Black Buck(122)

A couple of people in the literary community who helped me out when I truly had no idea what I was doing, whether through meeting up, sharing information, or just giving me kind words of encouragement: Jess Mowry, Danya Kukafka, Viet Thanh Nguyen, Kris Jansma, and Arvin Ahmadi. Morgan Jerkins, too, who gave me my first opportunity to have an essay published, which set off many more. Same to Joe Keohane, from Medium, who extended help when he didn’t need to. And shout out to Corinne Segal, from LitHub, with whom I published many of my favorite essays.

Also, Jake Dunlap, from Skaled, for helping me to avoid being a starving artist as I wrote this book—thank you, man. Startup consulting was a godsend. Thank you to Tanya Fadlallah and Rahman Berrada who double-checked my Arabic. Shukran jazeelan! And to Thomas Mailey, from the now thankfully closed down Lincoln Correctional Facility, who answered some of my questions. As well as to Sally Wofford-Girand, who is working to sell Black Buck overseas as I type this—thank you, Sally!

This is roll credits, man. If you’re still reading, I love you. I do. I want to extend the highest gratitude to some of my biggest inspirations, many of whom are no longer alive: Nina Simone, Malcolm X, Gordon Parks, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Fred Hampton, Frederick Douglass, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Richard Pryor, Maya Angelou, Dave Chappelle, Oprah Winfrey, Nat Turner. I would look at your photos every day before writing Black Buck. Thank you for the lives you led, and lead (talking to you, Ms. Winfrey and Mr. Chappelle).

Some know that I would watch two to three hours of music videos and movie trailers every day before writing Black Buck, and while I can’t list all of the artists whose videos I watched, a few that stick out: Nipsey Hussle (RIP, King), Boogie, Buddy, Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, Aminé, Jessie Reyez, Joey Bada$$, Teyana Taylor, Kanye West, Tai Cheeba, Chance the Rapper, Towkio, Kid Cudi, Dave, Stormzy, KOTA the Friend, Sinéad Harnett, ScHoolboy Q, Childish Gambino, Tyler, the Creator, Jay Rock, Kyle, Russ, Drake, YBN Cordae, Megan Thee Stallion, Nas, Wu-Tang Clan, Capital STEEZ, Radamiz, Snoh Aalegra, Dot Demo, Anderson .Paak, Meek Mill, Pusha T, Black Thought, slowthai, Vince Staples, Big Sean, Mac Miller, Duckwrth, The Game, Mereba, and ODIE.

Man, this could go on forever. I didn’t even touch on composers, TV shows, films, or other writers (go read some John A. Williams, Toni Morrison, Chester Himes, Iceberg Slim, Percival Everett, Paul Beatty, Colson Whitehead, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Nafissa Thompson-Spires, Brit Bennett, and Mitchell S. Jackson, though). I just wanted to pay homage to only a small number of the people who helped me write this book. I was alone in a room, you know. No coach over my shoulder saying, “Write that shit, son! Yeah, yeah, keep going!” So these people and their incredible artistry, as well as my brothers, parents, and close friends, were my coaches. But a writer writes alone—no one is going to put your fingers to the keys or pen and guide them for you, unless you believe in otherworldly guidance, which I often do. Point is, you need to draw inspiration in any way possible, and above are some of my mine.

Shout out to a few teachers from Bellport High School who saw me as a human and not a burden, and who built me and others up instead of tearing us down: Mr. Boes, Mrs. Budd, and Mrs. Bavosa.

That’s it. The next book I publish won’t be anything like this one, and I hope you still support. But in case I don’t see you, “good afternoon, good evening, and good night!”