"Kill The Black One First"
A memoir of hope and justice
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Michael Fuller Consultancy Ltd
'Absorbing... revealing and affecting. There are pleasures here, and lessons to be learnt, whatever colour you are' - The Sunday Times
'Michael Fuller is an extraordinary man with a remarkable and interesting story' - Helen Mirren
A story about race, identity, belonging and displacement, "Kill the Black One First" is the memoir from Michael Fuller - Britain's first ever black Chief Constable, whose childhood in care and career in policing is not only a stark representation of race relations in the UK, but also a unique morality tale of how humanity deals with life's unfairness.
Hoping to tackle injustice and create change from within, Michael joined the police force. There, he experienced racism and inequality, from colleagues shouting racist insults, to the Brixton Riots where 'Kill the black one first!' was yelled from the crowds. Determined, despite everything, not to turn and walk away, he rose through the ranks and made his way to the very top.
"Kill the Black One First" is an unflinching account of a life in policing during a tumultuous period, and how one man set out, against the odds, to try and belong.
Includes an exclusive interview with the author.
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Critic reviews
This provocatively titled memoir is one of a kind and offers up a perspective that is currently lacking in the discourse surrounding race in Britain. ((Derek Owusu, author of SAFE))
This is the story of a diligent, bright and sensitive individual who cares passionately about justice [but] at the heart of Fuller's journey is a quest to belong... His journey is utterly inspiring and it powerfully illuminates the dynamics of racial conflict in England over the past fifty years from someone who was in a very unique position. ((Eric Karl Anderson, Lonesome Reader))
Absorbing... revealing and affecting. There are pleasures here, and lessons to be learnt, whatever colour you are.
Michael Fuller is an extraordinary man with a remarkable and interesting story. ((Helen Mirren))
It was awesome and caused me to reflect.
Thank you for sharing
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Love it!
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Brilliant
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I can totally relate
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I much prefer the book’s original title Kill the black one first to A sense of belonging. The former is based on what was shouted at him in the Brixton riots when he was a fairly new officer in the Met. Grappling between being one of the Police and one of belonging to a group of people who are black. A theme ongoing in his story. I still prefer the former title.
Michael who became chief constable in Kent, the only black person to reach this rank in Britain, retells some of the racism he experienced on his career journey. Sometimes it seemed better for him to ignore it. At times certain colleagues might say but you are not really one of them when they made derogatory comments.
The author shows his resilience and ability to detach from some of the awful experiences he has faced in telling his story. He rises the ranks and his positive can do self assured attitude takes him there.
I think more people should be reading this book especially during current times.
Katherine Paterson
An must read pre or post George Floyd or the McPherson report
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