Aisha M. Beliso-De JesÚs is Olden Street Professor of American Studies at Princeton University and author of Electric SanterÍa: Racial and Sexual Assemblages of Transnational Religion.

“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)

• Author’s Note: In Warning . . .  xiIntroduction: Haunted  1Journal Entry: Monday, September 20, 2021  10Emerald Hills, California1. Nightmares  13Journal Entry: Saturday, September 25, 2021  26San Francisco, California2. Bodies  20Journal Entry: Saturday, October 2, 2021  43Antioch, California3. Murdered  46Journal Entry: Tuesday, November 2, 2021  58Stanford, California4. Manic  60Journal Entry: Wednesday, October 13, 2021  74Emerald Hills, California5. Panicked  77Journal Entry: Friday, December 17, 2021  95Stanford, California6. Tormented  98Journal Entry: Wednesday, March 16, 2022  117Stanford, California7. Brutalized  121Journal Entry: Tuesday, December 2, 2021  134Stanford, California8. Excited  137Journal Entry: Saturday, January 8, 2022  150Oakland, California9. Forced  152Journal Entry: Tuesday, March 22, 2022  166Stanford, California10. Delirious  169Journal Entry: Sunday, April 10, 2022  182Emerald Hills, California11. Conjured  184Journal Entry: Wednesday, May 25, 2022  195Antioch, California12. Empower  197Journal Entry: Thursday, September 8, 2022  210Princeton, New JerseyAfterword  211ModupuÉ  215Acknowledgments  219Glossary  221Notes  227Bibliography  273Index  293

Aisha M. Beliso-De JesÚs is Olden Street Professor of American Studies at Princeton University and author of Electric SanterÍa: Racial and Sexual Assemblages of Transnational Religion.

“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)

• Author’s Note: In Warning . . .  xiIntroduction: Haunted  1Journal Entry: Monday, September 20, 2021  10Emerald Hills, California1. Nightmares  13Journal Entry: Saturday, September 25, 2021  26San Francisco, California2. Bodies  20Journal Entry: Saturday, October 2, 2021  43Antioch, California3. Murdered  46Journal Entry: Tuesday, November 2, 2021  58Stanford, California4. Manic  60Journal Entry: Wednesday, October 13, 2021  74Emerald Hills, California5. Panicked  77Journal Entry: Friday, December 17, 2021  95Stanford, California6. Tormented  98Journal Entry: Wednesday, March 16, 2022  117Stanford, California7. Brutalized  121Journal Entry: Tuesday, December 2, 2021  134Stanford, California8. Excited  137Journal Entry: Saturday, January 8, 2022  150Oakland, California9. Forced  152Journal Entry: Tuesday, March 22, 2022  166Stanford, California10. Delirious  169Journal Entry: Sunday, April 10, 2022  182Emerald Hills, California11. Conjured  184Journal Entry: Wednesday, May 25, 2022  195Antioch, California12. Empower  197Journal Entry: Thursday, September 8, 2022  210Princeton, New JerseyAfterword  211ModupuÉ  215Acknowledgments  219Glossary  221Notes  227Bibliography  273Index  293

Aisha M. Beliso-De JesÚs is Olden Street Professor of American Studies at Princeton University and author of Electric SanterÍa: Racial and Sexual Assemblages of Transnational Religion.

“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)

• Author’s Note: In Warning . . .  xiIntroduction: Haunted  1Journal Entry: Monday, September 20, 2021  10Emerald Hills, California1. Nightmares  13Journal Entry: Saturday, September 25, 2021  26San Francisco, California2. Bodies  20Journal Entry: Saturday, October 2, 2021  43Antioch, California3. Murdered  46Journal Entry: Tuesday, November 2, 2021  58Stanford, California4. Manic  60Journal Entry: Wednesday, October 13, 2021  74Emerald Hills, California5. Panicked  77Journal Entry: Friday, December 17, 2021  95Stanford, California6. Tormented  98Journal Entry: Wednesday, March 16, 2022  117Stanford, California7. Brutalized  121Journal Entry: Tuesday, December 2, 2021  134Stanford, California8. Excited  137Journal Entry: Saturday, January 8, 2022  150Oakland, California9. Forced  152Journal Entry: Tuesday, March 22, 2022  166Stanford, California10. Delirious  169Journal Entry: Sunday, April 10, 2022  182Emerald Hills, California11. Conjured  184Journal Entry: Wednesday, May 25, 2022  195Antioch, California12. Empower  197Journal Entry: Thursday, September 8, 2022  210Princeton, New JerseyAfterword  211ModupuÉ  215Acknowledgments  219Glossary  221Notes  227Bibliography  273Index  293