My debut novel, TAUGHT, is an anti-hero story about a young Black man and his former teacher, a middle-aged White man, who embark on an unexpected road trip into rural America to confront racism, education, and the pathway to healing.
What does the novel’s back cover blurb say?
A disastrous school year bears down on JB, a White high school teacher. Life feels even less promising for his former student Malik, a young Black man at the center of a viral police brutality video. After gunfire tears through their unexpected reunion, the men escape Washington, DC and embark on a road trip into Appalachia where small town encounters expose a divided country and something they still have in common – a past they’re running from. When a tragic incident reveals cycles of systemic racism, only what the men find in their search for the truth will determine if despair or hope is left on the American roadside.
Why did I write TAUGHT?
Writing TAUGHT started as an exercise to better understand the antiracist journey and the microaggressions of racism – two topics I continually study as an educator. For me, this type of learning is messy and patriotic. TAUGHT grew into a story about education in an American city and the resilience and courage of students and teachers in the age of President Trump and social justice unrest. My goal is the book will serve as a springboard to authentic dialogue about education, racism, and healing in classrooms and beyond.
The novel will be released in January 2026 and widely available in print and ebook, and I’ll share pre-ordering and book launch information in the Fall. In the meantime, please sign up below to receive updates. Thank you.