Title: The New Civil War
Author: Michael A. Banks, Ph.D.
Publisher: Book-Art Press Solutions, LLC
ISBN: 978-1950024247
Pages: 102
Genre: Politics & Social Sciences/Sociology
Interviewed  by: Anthony Avina

Read Author Interview

Today we are talking to Michael A. Banks, Ph.D. from the title “The New Civil War.”

PBR: Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I was born in New York City (1955) and raised in the community of Harlem, growing up during an era of radical social change in America (the 60’s). Under the guidance of my parents, who themselves escaped the violent segregated South during the Great Migration of the 30’s and 40’s, as well as their families, these issues were brought to my attention at an early age, as a means of survival and moving forward. Social problems have since become a lifelong mission of mine to address and contribute to creating solutions. My home atmosphere included vast amounts of literature, including many that were written by the great authors, historians, artists, and leaders of civil rights (James Baldwin, Langston Hughes, W.E.B. DuBois, M.L. King, John F. Kennedy, Stokely Carmichael, Adam Clayton Powell, etc ). My academic career began at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania, and subsequent degrees were earned at LIU-Brooklyn (1980), including two Master’s and a Ph.D. degree in the area of sociology from Long Island University (LIU – Brooklyn) (1983) and the CUNY Graduate Center (1993).

PBR: What was the inspiration behind your book, “The New Civil War”?
The inspiration behind my manuscript, “The New Civil War” has to do with the distinct nature and racial undertones of the Trayvon Martin case, followed by its controversial outcome. During the 2-year interval (2012-2014) between the incident and the acquittal of the shooter (George Zimmerman), the case had my immediate attention on a daily basis. I became intently focused on the details surrounding Trayvon’s homicide, and the possibility of the whole incident being a premeditated act. Once the acquittal from the Zimmerman verdict was announced, I was overcome with emotion and began to write. This book reveals evidence that was never entertained during the court proceedings – evidence that might have led to a different outcome.

PBR: What themes or messages do you hope readers take away from your book?
My hope is that readers will understand how public perception and steps towards justice reform/ social change, once again, were negatively impacted by this case. President Obama had become very unpopular with large segments of Republican society at the time, and the magnitude and impact of the verdict can be regarded here as an “anti-Obama verdict”, or decision – one that is not based on actual facts, but is politically and racially biased in nature. Like Rodney King and OJ Simpson in years prior, this case set the tone for racial and political division from the outset. Alternate media coverage of the incident succeeded in drawing the demarcation lines of the public as well.

PBR: What was the process like researching these tragedies and using your expertise to examine these events in your book?
My references were chosen from a variety of sources discovered through my empirical findings, and such sources included renowned literary works and those media outlets who covered the case extensively on web, television and radio. From this point, I was able to parallel this case with several others, with the goal of showing a basic pattern. I viewed the incident through a sociological lens, and admit that objectivity became difficult as I came to identify Trayvon – among so many others who suffered tragic fates – with my own children, grandchildren, etc. As a precaution to libel, I didn’t use real names or direct quotes.

PBR: Since the publishing of this book, there have been several tragedies and crimes committed that have seen the nation and the world at large have taken part in massive protests during a time of a global pandemic. How would you approach the events of the past few months using your book’s process of utilizing theoretical perspectives of sociology?
I am keenly aware of each tragedy subsequent to the Trayvon killing, much too many, in fact, for such a short succession of time. The precedent set by the Zimmerman verdict is the perception that “black lives” hold little-to-no value – that one can kill a black person or youth with impunity, have the media turn it into a national sensation/ spectacle, and yet receive applause, legal protection, leniency, and even funding (i.e. GoFundMe for bail and private legal defense) for the original act, regardless of guilt. The protests for justice reform and social change, triggered by the murder of George Floyd, is a culmination of societal unrest, not only of the unjust and highly visible murder of Trayvon Martin, but for all of the acts of injustice inspired by racist brutal behavior and profiling. The pandemic serves as an unlikely adversary, as well as a much-needed backdrop for raising awareness of such issues under the “Black Lives Matter” movement. In spite of global regulations limiting large gatherings, protesters around the world have chosen to risk both their health and their freedom, rallying in large groups demanding reform and equality harkening back to the American civil rights marches of the ’50s and ’60s. I would approach this social dilemma through the social theory of conflict, in that such actions create a clear “social conflict”, as a vehicle to change.

PBR: In your personal opinion, what meaningful changes need to be made both from a personal viewpoint and as an expert in sociology to see a significant change in racial injustice, racism in general and the increased violence our world is experiencing? Any meaningful change would start with a clean exit of the current Presidential Administration, who’s lackadaisical approach to the pandemic, as well as this country’s social unrest, have only created poor international relations and negative positioning, resentment among the media, and general distrust among the public, along with greater racial tension and societal divides. Other changes that must happen include police/ justice reform, the elimination of racial profiling tactics, in-depth mental evaluations of police officers and public servants along with intervention and sensitivity programs – including the desensitization of blacks and police – among many other short-term goals. Socially, there are more guns than people, and like racism, its related violence is a learned behavior, deeply rooted in American culture. Such behaviors are reinforced through cultural norms like tv, film, fashion, music, games, and other mediums that promote violence and control as the strongholds of the American fabric. Society needs to be restructured from the dictates of the past, and all citizens must be viewed unconditionally as Americans, regardless of race, religion, gender, or sexual preference.

PBR: Now that you have published your book, what are your future plans? Any other novels or research papers in the works?
A book that I have given much thought to would describe how the Zimmerman acquittal ultimately led to the election of Donald Trump. I believe the President took note and was able to tap into a powerful voting bloc of supporters who sympathized with Zimmerman. Documentation of his campaign would showcase how he leveraged their core values (i.e. white nationalism, “Build the Wall”, etc.) to win the presidency. Those touting confederate values have now come so far out of the closet that they are, once again, clashing with the Union, as the leadership in this country encourages that their viewpoints and behaviors are an undeniable privilege of being American. This new book would be a sequel to the “The New Civil War.”