This Is My America
Page 28
As I wrote this story, I was cautious not to add any details for voyeuristic purposes while also recognizing the trauma behind real-life incidents. To omit some aspects in this story would be to deny this reality. However, the Black American experience is not a story limited to pain; it is one that is joyous, remarkable, filled with possibility. I also celebrate the amazing voices and stories of other authors who are working to expand representation on stories we have yet to fully tell.
Knowledge (and representation) is power, and I truly believe movements are made by the next generation. The legacy of racism runs deep in our society, but we can stop this cycle if we all are involved. We can let the world know enough is enough. You can make a difference. Your voice matters. Demand justice and equality. I hope I leave my readers with empathy, awareness, and agency.
In solidarity and respect,
Black Lives Matter.
Kim Johnson
* prisonpolicy.org/reports/money.html
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Criminal Justice Organizations
Innocence X is fictional and not grounded in the operations and practices of actual organizations that are dedicated to this work. The websites of the following organizations provide information about work in criminal justice reform:
The Innocence Project focuses on DNA testing for exonerations and criminal justice reform. innocenceproject.org
The Equal Justice Initiative was founded by Bryan Stevenson. The first book you should pick up is Just Mercy, Mr. Stevenson’s memoir. eji.org
The Death Penalty Information Center, a nonprofit organization, provides facts and analysis for the media and the public. deathpenaltyinfo.org/documents/FactSheet.pdf
Prison Policy Initiative is a nonprofit and nonpartisan group that researches the harm caused by mass incarceration. prisonpolicy.org/reports/money.html
Suggested References
The topics of racism, injustices in criminal prosecution, and police brutality are unfortunately controversial issues. Some people may resist or even attack efforts to shine a spotlight on American law enforcement and our justice system. But it is this critical juncture that must be examined, as it sits at the crossroads of racial equality. Below are some references that I would suggest if you are interested in the topic and want to learn more.
Alexander, Michelle. The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness. New York: New Press, 2010.
Coates, Ta-Nehisi. Between the World and Me. New York: Spiegel & Grau, 2015.
Crenshaw, Kimberlé W. “From Private Violence to Mass Incarceration: Thinking Intersectionally About Women, Race, and Social Control,” 59 UCLA Law Review 1418 (2012).
Du Bois, W. E. B. (William Edward Burghardt). The Souls of Black Folk. The Oxford W. E. B. Du Bois series. New York: Oxford University Press, 2007.
DuVernay, Ava, director. 13th. Forward Movement, Kandoo Films, Netflix, 2016. netflix.com/title/80091741.
Goffman, Alice. On the Run: Fugitive Life in an American City. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2014.
Kendi, Ibram X. Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America. New York: Nation Books, 2016.
King, Gilbert. Devil in the Grove: Thurgood Marshall, the Groveland Boys, and the Dawn of a New America. New York: Harper, 2012.
Kuklin, Susan. No Choirboy: Murder, Violence, and Teenagers on Death Row. New York: Henry Holt, 2008.
Moore, Wes. The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates. New York: Spiegel & Grau, 2010.
Rothstein, Richard. The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America. New York: Liveright Publishing, 2017.
Stevenson, Bryan. Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption. New York: Spiegel & Grau, 2014.
Thompson, Heather Ann. Blood in the Water: The Attica Prison Uprising of 1971 and Its Legacy. New York: Pantheon Books, 2016.
Wytsma, Ken. The Myth of Equality: Uncovering the Roots of Injustice and Privilege. Downers Grove, Illinois: IVP Books, 2017.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
First and foremost, thank you, God, for leading me in a purpose-driven life.
Kevin and my littles, J and W: I love you to the depths of the earth and the heights of our universe. May the world never rob you of your innocence. It’s your love that drives me, and I always try to be everything to you. J—I know you love me the absolute most (I tell myself this when you follow me to the bathroom). W—I’m so proud of who you’ve become. One day, when you’re older, your comics and moviemaking skills will dazzle the world. Kevin—Thank you to my loving husband for giving me space to write. I know I’m a lot! Zipping and running everywhere, taking on new things, and being called to serve. I’m so fortunate to have you and know there is a lot you sacrifice also for this to happen. Thank you to the Johnson extended family for all your support and the stacks of books and conversations on race, justice, and politics.
Thank you to my mother, who cultivated greatness in all her children (and our extended immigrant and African family). We might not always do everything the way you like, but you raised God-fearing children who are grounded in your values. You taught us the meaning of hard work. Your daughters are purposed to touch the world in different ways. Thank you for taking me to the public library, which was my reading foundation. To my dad, who loved to read. It planted a seed.
To my sisters, the real AQs—Kawezya, Kalizya, Kanyanta, and the ones who are the true Ks—we should be the ones with a reality show. WE grinding all day, every day. To Kal and KK: You’re my biggest fans, always pushing love and greatness. You make my cheeks blush when you share with the world how proud you are of me. To my brilliant baby sis, Kawezya: You were the first person I let read my stories. You answered my legal questions, shared your experiences with a death penalty pro bono case, and made countless connections to attorneys working pro bono to appeal death penalty sentences. Thank you for responding to all those last-minute requests and rambling emails and texts. I can’t wait for you to begin your writer journey. We have to have another brainstorm session at our faves, either Calabash or BusBoys and Poets in DC, so we can begin that co-writing project we’ve been mulling.
