Colson Whitehead

He reads Life magazine every week and sees the updates on the boycotts and protests and sit-ins and sees himself as a part of this new generation that's going to change America, you know, bit by bit.

He reads Life magazine every week and sees the updates on the boycotts and protests and sit-ins and sees himself as a part of this new generation that's going to change America, you know, bit by bit.

He reads Life magazine every week and sees the updates on the boycotts and protests and sit-ins and sees himself as a part of this new generation that's going to change America, you know, bit by bit.

The book opens in the 50s. The main action is in 63. And so he's actually lived in an era where things actually are moving slowly, slowly forward. He hitches a ride with the wrong person. It's a stolen car and gets sent to nickel. And for me, it's a way in for my experience. I've been stopped by police for no reason. I've been handcuffed and interrogated.

The book opens in the 50s. The main action is in 63. And so he's actually lived in an era where things actually are moving slowly, slowly forward. He hitches a ride with the wrong person. It's a stolen car and gets sent to nickel. And for me, it's a way in for my experience. I've been stopped by police for no reason. I've been handcuffed and interrogated.

The book opens in the 50s. The main action is in 63. And so he's actually lived in an era where things actually are moving slowly, slowly forward. He hitches a ride with the wrong person. It's a stolen car and gets sent to nickel. And for me, it's a way in for my experience. I've been stopped by police for no reason. I've been handcuffed and interrogated.

I think most young people of color have been stopped by police in this way. And he makes a wrong turn and he's in the wrong place at the wrong time. And I think for many people, for many people of color, we can relate to suddenly having your life being able to change at any second.

I think most young people of color have been stopped by police in this way. And he makes a wrong turn and he's in the wrong place at the wrong time. And I think for many people, for many people of color, we can relate to suddenly having your life being able to change at any second.

I think most young people of color have been stopped by police in this way. And he makes a wrong turn and he's in the wrong place at the wrong time. And I think for many people, for many people of color, we can relate to suddenly having your life being able to change at any second.

I was a junior in high school and I was with some friends. We were in a supermarket and suddenly there was a white cop saying – Put your hands behind you. He put handcuffs on me, took me out to the street, to his squad car where there was a white woman in the backseat. She'd been mugged. And I guess I was the first black person, black teenager they came across. And luckily she died.

I was a junior in high school and I was with some friends. We were in a supermarket and suddenly there was a white cop saying – Put your hands behind you. He put handcuffs on me, took me out to the street, to his squad car where there was a white woman in the backseat. She'd been mugged. And I guess I was the first black person, black teenager they came across. And luckily she died.

I was a junior in high school and I was with some friends. We were in a supermarket and suddenly there was a white cop saying – Put your hands behind you. He put handcuffs on me, took me out to the street, to his squad car where there was a white woman in the backseat. She'd been mugged. And I guess I was the first black person, black teenager they came across. And luckily she died.

said that I was not the person who mugged her. And I happened to just be minding my own business. And like many young people of color, if I had shifted the wrong way, reached for my wallet the wrong way, who knows what could have happened. And so that informs my idea of being in the world and how any second things can go awry. And I know I'm not alone.

said that I was not the person who mugged her. And I happened to just be minding my own business. And like many young people of color, if I had shifted the wrong way, reached for my wallet the wrong way, who knows what could have happened. And so that informs my idea of being in the world and how any second things can go awry. And I know I'm not alone.

said that I was not the person who mugged her. And I happened to just be minding my own business. And like many young people of color, if I had shifted the wrong way, reached for my wallet the wrong way, who knows what could have happened. And so that informs my idea of being in the world and how any second things can go awry. And I know I'm not alone.

in understanding that sort of menacing reality is always waiting there.

in understanding that sort of menacing reality is always waiting there.

in understanding that sort of menacing reality is always waiting there.

Misidentified. And if she hadn't been in the backseat, would I have spent the night in the tombs, the local New York jail? And once I'm there, who knows whether my life goes this way or that way. So that opportunity for tragedy is always there, I think, when it comes – for people – between people of color and white law enforcement and that's sort of our reality.

Misidentified. And if she hadn't been in the backseat, would I have spent the night in the tombs, the local New York jail? And once I'm there, who knows whether my life goes this way or that way. So that opportunity for tragedy is always there, I think, when it comes – for people – between people of color and white law enforcement and that's sort of our reality.