Imagine how confused, frustrated, and angry you would feel if your father had been in jail for more than seven years when you knew he was innocent. At the conclusion of a case based on rumors and speculation, with a stunning lack of evidence, Tracy’s father was sentenced to death row for a double homicide he didn’t commit. And with less than a year until his pending execution, Tracy was starting to feel desperate. Because her family didn’t have the money to hire a high powered attorney, she put all her hopes into getting the attention of an organization called Innocence X. She wrote them letters every single week begging them to take on her father’s case, but it seemed her letters must have been getting lost in the maelstrom of letters coming from other families with the same hope. And then, something even worse happened… Her brother, Jamal, is suddenly accused of the murder of a white girl. Instead of continuing his running career at college the following year, Jamal suddenly finds himself running from the law and running for his life. Will Tracy’s tenacity pay off now that she is trying to help her brother, or will she discover that it’s impossible to find true justice if you are black and living in a racist Texas town?
I have said it before, and I will say it again. #BlackLivesMatter. Right now, we are seeing a huge surge in protests over violence and systemic racism against black people. I am so happy to see that white allies in all 50 states and in many nations around the world are stepping up and fighting alongside our black brothers and sisters to bring much needed reform to our so-called criminal justice system. There are a lot of lists of books and movies that are recommended for people who would like to better grasp the reality of American history and to understand the ways that the proliferation of systemic racism is still effecting black people today, and there is no doubt in my mind that this book will join them after it is released next month.
Happy Reading!
Librarina 