The Cruelty of Nice Folks: Why Minneapolis Is the Story of America by Justin Ellis

“In writing a book about Minneapolis, Justin Ellis has really written a book about America's favorite lie—that good intentions lead to justice. Ellis is a rigorous historian and a visceral storyteller, and he has produced something essential: a reckoning with a city that wanted to be a safe haven for all and built a foundation that made this impossible.” –Aaron Robertson, author of The Black Utopians A Boston Globe Best Book of Summer 2026 One of The Millions’ Most Anticipated Spring 2026 Books A revelatory look at one of America’s most progressive cities—Minneapolis—as journalist Justin Ellis returns to his hometown to grapple with the quiet history of white supremacy in the wake of George Floyd’s murder, uncover his family’s story of surviving “Minnesota nice,” and revisit the city years later as state violence again forces the question of what a real reckoning looks like. It’s the “North,” they like to say, not the Midwest. It’s dif­ferent. Minneapolis is a city for everyone. But in 2020, George Floyd’s murder by the city’s police left many Americans stunned and wondering, “How could this hap­pen in Minneapolis?” To Ellis, the real question is: What made people think it couldn’t? Read more