Time Is Neutral

Memorial in Little Village where Melissa Ortega was shot and killed. Photo by Paul Beaty — Chicago photojournalist

I have for many years been of the strong opinion that writing from a place of anger is foolhardy. The fear is that the anger would cloud how I articulate my thoughts and structure my sentences. The fear is that the reader would liken me to a madman versus an intellectual committed to the forward progress of this country. The fear is that critics will celebrate that they’re right and the bootless man will remain bootless while still being told to pull himself…