A Mixed American’s Struggle for Identity in a Nation of Black and White
An excerpt from Marginal Eyes, Chapter 2 The fundamentals of what US culture says a child needs were never lacking in my life. My dad strapped me to his back and carried me to the top of the Indiana sand dunes; he taught me to …
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An excerpt from Marginal Eyes, Chapter 1 Their voices boomed, rolled, and penetrated the air with a strength that only Gospel can attain. Many in the pews were clapping, others were nodding their heads, and some stood and shifted their weight side to side, putting …
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An excerpt from Marginal Eyes, Chapter 3 “Hey, look at that old Black lady,” he said insistently. In my previous world there would have been nothing strange about seeing an “old Black lady” anywhere, but in Chesterton it was curious … What do I do? …
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An excerpt from Marginal Eyes, Chapter Five Outside of my internship, I was also exposed to what felt like a wider culture of DC, riding the Metro every day, engaging in the Georgetown program’s other group activities, and joining social outings with my fellow students. …
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An Excerpt from Marginal Eyes, Chapter Eight “Stand against the trunk and spread your legs,” the officer behind me directed. As he grabbed me roughly from behind and started to pat me down, Tommy lit into them. “Hey man, this is bullshit. What are you …
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An excerpt from Marginal Eyes, Chapter Seven My songwriting hit a peak in the fall of 2004, when I spent countless hours in my parents’ basement, unbridling my mind at the keyboard. Whereas the lyrics I wrote that spring for my audition were full of …
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