Winner of the Los Angeles Times Book Prize
“Affecting and absorbing.”—Publishers Weekly
“A moving story of growing up on both sides of the nation’s racial thicket… A powerful tale of a young man’s struggle on the cusp of the nation’s racial conflicts and confusions.”—Booklist
“A triumph of storytelling as well as a triumph of spirit.”—Alex Kotlowitz, award-winning author of There Are No Children Here
“Heartbreaking and uplifting… a searing book about race and prejudice in America… brims with insights that only someone who has lived on both sides of the racial divide could gain.”—Cleveland Plain Dealer
Friends of American Writers Book Award WINNER
Los Angeles Times Book Prize WINNER
Melcher Book Award WINNER
Acknowledgments
Chapter 1 The Open House Cafe
Chapter 2 The Midas Touch
Chapter 3 “Captain of My Soul”
Chapter 4 Rooster
Chapter 5 Learning How to Be Niggers
Chapter 6 Bob and Weave
Chapter 7 “Saved”
Chapter 8 Hustling
Chapter 9 Politics and Race
Chapter 10 The Color Line
Chapter 11 Accept the Things I Cannot Change
Chapter 12 Choices
Chapter 13 Go for It!
Chapter 14 Big Shoulders
Chapter 15 Persistence
Chapter 16 Teammates
Chapter 17 “Born in the Wilderness and Suckled by a Boar”
Chapter 18 State of Indiana v. Gregory H. Williams
Chapter 19 Mike: Like a Moth to Flames
Chapter 20 Tottering Kingdoms and Crumbling Empires
Chapter 21 Your Truly Mother
