“David Gilbert’s story is a tale of consciousness, counterculture, and action during the generation of revolution, love, and hope. A tale of the best and worst of America, of struggle and love, and of hope and repression.”
—Zack de la Rocha, rapper, poet, activist, Rage Against the Machine vocalist
“Required
reading for anyone interested in the history of radical movements in
this country. An honest, vivid portrait of a life spent passionately
fighting for justice. In telling his story, Gilbert also reveals the
history of left struggles in the 1960s and ’70s, and imparts important
lessons for today’s activists.
—Jordan Flaherty, author of Floodlines: Community and Resistance from Katrina to the Jena Six
“This story is from a true freedom fighter, a warrior against U.S. imperialism and for peace and justice.”
—Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz, author of Outlaw Woman: A Memoir of the War Years, 1960–75
“When
Malcolm X said John Brown was his standard for white activism, he
could have easily meant David Gilbert. He is our generation’s John
Brown. His support of Black liberation as a method of freeing the world
is to be studied, appreciated, and applied.”
—Jared A. Ball, associate professor of communication studies at Morgan State University, author of I Mix What I Like! A Mixtape Manifesto
“David
Gilbert’s memoir is a gift to the future. His story brings together
three generations of social justice movements. The book is more than a
fascinating history of an incredible life; it is an example of
political praxis. Gilbert combines humor and humility, analysis and
adventure, as he shows what it means to live one’s life in pursuit of
freedom. Brimming with insight and optimism, Love and Struggle shows
the way.”
—Dan Berger, author of Outlaws in America: The Weather Underground and the Politics of Solidarity
“David
Gilbert has written a rigorously honest, analytic memoir that grapples
with the many dimensions of his history as a revolutionary
anti-imperialist. Responding to a request from his son to write a book
that reflects on his personal experiences, David is unafraid to examine
his mistakes and shortcomings, especially regarding sexism and racism,
while affirming the revolutionary principles that have guided him
throughout his adult life. For thirty years, David has engaged in a
dynamic conversation across the walls about radical history and the
path forward. Love and Struggle is a compelling contribution to that
critical dialogue.”
—Diana Block, activist, author of Arm the Spirit: A Woman’s Journey Underground and Back
“After
suffering thirty years of hard time in several of America’s most
brutal dungeons, after enduring separation and isolation and loss,
after braving a decades-long campaign of demonization and
misinformation orchestrated from the pinnacles of power, David Gilbert
speaks up with hope and a simple clarity that belies his circumstances.
This is a unique and necessary voice forged in the growing American
gulag, the underbelly of the ‘land of the free,’ offering a focused and
unassailable critique as well as a vision of a world that could be but
is not yet—a place of peace and love, joy and justice. Gilbert’s
humanity, dignity, and integrity are entirely intact, his fierce
intelligence full up, his sense of urgency unchanged. Anyone who wants
to understand the sorry state we are in and hopes to participate in
finding a more hopeful path forward should read this passionate and
compelling book.
—Bill Ayers, author of Fugitive Days and Teaching Toward Freedom
