My American Life

Dive into a timely memoir that follows the life and career of a White man in America who spent his life in proximity to, and immersed within, Black and Brown communities. What starts as a Hip-Hop fueled decision to expand his existing world would lead to an underground rap career, a lifetime of political activism and education, and a group of Black families that would claim him as theirs. Adrian Vaughan-Scott's narrative explores a life and lens made infinitely better and clearer because of exposure to diversity. This is a story of how simple choices radically altered projected outcomes for a young White man's life in a pre-Obama America. Along the way, he learns to challenge everything he's been exposed to, and to listen to a series of Black mentors and Black big brothers that help steer him away from reactionary violence toward a path of empathy and action. Equally, he also learns a great deal about building bridges; finding ways to constructively engage family members, friends, and colleagues to ask difficult questions and make uncomfortable choices. Most importantly, this is a story about family that doesn't share blood, how those bonds were formed, and how very American that experience is. This is a race-conscious, culturally responsive memoir intended for an adult audience who may want to explore corners of America they were previously unfamiliar with, or who has struggled finding the language to engage in difficult conversations pertaining to race.