{"product_id":"we-the-young-fighters-pop-culture-terror-and-war-in-sierra-leone-paperback","title":"We the Young Fighters: Pop Culture, Terror, and War in Sierra Leone - Paperback","description":"\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eMarc Sommers\u003c\/b\u003e (Author)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eWe the Young Fighters\u003c\/i\u003e is at once a history of a nation, the story of a war, and the saga of downtrodden young people and three pop culture superstars. Reggae idol Bob Marley, rap legend Tupac Shakur, and the John Rambo movie character all portrayed an upside-down world, where those in the right are blamed while the powerful attack them. Their collective example found fertile ground in the West African nation of Sierra Leone, where youth were entrapped, inequality was blatant, and dissent was impossible. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eWhen warfare spotlighting diamonds, marijuana, and extreme terror began in 1991, military leaders exploited the trio's transcendent power over their young fighters and captives. Once the war expired, youth again turned to Marley for inspiration and Tupac for friendship. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThoroughly researched and accessibly written, \u003ci\u003eWe the Young Fighters\u003c\/i\u003e probes terror-based warfare and how Tupac, Rambo, and--especially--Bob Marley wove their way into the fabric of alienation, resistance, and hope in Sierra Leone. The tale of pop culture heroes radicalizing warfare and shaping peacetime underscores the need to engage with alienated youth and reform predatory governments. The book ends with a framework for customizing the international response to these twin challenges.\u003ch3\u003eAuthor Biography\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eMARC SOMMERS is the award-winning author of ten books, including \u003ci\u003eThe Outcast Majority: War, Development\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eYouth in Africa and Stuck: Rwandan Youth and the Struggle for Adulthood\u003c\/i\u003e (both Georgia). His career has blended peacebuilding and diplomacy with field research and teaching. He uses trust-based methods to address challenges involving youth, conflict, education, gender, systemic exclusion, and violent extremism.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 488\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1.57 x 9.06 x 5.98 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e October 01, 2023\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Books by splitShops","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47404666585266,"sku":"9780820364742","price":56.63,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0770\/3891\/1666\/files\/b0d178ed58822efd0949d6b4ee392df6.webp?v=1778166179","url":"https:\/\/box.dadyminds.org\/products\/we-the-young-fighters-pop-culture-terror-and-war-in-sierra-leone-paperback","provider":"DADYMINDS BOX","version":"1.0","type":"link"}