In Mixtape, you share your experiences growing up as a mixed-race Black boy in Virginia, surviving abuse, battling confusion and loneliness, and overcoming the odds to find personal freedom. Why was this an important book for you to write?

You can’t move forward if you’re haunted by the past. Going back and exploring these stories (Sankofa) was necessary to my survival and healing. Furthermore, I believe our stories can have a ripple effect of healing when shared. I hope my story resonates with readers and makes them feel less alone. And as a father, I feel proud knowing my daughter will get to read this someday to see the work I did to create a better life for her than I had.

What role did music play in helping you process or remember different moments in your life?

I think musically. If I were filming the movie of my life, I’d be most concerned about the soundtrack. Music complements, drives, and speaks with and through my storytelling. Songs evoke memories and assure me I’ll never run out of things to write about.

How did your understanding of your parents and family change as you grew older?

I didn’t buy the lie that “We did the best we could.” They didn’t, and it shows. This is magnified by the reality that I’m a parent, and I’m successful at it by primarily doing the opposite of what my parents did. Parenting is a big responsibility. Our kids didn’t ask to be here. It is the parent’s job to be the best they can be so that their kids can thrive.

What conversations do you hope your book inspires in your readers?

I hope they recognize the need for reciprocity in relationships and that they leave feeling loved, liked, and/or understood.

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