When My Body Was a Clinched Fist

American Scapegoat is a hauntingly candid collection of poems that confronts America's troubled relationship with its own history. At its core lies a damning indictment of the fraudulent narrative that Black individuals are a threat to be protected against— an insidious myth deeply ingrained within the fabric of American society. Through a series of poignant verses, the book traces the journey of a young Black immigrant boy who survives the trials of his youth only to discover that the world remains a perilous place for him. The poems delve into the complexities of a democracy in turmoil, grappling with systemic injustices deeply entrenched within the nation's political and socioeconomic systems. As the protagonist navigates the landscape of contemporary America, he is acutely aware of the precariousness of his existence as a Black man, compounded by the responsibility of raising two young sons in a world fraught with danger and uncertainty.