Nothing in Deborah Jones’s formative years could have prepared her for life in the Us Organization. She, like many of her generation, was Black and Proud before the phrase became popular. She believed–and still believes–in the principles for which the organization stood. But her life took a horrific turn on Mother’s Day, 1970, leaving her in trauma and in silence. In this never-before-told account, Jones tells her inspiring story.
What We Stood For is an intimate, forthright account of the promise and betrayal of revolution in 1960s Los Angeles. It is the story of a survivor, in every sense of the word, continuing the struggle against oppression through an honest reckoning of the movement’s at times terrifying failures. Deborah Jones and Thandisizwe Chimurenga give us a rare first-hand account of the Us Organization, state repression, and male violence. It is the story of a Black woman in the struggle for justice, liberation, and healing.
—Dan Berger, author of Stayed on Freedom: The Long History of Black Power Through One Family’s Journey
Deborah Jones has narrated a powerful story of resilience and courage amid torturous violence. Her heartfelt testimony adds an important layer to the history of Us and the long freedom movement.
—Ula Y. Taylor, author of The Promise of Patriarchy: Women and the Nation of Islam and The Veiled Garvey: The Life and Times of Amy Jacques Garvey.
It was sobering and saddening to read what Deborah Jones experienced, reminding us that placing any human leader on a pedestal is a path toward chaos and corruption. Thank the ancestors her spirit was as strong as it was. This memoir is a testimony of her strength, courage, and fierce will.
—Jake-ann Jones, co-author, Sometimes Farmgirls Become Revolutionaries: Notes on Black Power, Politics, Depression, and the FBI
