Praise for American Identity in Crisis
“Kat Calvin has been doing the work. Like, really doing the work—the backbreaking, administratively maddening work of helping individuals without ID get the documentation they need to live, work, and vote. Now she has produced a tremendous, invigorating chronicle of how her life as an ID activist took shape, very suddenly, mid-way through her adulthood. For all those who look at this broken and unjust world and ask, “What can I do?” Calvin offers a resonant, moving, historically grounded answer: here is the story of staring straight at an insurmountably unfair system, taking a breath, digging in, and stepping up to fix it, one step at a time.”
Rebecca Traister, Journalist, Author of Good and Mad: How Women's Anger Is Reshaping America
"Ella Baker. Fannie Lou Hamer. Gloria Richardson. These intelligent, strategic and effective activists and organizers would all be proud that folks like Kat Calvin have stepped up and filled in a void as current day champions for the voiceless who fight for those who are unseen and unheard everyday by many policy makers and political leaders. American Identity in Crisis is a revelation of not only a powerful new leader to watch but also as a treatise that is a must-read for anyone who cares about equity and democracy."
Bakari Sellers, New York Times best-selling author of My Vanishing Country
“In these divisive times, many of us wonder if anything can get done. Kat Calvin has not only lead the way on practical solutions, but now, she has written down the path, so each of us can take part in making our democracy more equitable for all. Don’t miss this inspiring book.”
Piper Perabo, Actress and Activist
"The centuries long fight for all Americans to have access to the vote—a core principle of a democracy—is as valid now as ever. Kat Calvin is on the frontlines of this battle and is fearlessly and forthrightly making the case why millions of Americans without IDs should have access to the franchise. In American Identity in Crisis, she brilliantly makes her case and demonstrates with power and compassion why every human and vote counts."
April Ryan, author of Black Women Will Save the World: An Anthem
“In this stunning book, Kat Calvin shines her light on ID-less Americans, an issue that could have changed the shape of the 2016 election, and currently affects the lives of over 26 million people. Calvin writes with a courageous heart that leaps off the page, as she incisively lays out the contours of this crisis of personal agency, while managing to provide inspiration, and a delightfully whacky sense of humor. Between her work spearheading Spread The Vote, Project ID, and this wildly generous political guidebook, I think it's only fitting to identify Kat Calvin as an American hero.”
Lauren Duca, Journalist, Author of How to Start a Revolution: Young People and the Future of American Politics
"Kat provides rare insights into just how life-changing an ID can be and she has a powerful plan for fighting back against America’s increasingly unreasonable ID laws. Anyone who cares about democracy, elections, and the American experiment should read this book."
-Shannon Coulter, Creator of #GrabYourWallet
“I’ve made a habit out of reading whatever Kat writes — op-eds, newsletters, and now books — because I know that whatever she tackles will be funny, smart, and eye-opening. She makes a habit out of finding the clearest, most brilliant solutions to complex problems. As a reader, I'm just happy to be along for the ride."
Ben Sheehan, Author of OMG WTF Does The Constitution Actually Say
“Kat perfectly encapsulates the issues facing millions of Americans on something we all likely take for granted. ID attainment is a health, equity, and civil rights issue. With so much technology at our disposal, this is our call to action, and Kat is leading the way.”
Dulce Vasquez, Educator and Activist
“Kat’s book is a beautifully insightful and personal journey confronting the frailties and inequities of U.S. democracy.”
Lior Ipp, CEO, Roddenberry Foundation
“I used to view the absence of a valid ID as no more than a minor, annoying inconvenience – a wasted afternoon at the DMV or scrapped overseas travel plans. Oh, how Kat Calvin has opened my naively privileged eyes to see the vast inhumanity and indignity the absence of state-issued ID really is. Thank you, Kat, for not simply shining a light on the problem, but relentlessly working to solve it too.”
J. Kelly Hoey, Author of Build Your Dream Network
