better than we found it. But with so much going wrong, it can be hard to know where to start. Through intimate interviews with some of the most impactful leaders of today, the Josephs weave a powerful guide for the next generation, empowering them to understand and take on some of today’s biggest challenges. This book will leave you fired up and ready to be the change.
—Ben O’Keefe, social change activist and political commentator

Not only does this book touch on how to get involved in the climate crisis, it also gives advice for how to help take action on systemic racism, transphobia, the housing crisis, and more. It’s not only for young readers, and it’s a great place to start for dozens of interviews with current activists and politicians on how to get involved on the issues that matter most.
—Book RiotFrederick Joseph is the author of two instant New York Times bestsellers, The Black Friend: On Being a Better White Person and Patriarchy Blues: Reflections on Manhood. He is also the author of the picture book Black Panther: Wakanda Forever: The Courage to Dream, illustrated by Nikkolas Smith. An award-winning activist, philanthropist, and marketing professional, Frederick Joseph was named to the 2019 Forbes 30 Under 30 list, is a recipient of the Bob Clampett Humanitarian Award, and was selected for the 2018 Root 100, an annual list of the most influential African Americans. He lives in New York City with his wife, Porsche, and their dog, Stokely.

Porsche Joseph is a development professional, writer, and former educator who has worked many years in philanthropy and the nonprofit sector. Better Than We Found It: Conversations to Help Save the World is her debut book. She lives in New York City with her husband, Fred, and their dog, Stokely.INTRODUCTION
TOGETHER, WE CAN . . .
 
Dear one,
Progress isn’t the longest word in the dictionary, but in many ways it’s the largest. Housed within its definition are words such as courage, hope, learning, and effort. But progress is more than just a word; it’s an ideal and a direction toward who and what we may become.
Progress by its very definition requires change, and unfortunately the concept of change is something deeply opposed by many people. ­ There are those who find change intimidating or frightening, and there are also those who actively try to stop change because they benefit from things remaining the same.
But the truth is that change is necessary. ­ The scourge of destructive forces such as racism, sexism, climate change, and gun violence have left the fabric of our society in tatters. Communities, families, cultures, individuals, and entire races have been devastated and even destroyed because of these forces.
And the devastation continues. Too many people are still suffering and far too much will be lost if we do not act.
Growing up, neither of us had the tools or resources necessary to combat or even understand many of the issues we discuss throughout the book. Which is why we wanted to give others what we wish we would have had sooner. What would Porsche’s life as a young biracial woman have been like if she hadn’t had to worry about her family being houseless when her apartment burned down or about how horribly her brother was treated by the justice system because he is half Black? How would Fred’s life as a young Black man have been different if he hadn’t constantly been afraid someone might bring a gun to school or if he hadn’t felt ashamed about his interests because people around him said a young boy should enjoy football more than musicals?
While we each faced these traumas and hardships as individuals, we are part of a community of billions around the world who have faced similar experiences of poverty, violence, and prejudice. Understanding that the various challenges that exist in our society are all connected is the first step to eradicating these challenges.
We called upon this community when putting together this book. Like everyone, the two of us come from very specific backgrounds and have experiences that shaped who we are and what we say in this book. But we are aware that our perspectives can’t speak for everyone. ­There are communities we don’t belong to and experiences we don’t share—but at the center of progress is the ability to make space to learn from and be better for those unlike ourselves. Which is why we’ve made space for others to offer their knowledge and perspectives. ­ The book features conversations with numerous thought leaders, activists, and experts to help create a deeper and more intersectional lens through which to view these vital topics.
 
SIDE NOTE: In the back of the book, we’ve added definitions for the words that are bolded throughout. We’ve also created an online toolkit focused on the topics discussed throughout the book, which includes additional resources and actionable steps to make change. Be sure to check out BetterThanWeFoundItBook.com.
 
When we began writing, we didn’t want to simply tell stories about the ways the world might have wronged us; we also wanted to provide an opportunity to see how all of us might be unknowingly wronging the world. No one is perfect, and there are many ways that the two of us have had to listen and learn. As much as this book is an opportunity to take action, it’s also an opportunity for growth. Because we’re all still learning.
In forging a path to a better world, stumbling is inevitable. Many of the struggles, missteps, and mistakes you will make, we have made as well—and we will all continue to make mistakes. But there should be grace for those who are willing to be held accountable when they stumble. A person is remembered for how they got up, not how they fell. What did they learn? How did they grow? Did they have the courage to be better the next time? Progress is a journey filled with imperfection; the important part is that you take the journey.
Our imperfections give us the opportunity to constantly strive for better. Th­is book offers all of us that opportunity. ­
These pages are both a labor of love and a leap of faith. In them we offer our truths, our failures, and the ways in which we’ve grown, in hope that readers will feel not only inspired— but loved.
Love for others is fundamental to the work we’re doing. In so many ways, we are all family, connected by our pain and our joy. In the stories and conversations throughout this book, we have tried to help people understand these connections and the importance of considering why even a stranger should be dear to you.
We hope that even if some, many, or most of the experiences relayed in this book do not resonate for you firsthand, the stories and interviews still serve to create the building blocks of empathy that will inspire you to take action. Our greatest desire is that you will choose to use whatever privilege you may have to understand and protect others, and that others will do the same for you in spaces where you lack privilege.
For the sake of the dear ones in our lives and for the sake of the children we hope to have one day and the people they will consider dear ones, we’ve challenged ourselves to give more to this world than we take, and we are challenging you to do the same. More thoughtfulness, more acceptance, more respect—and more love.
Progress is possible—if we lean into the bravery and leadership it will take to create it. ­ This book is our attempt to do that. With it, we hope to shed light on some of the most critical issues we face as a society and inspire you to create necessary change—inspire you to be brave along with us and to lead alongside us, and alongside the millions of others already growing and taking action.
Better ­Than We Found It isn’t just a title; it’s the manifestation of our wildest dream: that future generations won’t have to face the challenges we are facing. ­ The world is changing quickly, no matter how much some may try to avoid or even prevent it, and together we will decide in what direction it goes. All of us are the youth of yesterday and the ancestors of tomorrow. As such, let us be remembered for progress, let us be remembered for saying “enough is enough,” and let us be remembered as leaders who saw the greatest issues and challenges of our time and chose to boldly overcome them.
Because having a vision for what the world should be means nothing if you won’t do what’s necessary to create a world in that image.

With love, ­
The Josephs
 
A NOTE ON THE ANECDOTES: While we strove to make these scenes as accurate to reality as possible, the dialogue has been re-created from memory, which means it’s a representation of what happened and not a literal transcript of what was said. Names, too, have largely been fictionalized.US

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