My story is probably not like yours. I'm a Black boy from the Midwest. I've never been kissed. I'm desperately in love with two women: Aretha and Whitney. I struggle with a mild form of social anxiety. I sing to myself almost everywhere I go. I'm an ex-chitlins (with hot sauce and ketchup) lover. I've been called an Oreo. I've been stopped by the police while walking home. I'm the descendant of slaves, and a Harvard graduate. Though our stories may not be the same, the universal themes explored in this poignant and personal literary collection-love, identity, hope, social justice, and coming of age-bond us together. Timestamp: Musings of an Introverted Black Boy is many things: It's one Black boy's journey through college and into adulthood. It's a compilation of intimate musings, short and long. It's an anthology of reflections linked to distinct moments in time. It's a series of meditations on life, love, and the lack thereof. It's not simply a "Black" book, or even a "millennial" one. It's a human book. I wrote it for everyone-and that includes you.
