Still Black follows a seventeen-year-old Black boy with albinism who has his peaceful life destroyed by racism. This is an intriguing setup for a novel that is high in social commentary. What was your moral goal when writing this novel, and do you feel you’ve achieved it?

Morally, I aimed to remain respectful, honest, and it was also important for me to show multiple forms of perseverance. As someone who doesn’t have albinism, it was important for me to create a story that doesn’t make living as an albino a tragedy. Like Malachi (early in the story), many born with albinism have loving families, friends, social lives, etc. However, their lack of pigment doesn’t save them from racism, and I thought it was important to reflect that as well.

Additionally, while there are heavy themes throughout the book and unspeakable tragedies, showing how differently perseverance can look was important to this project. Moving on with one’s life following tragedy doesn’t always look strong to onlookers, but the ability to complete basic tasks following the unthinkable takes strength, and it was important to highlight that. I do believe I was able to achieve my moral goals.

Could you please elaborate on some of the themes you aimed to explore in your book? I’m curious to learn more about your perspective and the insights you gained through the writing process.

Like most of our lives, filled with complexities, I wanted this piece to be theme-heavy and unpredictable. A few major book themes include racism, injustice, survival, love, family, racial identity, and loss. As a woman and mother of color, unfortunately I have experienced racial discrimination, and sadly, so have my children. Because of our pigment, it’s not surprising to most when we share our Black experiences. That said, there are many African Americans living with albinism, and through a lot of research, I was able to learn just how difficult it can be to live amongst pigmented African Americans and Caucasians. That massive physical difference can feel isolating, and the research step of my writing process really highlighted how strong and beautiful these individuals are. I wanted to share their strengths, some daily struggles, but also reflect a reality I feel is often ignored. No person of color is exempt from racism, including those who lack pigment. 

What is one thing that you hope readers take away from Still Black?

I hope readers take away truth. While Malachi and his family are fictional characters, and his story has unique differences, injustices like this happen all the time. I hope people feel like these things happen much too often and become encouraged to embrace those with differences, speak out against injustices, practice acceptance, and put an end to racial thoughts because they never lead anywhere positive.

What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?

While I always have a book or five started, I’m mostly focused on learning the art of screenwriting. At this time, I’m determined to learn, so I have no projected release dates to share. 

Author Links: Twitter | Facebook | Website | Instagram