Publishers Weekly
01/29/2024
Retired Canadian police superintendent Merith recounts his experiences as a Black man on the force in his searing debut. As a teenager in the early 1970s, Merith was profiled by a white police officer in a parking lot, and the encounter prompted him to join law enforcement himself in order to “provide a level of policing that would incorporate character, decency, respect, and fairness that this man and others like him would not provide.” When he entered the profession after graduating from Humber College Institute in 1980, he found the road more difficult than he expected. From white coworkers who were openly outraged at the thought of a Black man in uniform to a near-constant barrage of racial jokes and deep institutional biases, Merith writes at length of the constant “needling” he experienced as he climbed the ranks of Ontario’s York Regional Police over several decades. He also outlines specific reforms he implemented as superintendent and would like to see expanded, including diversity-forward recruitment tactics that promote “officers of colour representing the mosaic of province,” and training that emphasizes caution when it comes to the use of lethal force. Throughout, Merith nimbly balances critique and pragmatism, claiming pride in his service while asserting that “until equity and justice for all are applied in the manner consistent with the meaning allocated to those words, we the aggrieved, in and out of uniform, beaten and bruised but not defeated, will never stop fighting for change.” This poignant account examines a thorny set of issues with clear eyes and bracing authority. (Mar.)
From the Publisher
This poignant account examines a thorny set of issues with clear eyes and bracing authority.” — Publishers Weekly
“A must-read for those interested in policing and the subtle and not-so-subtle effects of racism. Superintendent Merith leaves us with sensible suggestions for improvement and an appreciation of his love of service.” — Kent Roach, C.M., author of Canadian Policing: Why and How It Must Change
“A Darker Shade of Blue is the riveting account of Superintendent Keith Merith’s thirty-one-year journey as a Black municipal police officer. He has chronicled experiences that will take you through a full spectrum of emotions from anger to triumph. The author is only the fifth Black police officer in Canada to write a book about their experiences, though the year of this book’s release marks 140 years of police service by Black Canadians (Peter Butler III, Ontario 1883). While much has improved, the author illuminates the significant work ahead to achieve true fairness and equity in our great country.” — David Mitchell, founding president of the Association of Black Law Enforcers
“Both fascinating and terrifying at the same time. A must-read for Black people considering the police service as a career today.” — Ron E. Hampton, retired police officer and former executive director of the National Black Police Association (U.S.)
“In the 2000 movie Shaft, John Shaft, a former detective from the NYPD, said he was ‘too Black for the Blue, and too Blue for the brothers.’ Superintendent Keith Merith’s book serves as a powerful reminder that this burden and struggle are very real for Black Canadian police officers. The narratives and experiences in this book have reignited my commitment to doing the right thing. I wholeheartedly urge you to read this book and rekindle your own dedication to promoting equity, fairness, and justice.” — Dr. Frank Trovato, founder of TNT Justice Consultants
“An illuminating and insightful exploration of the intricate intersections of race and law enforcement. With impeccable research and a deeply personal narrative, Merith brings to light the nuances of being Black in the blue uniform. This is a must-read for anyone seeking to understand the complexities of modern policing and the transformative potential of inclusion. A landmark work.” — Dr. Akwasi Owusu-Bempah, professor and author of Waiting to Inhale: Cannabis Legalization and the Fight for Racial Justice
“Authentic, heartfelt, and wise, A Darker Shade of Blue is Merith’s timely and important memoir about his three decades as a Black cop in the Greater Toronto Area, where he tried to affect change from within as he rose through the ranks. It’s an intimate and compelling account of a career marked by both rage and reward, one that takes readers deep behind the thin blue line and reveals just how easily discrimination thrives — if we let it.” — Carolyn Abraham, award-winning journalist and author of The Juggler’s Children: A Journey into Family, Legend and the Genes That Bind Us
Library Journal
06/14/2024
Merith's memoir about his 31 years with Ontario's York Regional Police Service is a heartfelt story of perseverance in the face of institutional racism. He retired as superintendent of the force, a remarkable feat considering that he was rejected for his first police job by 13 departments over a span of six years. Born in England to Jamaican parents, he moved to Canada at age 10. He served in the military, then spent five years at a juvenile detention facility as a correctional officer. He asserts that nepotism and discrimination made the police force an insular institution. He also believes that "stop resisting" is at the core of failed police training. He recounts numerous examples of overtly racist situations. He also mentions the George Floyd, Trayvon Martin, and Ahmaud Arbery cases. He calls out former President Trump for showing that "the underpinnings of racism, bigotry, and discrimination were alive and well." VERDICT For police memoir fans and people who enjoy reading about triumph over adversity. This isn't as blistering as Edwin Raymond and Jon Sternfeld's An Inconvenient Cop, which was about the NYPD, but this is a worthwhile and insightful account from a retired police superintendent.—Harry Charles
