My America

By T.M Jefferson

In the world of urban fiction, there has never been a book as polarizing and thought-provoking as "My America."

 

Martin Jones' life was marred by violence from when he left the hospital as a newborn. As he grew older, his

• Language: English
• Publisher: TMJ BOOKS
• Release date: Jun 28, 2023
• ISBN: 9781088206591

T.M Jefferson

TM Jefferson is a American writer and founder of TMJ Books, an independent publisher of fiction and non-fiction. He is a Amazon Bestselling author of nine titles and 2-time nominee for independent publisher of the year. To date, he has sold more than 400,000 books, including digital and physical formats.TM contrives a vividly, detailed canvas out of words that literally spring off the pages. Descriptive scenes, clever plot formation and intoxicating story lines are sure to keep the reader enthralled. Some of his favorite's are Donald Goines, Chester Himes and James Patterson. TM currently resides in Georgia with his wife and son.

Book preview

PROLOGUE

(1955)

The air was thick with anticipation as the night sky swelled with darkness, a velvet curtain of obscurity that seemed to draw the crowd ever closer. The throng of 300 onlookers were restless, their impatience apparent as they waited for the show to begin. The giant dawn redwood tree loomed above them like a sentinel, its gnarled bark a silent witness to the gathering. The grumble of the expectant crowd grew louder as they swarmed around the massive trunk, eager for what was to come.

The flickering flames of the burning logs illuminated the faces of the people standing around the tree, casting eerie shadows that danced across the forest floor. Smoke spiraled upward, tendrils of gray that mingled with the warm night air. The scent of burning wood filled their nostrils, the crackling of the logs the only sound to be heard above the expectant murmurs of the crowd. It was a moment of anticipation, of waiting for something magical to happen.

As the night wore on, the crowd’s excitement grew, a fever pitch of energy that seemed to surge through the air. The giant dawn redwood tree remained silent, a towering behemoth that seemed to watch over them all. And yet, despite the darkness and the unknown, there was a sense of comfort in being surrounded by so many people, all eager to witness something extraordinary. The wait was long, but it was worth it - for what they were about to witness was nothing short of spectacular.

Hey, Casey, you ready for the show? a young, pale faced Timothy asked as he chewed on a piece of hay straw.

Casey smiled and looked up at the tree, and then at the crowd around her. I sure am. Do you know what happened?

Timothy pulled the hay straw from his mouth and spit in the dirt. Got ourselves another nigger. There’s gon’ be a hangin’ tonight!

Casey glanced at the tree again, this time, she noticed the chain with a noose at the end of it, hanging from a thick branch. She smiled at Timothy again, and then disappeared into the swarm of eager eyes in search of her mother. Casey was only ten years old. This was her first hanging.

As the night air settled heavily around them, a mob of twenty emerged from the shadows, their white sheets and cone-top head-wear obscuring their identities. The scene was surreal, like something out of a horror movie, but this was no film set. The mob chanted, their voices ringing out like a sinister chorus, White power! White power! As they dragged a naked brown body through the dirt and leaves, the crowd of 300 joined in on the chant, their voices a cacophony of hate and bigotry. The darkness only seemed to amplify their vitriol, the moon a witness to their evil deeds.

As the words White power! White power! rang through the air, they seemed to awaken a beast within young Timothy. At fifteen years old, he had already become numb to the horrors of lynchings. They had become a twisted sort of entertainment, a show put on for the delight of the crowd.

For Timothy, the thrill of seeing a black man hanging from a tree was an addiction that he couldn’t shake. He longed for the rush of adrenaline as the condemned man struggled for air, his life ebbing away with each passing second. It was a feeling he couldn’t replicate anywhere else, a dark and twisted pleasure that he couldn’t resist.

And so, with each chant, Timothy's excitement grew. The anticipation of the next hanging was almost too much to bear. He could feel the blood pumping through his veins, the thrill of the crowd around him. The thought of another black man losing his life at the hands of their hate was almost too much to bear, but he couldn’t turn away. He was addicted to the spectacle, and nothing could stop him from getting his fix.

The screaming crowd parted and let the white sheets through. They spit, kicked, punched and poked at the naked black man that was bound with rope by his hands and feet as he was displayed for all to see.

In the small town of Axis, Alabama, Raymond ‘Big Ray’ Jones was a man on a mission. He was determined to provide for his family, no matter the cost. At 26 years old, he had a wife and two children to look after, and he would stop at nothing to ensure they had everything they needed. But life wasn’t easy for a black man in those days. Despite his best efforts, Raymond had a checkered past, with a history of getting into fights and dabbling in drugs. He’d even been expelled from high school for his behavior. But Raymond was a survivor, and he wasn’t about to let his past define him.

After completing Job Corps, Raymond found himself adrift, unsure of what to do with his life. It wasn’t until he landed a job at the local steel mill that things began to look up for him. For the past two years, he’d been working hard to make a living, even though it wasn’t the kind of work he’d always dreamed of. But Raymond was a practical man, and he knew that he had to put his family’s needs before his own desires.

Despite the obstacles he’d faced, Raymond remained optimistic. He was determined to make the most of his situation and build a better future for his family. He loved his wife and children more than anything in the world, and he knew that he had to be strong for them. No matter what challenges lay ahead, Raymond was ready to face them head-on.

The day had started just like any other for Raymond ‘Big Ray’ Jones. He had risen from his bed at 4:30 a.m., the moon still high in the sky, just to get ready for the day ahead. He didn’t mind the early start. It gave him a chance to get a jump start on life, to prepare for whatever the day had in store. He wolfed down his breakfast, a mix of eggs, bacon, and toast, before heading to his makeshift gym in the garage. There, he lifted weights and did sit-ups, sweat pouring down his face. It was his morning ritual, and it made him feel alive.

