In a better world, I'd tell different tales

On race in America, the role of writers as activists, and how all writing is political

- Simar Bhasin

Tell us about Be A Revolution. Before Be A Revolution, I wrote two books on race in America and I had decided I would take a break from it. But, in 2020, with the pandemic and the uprising for black lives, it struck me how important community was for our survival, especially communities of colour, the black community; how much people were coming together, not only to protest, but to take care of each other, find resources. I wanted to show that. I wanted to highlight what people do.

People ask me all the time, "What can we do? It's so hard. What can we do?" I wanted to show what people have already been doing. I wanted to embark upon a project that really highlighted and honoured people who are doing the important work to care for communities of colour across the United States.