To my extraordinary agent, Jennifer March Soloway: Thank you for finding me in the query trenches and taking a huge chance by signing me. You gave me confidence to share an unfinished project. You offered a few weeks later, and I’ll never forget that moment. You have taught me so much, and your incredible support means everything to me. Our author-agent relationship is magic. Thank you for all that you do.
Thank you to Chelsea Eberly, my first editor at Random House. Once we spoke on the phone, I was convinced you would be my greatest cheerleader and would care for my project with the utmost respect. I’m so grateful we were able to see the project all the way through the copyedit. I wish you the best in your new journey. I feel incredibly blessed to have worked with you. Your insight, thoughtfulness, and support have been amazing with this delicate and important subject. You left me in incredible hands with my current editor, Caroline Abbey, who has been just as lovely and supportive. Caroline continues to protect my voice and ensure that my story stays true to its intent. What an honor.
To every single person at Random House Children’s and the entire Random House team that helped make this book possible: special thank-yous to Barbara Bakowski, Anne Heausler, Alison Kolani, and Jules Kelly. Ray Shappell, for your amazing design detail that made the book perfection. The marketing team, designers, school and library team, digital and social media, you are all just incredible. Kathy Dunn, my wonderful publicist, who has worked tirelessly to connect me and my book to readers.
To Chuck Styles for the amazing cover. I feel so blessed that my love of art has also found itself in a cover from a true Black artist. May you continue to shine.
Thank you to those who were es
sential to my writing journey for This Is My America, as far back to when it was called Just Mercy. I’m forever thankful for Raechelle Garrett, Jennifer Dugan, Janae Marks, Cass Newbould, Sarah Darer Littman, Ely Azure, Gail de la Cruz-Villanueva, Rena Baron, Ronni Davis, Maura Jortner, Judi Lauren, Bethany Morrow, Kim Rogers, Jen Ung, and Matt de la Peña.
Thank you to the many people who shared various experiences with law enforcement, the legal system, incarceration, and the death penalty in the United States. Thank you for opening up your world to me and trusting me. In addition, I am especially grateful to the police officers who actively work to break down implicit and explicit bias and systems of oppression in their policing. Officer Beverly Ridges’s character and the evolution of the characters Officer Clyde and Sheriff Brighton represent the varying changes in policing that can build bridges of justice if people actively work to transform it. A special thank-you to Samson Asiyanbi, trial attorney and former fellow with the Equal Justice Initiative. You gave me incredible context on exoneration work and research to follow up. Any inaccuracies are mine and not a reflection of the expertise or opinions of those interviewed.
I began writing in 2011, at thirty-two years old. I’d never thought of myself as a writer. I had terrible grammar (okay, still have). I want to thank the following people who at some point helped me grow as a writer—I am a better writer for their efforts. Thank you to Lindsey Alexander, Rachel Solomon, Suja Sukumar, Kiki Nguyen, Wade White, Laura VP, Aften Brooks Szymanski, PCC Crew, Jenny Chou, Cindy Rodriguez, Kara Taylor. And to my Willamette Writers/SCBWI Oregon family, who made me feel welcome in a space where there were only a couple of Black attendees each year: Fonda Lee (we pitched together years ago, and you were my first real-life writer friend), Christine Mitchell (one day I will write a script! You are a joy!), Joanna Bartlett (my roomie), Jennie Komp (write that book, it needs to be told), Cindy Swanson, and Heather Penn. And to the recent years’ WilWrite conference planners, who have made the effort to bring diverse speakers to Oregon. It matters and I appreciate it.
To the sponsors of all the writing contests I was successful at and those I wasn’t: I gained something through all of it. To all the people who create communities through social media: You make it a better place. Especially Brenda Drake, Kellye Garrett, and Beth Phelan.
To my first online writing and publishing communities: PCC for life, Write Pack, and the #Roaring20sdebutgroup. To all those who made voice and space for my book to even exist, such as the diversity kidlit groups, We Need Diverse Books, and Justina Ireland for Write in the Margins. Thank you.
To the people who tried to crush my dreams: You didn’t. I’m ten times stronger now.
To the Sigma Delta chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.: As your graduate advisor, I hope you learn from me as much as I learn from you. To Zeta Sigma Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.: You continue to fill my tank of sisterhood and inspiration. Every day you hold your heads up and aspire to the highest standard. Be supreme in service to ALL mankind.
To all the Black student leaders I’ve been blessed to support and learn from, past and present: Your sacrifice to be an activist and leader will teach you lessons that will take you far in life, personally and professionally. You don’t sit back and watch, you move for change. Shout-out to BSU, BWA, BMA, BSTF, and whatever iteration of groups you turn into; keep trying to work together.
To Doneka, my bestie/boss: Thank you for pushing and supporting me. We don’t have easy positions, but you always have my back and make sure to tell me to “WRITE, so we can get up outta here.” I wouldn’t be able to manage writing, family, service, and work if I didn’t have people in my life like you who make it okay to do this.
Thank you to my readers.
If I forgot you, please charge it to my head and not my heart.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
KIM JOHNSON held leadership positions in social justice organizations as a teen. She’s now a college administrator who maintains civic engagement throughout the community while also mentoring Black student activists and leaders. This Is My America is her debut novel. It explores racial injustice against innocent Black men who are criminally sentenced and the families left behind to pick up the pieces. She holds degrees from the University of Oregon and the University of Maryland, College Park. Kim lives her best life in Oregon with her husband and two kids.
KCJOHNSONWRITES.COM
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