Book Reviews
The book provides a gripping account of incidents and gives suggestions on what you can do should you become the target of unscrupulous search policies.
- Black Enterprise Magazine
Ms. Harris' book is well-researched. She had the strength to take a stand against a large bureaucracy and because of her actions, she will surely go down in history.
- Black Butterfly Press, Maxine Thompson, maxtho@aol.com
Cathy Harris has taken her stories to Congress, public forums, TV talk shows, radio and newspapers. This book is an insider's look at racism at the Customs and Border Protection and Harris doesn't hold back on anything.
- The Oakland Tribune, Chauncey Bailey, Urban Affairs Reporter
There is a wealth of information and I found the book to be an educational and a well-written book. You will definitely not be bored!
- R.A.W. SISTAZ Book Club, SISTAZ@aol.com
Ms. Harris' book is an eye-opener on a significant scale. I have unequivocal faith that the content is true. She was thorough in her research information and the presentation of it. The education that she provides is invaluable. Her reports have forever altered how I feel about international traveling.
- Sandra Renee Hicks, Freelance Writer, Washington, D.C.
Torturous abuse was not limited to Saddam’s dungeons! Harris’s book will expose ugly acts of racial profiling all over the U.S.
- Temple University, Linn Washington, Jr., Journalism Professor & Award Winning Writer
Cathy Harris brought light to a dark situation. Even though she wanted to quit many times, she just couldn’t after hearing the stories of other women who thought they had no recourse. Her book will continue to educate many for years to come.
- Rainbow PUSH Coalition, Joe Beasley, Southern Regional Manager
All voyagers – planes, trains, and automobiles must read Cathy’s book. The statistics that she gathered are not printed for your skimming pleasure. She put her life on the line! Kudos…to Cathy for being such a devoted watch-woman.
- Rolling Out Newspaper, Atlanta, GA
Harris’s whistleblowing ignited a flurry of news articles and T.V. features on airport profiling. Her book exposes how she put her life on the line and suffered mightily for her actions.
- National Alliance for Positive Action, Earl O. Hutchinson, Los Angeles
Cathy Harris brought her fight to Chicago! As a result of her crusading to different cities, she wrote a book that will protect international travelers and employees.
- Chicago Defender Newspaper, Chinta Strausberg, Investigative Reporter
Black women were handcuffed to beds and laxatives were poured down their throats. Investigations found all of Ms. Harris’s allegations to be credible. Her book outlines every step travelers must take to prevent themselves from becoming a victim of racial profiling.
- Arthuretta Martin, Singer and Motivational Speaker, Washington, DC
Unless the Customs and Border Protection is continuously monitored, nothing will stop them from going back to their old ways. Ms. Harris’ book is essential to understanding your rights when you travel out of this country.
- Former State Representative & Attorney Arnold Ragas, Stone Mountain, GA
A hundred years ago, when slavery was still the law of the land in the south, free blacks were forced to carry travel papers everywhere they went in the U.S. Ms. Harris’ book has done a great job exposing egregious practices and now people need to carry her book just like travel papers in the past.
- American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Washington
A “Rocky Horror Show” is what awaits, not only selected Black and Hispanic travelers, but also African Americans working for the U.S. Customs and Border Protection who don’t want to go along with the harassment of people of color. Cathy Harris’ book expose the dangers of "Traveling While Black."
- XMRadio.com, Dr. Barbara Reynolds, “Reynolds Rap”
The Miami Herald found dozens of examples in which Customs employees at all levels either kept their jobs and pay grades or were promoted after such misdeeds as sleeping with a paid informants, skimming seized cash, and even sexually assaulting female subordinates. I am sure Cathy Harris was truthful in the information she provided in her book.
- Miami Herald Newspaper, David Kidwell, Investigative Reporter
The stories I heard from hundreds of women were nothing short of “sexual abuse.” Even though the historic lawsuit was finally settled, the only educational tool for the American public in the future will be Cathy Harris' book.
- Ed Fox, Class-Action Attorney for 89 Black Women Intl. Travelers, Chicago
If you are Black, the next time you are coming back home from abroad, especially from the Caribbean or Africa, think about Cathy Harris. In order to keep from being abused by Customs, everyone should carry her book on them like a passport.
- Ron Parker, Community Activist, Dekalb County, GA
Sexual harassment, threats of physical violence and other acts of intimidation are tactics usually associated with ruthless criminals or dictators – but they were also used against good, hard working, honest Customs employees and international travelers. Cathy’s book will be a major eye-opener for many.
- SIG- International.net, Sandy Nunn, Former Customs Special Agent
Black women are independently free enough to fly all over the world, and they should not have to be disrespected by Customs agents that are intimidated by their newfound freedom.
- Fernwood United Methodist Church, Rev. Al Sampson, Chicago
The working conditions in the Customs Service were nothing short of “Modern Day Slavery.” A hostile work environment is not the word for it. It’s worse…it was like working for back woods bigots…But the education that Cathy Harris’s book provides is invaluable.
- Eileen Owens, Retired Customs and Border Protection Officer
Internal Affairs were in cahoots with management! Not only do they conjure up bogus charges against employees who file EEO complaints, but they monitor them both on and off the job. Cathy’s book will educate the American public on why the entire federal EEOC system must be revamped.
- Daron Owens, Former Customs Inspector & President of CEADA.com
