Excited Delirium

“At once painful, intimate, and full of insight, Aisha M. Beliso-De Jesús’s powerful book sits at the intersection of memoir, anthropology, and religious studies. The spirits have guided her pen to offer a prayer that exposes the lie of ‘excited delirium syndrome’ and, hopefully, will help in the collective undoing of police violence in this country.” - Eddie S. Glaude Jr., James S. McDonnell Distinguished University Professor, Princeton University

“An unflinching tour de force, Excited Delirium casts a stark light on the shadows where racism, medicine, and systemic injustice meet. With meticulous research and exquisite prose, leading anthropologist Aisha M. Beliso-De Jesús challenges readers to confront uncomfortable truths and the ways science is manipulated to advance narratives of power and social control—in this case, through a fictitious syndrome that has justified the deaths of Black and Brown people during encounters with law enforcement. This groundbreaking book is a must-read for anyone seeking to understand the full implications of race and policing in America, illuminating a history that is as enlightening as it is urgent. Beliso-De Jesús’s critical work stands as a beacon in the ongoing discussion on police violence---demanding attention, reflection, and, ultimately, action.” - Elizabeth Hinton, author of America on Fire: The Untold History of Police Violence and Black Rebellion Since the 1960s

"A unique addition to the literature on structural racism and police brutality." - Kirkus Reviews

"This is a fascinating examination of 'excited delirium syndrome,' which was fabricated in 1980 and used by police to explain that Black and Brown people who died in their custody suffered from heart failure and not police violence. It’s almost unbelievable. Almost." - Karla Strand, Ms. Magazine

"This study of religion and policing is a profoundly personal, well-researched, deep dive into what it means to use non-white police systems to justify the murder of non-white people. . . . The author rightly calls for abolishing the syndrome, increasing police accountability, and establishing greater separation between police and medical examiners. Recommended. General readers through faculty; professionals." - Choice

"One of the most intriguing aspects of the book is the author’s deeply intimate writing. Interspersed between each chapter are excerpts of her journal entries, in which she talks about the toll the research is taking on her, the dreams that haunt her at night, and the ways in which she deals with the trauma her research generates. . . . Thus, the reader gets a rare, intimate look into the researchers’ journey, and into how she used her spiritual practice to help her through the process of researching and writing the book."
  - Magda Boutros, Books and Ideas

“Beliso-De Jesús weaves a potent historical narrative into her analysis of contemporary police violence cases spanning the last half century. . . . She offers a powerful template for excited delirium to be lobbed back at the dominant culture by reclaiming the experiences of its victims—or, as she articulates, the dead who lead the way.” - Mihir Gokhale and Ben Weiss, H-Sci-Med-Tech, H-Net Reviews