Author Description

In paying particular attention to an African- American point of view, "Who Am I?" traces aspects of one man's experience while taking into account the types of challenges modern life sometimes includes. I use a narrative style-of-consciousness technique in an effort to mirror a range of emotions. From a relatively early age, elements such as addiction, violence, and family separation seemed to define my vision of the world. In one instance I describe an exchange of gunfire that leaves "no survivors" on the opposing side. An encounter with Michelle, whose father owns a restaurant on the beach where she works, inspires various questions, especially, "What does she really want with a thug like me?" Her influence seems to inspire a new outlook, but change appears to be a process that might take some time. "Who Am I" takes a generally candid look at modern relationships, investigating the extent to which a person might be willing to go toward achieving a sense of identity or finding love. Unfolding as a series of incidents accompanied by comment's on qualities relating to identity, courage, and equality. My contribution is designed to entertain as well as to provoke thought.