As I prepare for my talk at the historical society, I’m reminded of how Twice Over a Man isn’t just my personal story. It’s also about the places, people, and policies that shaped me. From East St. Louis—my birthplace and its backdrop of the riot, the Exodus, and economic decline—to North St. Louis City and its neighborhoods, my life has always been tied to history. I’m grateful I had the foresight to write my story within the broader historical context of society.