The Language of Theft

An investigation of the narrative strategies used to keep the public divided and a roadmap for reclaiming power, resisting propaganda, and building a future grounded in equity and collective truth.

The Language of Theft exposes the greatest heist of all time—how the ultra-wealthy have weaponized language to manipulate society and cement their power for centuries, but never with more ruthless precision or existential consequence than what we see today. Maya Contreras, a narrative strategist, political consultant, and columnist for Dame, rips open the secret playbook that elites have used to divide the public, distort history, and rig the system. From ancient philosophy to the psychology of modern propaganda, Contreras reveals the narrative tricks that coerce the public to defend the ruthless architects of theft and policies that harm them. She'll take us through the ages —from European colonizers' use of religious narratives packaged as legal authority to justify violent expansion to today’s digital-era oligarchs' use of innovation and efficiency narratives to justify labor precarity. We'll see how how those with entrenched power recycle the same political narrative playbooks across American history to manipulate the public out of economic dignity, fundamental rights, and community.

This isn’t just about exposing the heist—it’s about giving you the tools to recognize and counter these strategies, reclaiming what’s yours.

Maya Contreras is a writer, performer, and political narrative analyst. A fourth-generation artist and educator, she works at the intersection of story, culture, and power. Her work focuses on the persuasive narratives public figures use to shape public belief and policy. She leads workshops that help participants recognize what’s happening beneath the words. Maya is a contributing writer for DAME Magazine. Her plays were official selections for the New York Fringe Festival three years in a row. She was a writer and co-host for the NY Emmy Award-winning PBS series Brewed in New York. Her communication and narrative clinics have included members of Congress, congressional staff, and media professionals. She has lectured nationally on political narrative creation, including at the Brennan Center for Justice, New York University, Pratt Institute, and the University of San Francisco School of Law. She holds an MA from NYU and a BA from Florida State University.

• Publisher: Amistad
  
• Publish Date: April 20, 2027
  
• Pages: 288
  
• Language: English
  
• Type: Hardcover
  
• EAN/UPC: 9780063487239
  
• Dimensions: 9 in H | 6 in W | 1 lb Wt
  
• BISAC Categories:Politics, Education