In Never Meant to Survive, Costa Vargas presents a historical, political, and social assessment of anti-black genocide and liberatory struggles to resist it. Through examination of two cities linked by common experiences of Blackness, Los Angeles and Rio de Janeiro, the book identifies anti-black genocide as a prevailing force in organizing individuals and groups across society. Costa Vargas approaches his analysis of anti-black genocide in these cities through discussion of past conflicts and the work of groups like the Black Panther Party.