Ticket to Exile

Growing up in Depression-era South Carolina, African-American writer, poet and teacher Miller ""knew that white people could, if they wished, do anything to black people for any reason."" This eloquent, melancholy memoir puts the truth to that sentiment, beginning with Miller's imprisonment, at age 19, for passing a friendly note to a white girl. Facing charges of attempted rape, Miller tells his life story in flashback, hoping to find what ""had brought me to this point."" Mired in poverty but blessed with hope-in the form of education, religion and each other-Miller's family moved often, putting him in 13 different homes by the time he was 19. Each chapter opens with an original poem-worthy of their own volume-before performing a skillful act of time-travel: Miller's memories are so vibrant that he could be describing incidents from last month, despite the fact that he's not told anyone about his episode behind bars for 57 years. Complete in its portrait of a struggling Southern family and undeniably powerful in its portrayal of racial injustice, Miller captures a time and a place with resonance, honesty and wisdom.