After a quick shower, he kissed his wife and children goodbye, his daughter Rene giggling as she waved goodbye from the front porch. He took the bus to his workplace, a steel mill twenty miles from his home. For the past two years, he had worked there, punching in and out like clockwork. But that day, something was different. As he stood in line, waiting to clock out and head home, a co-worker approached him. The man’s face was twisted into a cruel smile, and Raymond could feel his heart pounding in his chest. He knew something was about to happen, something that could change his life forever.

Hey, he tapped Raymond’s shoulder, diverting his attention. Your name, Ray Jones? he asked.

Yeah, Raymond nodded.

A few guys out front say they wanna talk to you.

Raymond’s heart was racing as he stared at the stranger in front of him. His mind was in a frenzy, trying to figure out what this man could possibly want with him. He had seen him around the steel mill, but they had never spoken a word to each other. Raymond’s gut instinct told him that something wasn’t right.

They want me? Raymond repeated, his voice shaking with uncertainty.

The man nodded, his eyes fixed on Raymond. Yeah, they want to talk to you, he said, his words dripping with malice.

Raymond’s heart was pounding in his chest as he tried to make sense of what was happening. Why did they want to talk to him? And why did this man look so angry?

As Raymond stepped out into the sweltering Alabama sun, he was hit with a blast of heat that nearly knocked him off his feet. He quickly unbuttoned his shirt, trying to catch a breath of air, but his eyes were drawn to the group of four white people leaning against a pickup truck. The way they glared at him made his heart race with unease; he didn’t recognize them, and he had no idea what they wanted.

For a moment, they all stood there, silently sizing each other up. The tension hung the air, like a thick, heavy fog that lingered between them. Raymond felt his stomach twist into knots as he wondered what was about to happen.

Raymond stopped about ten feet from where the truck was parked. Hey, what’s going on? he questioned. One of the white guys leaned over and whispered something in the woman’s ear; she nodded as if she agreed with what he said. He took a step forward, closing the space between himself and Raymond. He was a lanky young man, about six feet tall, no more than 180 pounds, maybe Raymond’s age or younger. He and his partners were dressed in overalls; all the same color, with dirty work boots. The woman had on a pair of blue jeans and a tight-fitting, off-white t-shirt. Her hair fell past her frail shoulders. She stood there, watching, sucking on a cigarette. The white guy took another step toward Raymond and was directly in front of him.

Young lady back there says you touched her, he paused, looked back at the woman and then turned back to Raymond. Inappropriately…

Raymond half smiled. He was confused. He glanced over the man’s shoulder at the woman. They instantly locked eyes but she turned her head. He had never seen her before. I’m sorry, he said, you must have me confused with someone else.

The white guy clenched his jaw and tightened his fist, and without warning, he buckled Raymond with a swift blow to his abdomen. Don’t lie to me, nigger!

Raymond absorbed the blow and fell to his knees, clutching his stomach.

Missy, the white woman, nervously inhaled the toxic smoke from her cigarette and looked on.

Aye, Missy… this the nigger who touched you?

Yep, that’s him. Missy’s heart was pounding, and her thoughts were racing. She couldn’t believe what was happening right in front of her. She had been violated by a white man, and here she was, pointing the finger at an innocent black man. She knew it was wrong, but she also knew that she couldn’t go against Billy and his gang. They were dangerous, and she was scared for her life.

As she stood there, trying to gather her thoughts, Billy leaned in and whispered something in her ear. She nodded, even though she didn’t understand what he was saying. She watched as the black man was dragged away, his eyes pleading for mercy.

Missy took a deep breath and tried to push the guilt and shame down. She knew she had made a terrible mistake, but she also knew that she couldn’t go back on her word now. She took one last drag of her cigarette and tossed it out the window.

Billy’s snicker turned into a sinister grin as he made a move to attack Raymond. But little did he know, Raymond was quick on his feet, and in one swift motion, he caught Billy’s leg and sent him flying to the ground. Raymond tried to make a run for it, but the third white guy had other plans. With a cold, calculated move, he retrieved his revolver from his waistline and aimed it directly at Raymond. Without hesitation, a shot went off. The sound echoed through the deserted street as the bullet pierced through Raymond’s left calf, shattering his bones and sending him tumbling to the pavement. Pain shot through his body like lightning, and he couldn’t help but scream out in agony, grabbing at his bloody wound. As he lay there, defenseless, he felt his life slipping away from him. Beads of sweat covered his forehead, and he began to see his life flash before his eyes. He couldn’t die like this. Not now. Not when he had a family to take care of.

As Raymond lay there, writhing in agony, the trio of white men stood over him, their faces twisted into cruel sneers. The metallic tang of blood hung heavy in the air, mixed with the acrid stench of gunpowder. Raymond clutched at his bleeding legs, but it was no use. The pain was too much, too overwhelming. He could feel his life slipping away, inch by agonizing inch.

The third man raised his pistol once again, a cold glint in his eye. Raymond knew what was coming next. He braced himself for the inevitable, but the gunshot still sent shockwaves of pain through his body. The bullet tore through his other calf, shattering bone and tissue. The men laughed as Raymond screamed for help, tears streaming down his face.

It was a nightmare, a twisted, surreal horror show. Raymond couldn’t believe this was happening to him. Why? What had he done to deserve this? He thought of his family,