There is a big claustrophobic world of subterranean stories by African American writers. Ralph Ellison’s titular Invisible Man creates a sub-basement retreat for himself, complete with light & power. In nonfiction, Grand Central Winter by Lee Stringer details a stretch of his city years spent precariously sleeping and storing his few possessions in a sort of shallow rafter at the top of a subway tunnel - I no longer own the book, so can’t offer more specifics, but Stringer goes into mesmerizing detail on how he managed to do this. I’m certain a curious reader will find more examples.
Disappearing when we want to and reappearing when we’re ready is another privilege people who aren’t poor or despised (or both) take for granted.
Richard Wright is the reason I became a writer AND have had a life long interest in racial issues. “Black Boy” devastated me as a 12 year old growing up in 1970s New Jersey.
There is a big claustrophobic world of subterranean stories by African American writers. Ralph Ellison’s titular Invisible Man creates a sub-basement retreat for himself, complete with light & power. In nonfiction, Grand Central Winter by Lee Stringer details a stretch of his city years spent precariously sleeping and storing his few possessions in a sort of shallow rafter at the top of a subway tunnel - I no longer own the book, so can’t offer more specifics, but Stringer goes into mesmerizing detail on how he managed to do this. I’m certain a curious reader will find more examples.
Disappearing when we want to and reappearing when we’re ready is another privilege people who aren’t poor or despised (or both) take for granted.
Richard Wright is the reason I became a writer AND have had a life long interest in racial issues. “Black Boy” devastated me as a 12 year old growing up in 1970s New Jersey.