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As a young, black, MIT-educated social scientist, Marsha Coleman-Adebayo landed her dream job at the EPA, working with Al Gore’s special commission to assist postapartheid South Africa. But when she tried to get the government to investigate allegations that a multinational corporation was responsible for the deaths of hundreds of South Africans mining vanadium—a vital strategic mineral—the agency stonewalled. Coleman-Adebayo blew the whistle.
How could she know that the liberal agency would use every racist and sexist trick in their playbook in retaliation? The EPA endangered her family and sacrificed more lives in the vanadium mines of South Africa—but her fight against this injustice also brought about an upwelling of support from others in the federal bureaucracy who were fed up with its crushing repression.
Upon prevailing in court, Coleman-Adebayo organized a grassroots struggle to bring protection to all federal employees facing discrimination and retribution from the government. The No FEAR Coalition that she organized waged a two-year-long battle with Congress over the need to protect whistleblowers—culminating in the passage of the first civil rights and whistleblower law of the 21st century. This book is her harrowing and inspiring story.
Coleman-Adebayo's memoir recounts the legal battle culminating in the 2002 No FEAR Act, "the first civil-rights and whistleblower act of the 21st century."
Steeped in the history of the civil-rights and women's movements and blessed with a keen intellect, the author earned degrees from Barnard College, Columbia University and MIT. In 1990, she was on track toward a promising career with the EPA, considered one of the most progressive federal agencies. However, Coleman-Adebayo soon sensed that all was not well. Pay discrepancies ran along racial and gender lines, and white men dominated the ranks of the executives. During a trip to South Africa as a member of the Gore-Mbeki Commission, the author witnessed the "systematic, verifiable, environmentally devastating" effects of vanadium mining, a metal considered strategic by the CIA. She was quickly stymied by her superiors in herefforts at solving the South African environmental issues. Once she reported her belief that "the EPA [was] covering up crimes...being committed by an American multinational corporation against the people of South Africa," to theWashingtonPost,she became a whistleblower. Workplace retaliation was swift, resulting in her filing a complaint against the EPA. Weaving together her personal records with the transcript of the federal civil trial, in which she prevailed, the author provides an insider view of the legal tactics used at the highest level of government. Coleman-Adebayo also recounts the shenanigans surrounding the subsequent hearings and the strenuous political process involved in the unanimous passage in both houses of Congress of the No FEAR Act.
Though the narrative bogs down in a large cast of characters, this is an inspiring and worthwhile trek through one woman's brave battle against a system favoring the powerful.
Anonymous
Posted February 20, 2012
Nicki said for me to tell you that she wants you to go to her teen dream
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.njonesNC
Posted October 7, 2011
I just a wonderful book. It is informative, interesting and an easy to read book. It is interesting to learn about the inner working of the EPA, our relations and how we deal w/ countries around the world and how speaking out can bring about change. Applause to Mrs. Coleman-Adebayo for doing a great service to her country and writing a great and easy to read book.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.kneedeepVA
Posted October 6, 2011
What an unexpected surprise. Marsha is bold and very candid about her experience at the EPA and dealings with the Federal Government. Many parts of the book read like a soap opera. I felt there were some unsavory things going on in the government, but Mrs. Adebayo pulls back the covers and puts all speculation to rest by naming specific players all the way up the food chain. Definitely an insightful, juicy and entertaining read!!
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Overview
As a young, black, MIT-educated social scientist, Marsha Coleman-Adebayo landed her dream job at the EPA, working with Al Gore’s special commission to assist postapartheid South Africa. But when she tried to get the government to investigate allegations that a multinational corporation was responsible for the deaths of hundreds of South Africans mining vanadium—a vital strategic mineral—the agency stonewalled. Coleman-Adebayo blew the whistle.
How could she know that the liberal...