Don’t Flush! By Dakarai Larriett Review

On October 1, 2025 By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviewsLeave a comment

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

Author Dakarai Larriet showcases the struggle and activism his false arrest brought to life in the book “Don’t Flush.”

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The Synopsis

What would you do if you were arrested for a crime you didn’t commit—despite passing every test and proving your innocence?

In Don’t Flush!, activist and Senate candidate Dakarai Larriett recounts the harrowing night in April 2024 when he was wrongfully arrested in Michigan for suspected DUI. Despite testing negative and showing no signs of impairment, he was jailed, humiliated, and thrust into the unforgiving machinery of systemic injustice.

This gripping memoir not only exposes the cracks in our legal and policing systems but also shows the power of one voice refusing to stay silent. Larriett’s $10 million lawsuit against the Michigan State Police, his media campaign fueled by FOIA-released footage, and his push for legislative reform—including a Motorist Bill of Rights and the end of qualified immunity—paint a picture of a man turning trauma into action.

Don’t Flush! is more than a personal story—it’s a rallying cry. Whether you’re an ally, advocate, or just waking up to these injustices, this book demands you do more. Read it. Share it. Join the movement for true accountability.

The Review

This was such a compelling and thought-provoking read. The author expertly weaves a balance of personal storytelling and inspirational and motivational discussion, engaging readers to deliver a powerful look at social justice and the overhaul that the criminal justice system needs in the United States, as well as the many fears and hardships those who struggle with discrimination must face every day.

The author’s writing was the most powerful aspect of this book. The tension, and almost atmospheric way the author delved into those tense moments of his false arrest, from the hyper awareness of his surroundings as he drove before he spotted the police, to the calm manner he forced himself to stay in when engaging the police, and how these moments connected to the similar struggles of discrimination his grandparents and so many others had made these events feel more elevated and essential, and yet the harsh realities that this book brings to light also serves a hopeful tone, as the author showcases how finding the light in that darkness proved that a path of change does exist, if people are willing to fight for it.

The Verdict

Engaging, thoughtfully written, and memorable, author Dakarai Larriett’s “Don’t Flush” is a must-read nonfiction memoir that also serves as a valuable resource for social and criminal justice reform. The expertise with which the author crafts this book, slipping from the defining moments of his childhood and his struggles both as a Black man and a Gay man, to the horrors so many face when confronted by false arrests such as this, and the inspiring direction the author takes when making a bid for the US Senate will have readers enthralled with the author’s story and eager to fight for the changes this country sorely needs. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

Dakarai Larriett, a proud Alabama native and son of a U.S. Army veteran and public school teacher, is a successful entrepreneur and dedicated community volunteer whose run for the U.S. Senate is motivated by a false arrest in 2024 for which he has yet to receive justice. His upbringing, shaped by his father’s military service, saw him move across various states and even to Germany. After excelling as an honors student and earning a full scholarship to the University of Alabama, Dakarai’s passion for public service grew during his junior year as an exchange student at Howard University. He built a successful career as a corporate leader while managing a pet-care business he started in his garage, ultimately returning to Birmingham in 2021 where he became known for his servant leadership. Engaged in various volunteer activities, he also leads a board representing local families and businesses, expressing his love for Alabama’s culture and community. In his free time, Dakarai enjoys the shooting range and attends First United Methodist Church regularly.

Website: dakarailarriett.com

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The Black Athlete Revolt: The Sport Justice Movement In the Age of #BlackLivesMatter by Shaun M. Anderson Review

On April 7, 2023April 7, 2023 By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviewsLeave a comment

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

Bookbaby.com helping independents – whether authors, publishers, musicians, filmmakers, or small businesses – bring their creative efforts to the marketplace.

Author Shaun M. Anderson shares with readers the history behind black athletes using their status to incite social change and how the modern era of black athletes are able to use social media and their ever-growing popularity to bring attention and force change in a broader, much more important light in the book, “The Black Athlete Revolt: The Sport Justice Movement in the Age of #BlackLivesMatter.

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The Synopsis

A timely and significant examination of how Black athletes have used their influence to create meaningful change and reform for Black Americans.

In the age of social media, athletes have a powerful influence like never before. Many Black athletes have used that power in positive ways, galvanizing their platforms to create impactful educational opportunities, donate to Black social causes, and raise political awareness on important issues.

In The Black Athlete Revolt: The Sport Justice Movement in the Age of #BlackLivesMatter, Shaun M. Anderson examines the Black athlete’s rise in advocating for social justice and how today’s athletes have moved beyond protesting to create substantial change for Black Americans. Anderson reflects on the history and evolution of Black athlete activism, breaking down its importance during the civil rights movement, the commodification of athletes during the 1990s, and how twenty-first century athletes have utilized their wealth and influence to create lasting societal change in the age of #BlackLivesMatter.

With fascinating portraits of notable individuals in the history of Black activism, as well as insights from athletes and allies who discuss the future of athlete activism, The Black Athlete Revolt reveals the ever-evolving and crucial role of Black athletes beyond the world of sports.

The Review

This was such a powerful and insightful read. The author really brought the reader a moving message of hope and standing for one’s beliefs in the face of oppression, and how those who gained fame and fortune used their power to bring attention to these important issues. The way the author was able to bring a balance of historical, moral, and philosophical discussion into the narrative helped elevate the message of hope that these athletes helped inspire not only in today’s world but throughout the Black community’s history of athleticism and involvement in the world of sports.

What really moved me was the history of black athletes using their position as an athlete to speak up for injustice, and the way the author used sports to highlight the societal and moral battles that the Black community as a whole have had to fight against for so long, even before the Civil Rights Movement. The examination of athletes from all different fields of sport, the defining moments throughout the past century in particular, and the ways in which modern technology and growing social movements like the Black Lives Matter movement have catapulted black athletes and their activism to new heights were so powerful and moving to read about and inspire so many to take up the cause themselves.

The Verdict

Engaging, thoughtful, and hopeful in its approach, author Shaun M. Anderson’s “The Black Athlete Revolt” is a must-read nonfiction book on athletics, activism, and the need for equality and justice for all people. The inequality, police brutality, and hatred that the Black community has been forced to endure for so long is something I personally will never be able to fully understand, but I can help elevate strong and moving voices such as this incredible author to showcase the wealth of importance that these issues have, and the way in which he highlighted through meticulous research and skill the many athletes who used their position to inspire change and growth in the world made this a truly compelling book. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

Dr. Shaun M. Anderson is an internationally recognized scholar, proud HBCU graduate, and award winning professor at Loyola Marymount University. His work focuses on the intersections of sport, politics, race, and society. He has been featured in several media outlets including ESPN, HuffPost, and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He is also the founder and CEO of CSR Global Consulting, LLC, a consultancy that aides sport organizations in building social responsibility initiatives.

https://www.shaunmarqanderson.com/

https://twitter.com/shaunmarqspeaks