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Back This Is My America Save as PDF
Chapters (58)
  1. Cover
  2. Dedication
  3. READY. SET. GO.
  4. WHAT HAD HAPPENED
  5. THE APPLE OF OUR EYE
  6. MISSION
  7. THE ODD COUPLE
  8. FLESH AND BLOOD
  9. THE FAST AND
  10. RIGHT TO REMAIN SILENT
  11. GUILTY…UNTIL
  12. POLICE STATE
  13. FAMILY MATTERS
  14. PAST IS ALWAYS PRESENT
  15. GOTCHA!
  16. LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON
  17. RUBY BRIDGES BRAVE
  18. VIGILANTES GET ISH DONE
  19. DON’T FREEZE
  20. BABY GOT BACK BURNERS
  21. SNITCHES GET STITCHES
  22. EACH ONE TEACH ONE
  23. WELL, I’LL BE DAMNED
  24. OUTLAWZ
  25. FUNNY THING
  26. TRUTH SERUM
  27. AT A CROSSROADS
  28. NO DISRESPECT
  29. RECEIPTS
  30. PLUS-ONE
  31. CRASH AND BURN
  32. WE GOT A SITUATION
  33. IF IT WALKS LIKE
  34. GUESS WHO’S COMING
  35. AMERIKKKA
  36. UNTHINKABLE
  37. TAKING CHANCES
  38. ONE DAY AT A TIME
  39. EAGLE HAS LANDED
  40. LET THE SAINTS SAY AMEN
  41. WILL WE EVER BE
  42. SECRETS DON’T STAY
  43. SKELETON IN THE CLOSET
  44. KILL TWO BIRDS
  45. I AIN’T NEVER SCARED
  46. PILLAR OF SALT
  47. COMING HOME
  48. ALL OUT OF OPTIONS
  49. IT GETS WORSE
  50. RELIEF AND PAIN
  51. THE TRUTH SHALL
  52. X FACTOR
  53. TWO MONTHS LATER
  54. Author’s Note
  55. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
  56. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
  57. ABOUT THE AUTHOR
  58. What’s next onyour reading list?

I used to plan the letters out more, writing pages and pages on why Innocence X needed to help Daddy, but time is running out. The climate’s changed with a new governor who’s stricter on sentences, filling up for-profit prisons with minor convictions. Increased visibility of racial injustice in policing adds more pressure for Innocence X to respond to cases hitting the media. My fear is they’ll forget the old cases—unplug the chance for those, letting the clock wind down. Because I know the truth is, no one’s excited to look into a seven-year-old case. Attention spans are reserved for big stories and hashtags following the next news cycle.

Innocence X knows who I am, and now it’s the principle of writing. There’s nothing I’ve been able to control about what happened to Daddy. I’m broke. Can’t vote. Can’t afford a lawyer. But I’ve got control of my voice and my mind, and that means I can do at least one thing: write a letter.

Saturday, May 1

Stephen Jones, Esq.

Innocence X Headquarters

1111 Justice Road

Birmingham, Alabama 35005

Re: Death Penalty—Intake Department

Dear Mr. Jones,

Congratulations on the Donovan case out in California. I’ve been watching it progress this last year. Every time I see good news, I think you might be ready to take on our case, but then you don’t. Will you do it this time? Everyone in my family has given up. They want me to accept that my daddy will be killed in less than nine months.

My friend Tasha got her dad back, but she acts like he’s still locked up. When he’s around her, she acts like he’s got the plague or something. Is it like that for any of the families you work with, or is it different for the ones not innocent? Seems to me it’s harder to adjust to life when you’re innocent. Because you think you’re losing your mind trying to prove the truth. But when you’re guilty, you accept it. Not happy about it, but there’s time to learn. Rehabilitation. I tried to tell Tasha this, but she’s still holding on to being mad. I know it’s not fair to compare. I guess I’m just looking for answers.

Did you watch the Susan Touric interview of my brother, Jamal Beaumont? It aired today (on Saturday).

Please review James Beaumont’s application (#1756).

Thank you for your time.

Tracy Beaumont

MISSION

(UN)ACCOMPLISHED