Dear Augustine,

Thank you for allowing me to share my sincere thoughts on this masterpiece. I deeply appreciate the vulnerability you displayed in this book, baring your emotions and experiences—both as a child and now as an adult. You’re absolutely right: society often raises men to suppress their emotions. I am so proud of the man you’ve become, especially considering where you were born and raised.

Jane and Finch—a place often synonymous with negativity—reminds me of Nima in Ghana, where similar challenges persist. Your story is proof that it’s possible to overcome such environments. I can’t help but wonder—has your friend Joseph become a doctor yet? His mother truly deserves to smile and feel proud.

Your accounts of witnessing chaos, friends and family being incarcerated, and losing loved ones to gun violence were gut-wrenching. I can only imagine how much those experiences shaped you. I am certain that visiting Don Jail to see your cousin played a pivotal role in your decision to choose a different path. (And you’re right—orange jumpsuits wouldn’t have suited you anyway! Laughs).

One part of the book that truly resonated with me was when your immediate family couldn’t make it to your high school graduation and how deeply that hurt you. It’s powerful to hear a man acknowledge the importance of such moments, especially in a society where men often act like they don’t need validation or support. That hit home for me because my family didn’t show up for my college graduation either. It was a pain I carried into adulthood. In fact, last month, as I prepared for another graduation, I felt that same

-YOU READER-

AJ🫶🏼.