There is something to be said when one of my favorite authors steps outside of his detective series (Easy Rawlins and Leonid McGill) to present a thought-provoking novel that stirs one’s intellectual and moral code. John Woman is such a novel. I was intrigued by the title and couldn’t wait to follow the transformation of the main character Cornelius Jones (aka CC), the teenage son of an Italian-American woman and a self-educated older black man from Mississippi. Up until his father’s death, CC took over his father’s job as a projectionist at the Arbuckle theater, a New York City landmark, to pay the bills and keep food on the table. But one night when he was confronted by Chapman Lorraine, the theatre owner, he lost it and committed the heinous act of murder. Fast forward many years later and CC has become John Woman, a history professor pushing the boundaries of his students and pulling from his father’s philosophical teachings in his class: INTRODUCTION TO DECONSTRUCTION...
Hello and welcome! I’m Deliah Lawrence—an award-winning author, blogger, and workshop facilitator. Vocal Expressions is a curated literary space where storytelling, creativity, and conversation come together. Here, I spotlight authors, share insights from my writing journey, and celebrate the books, ideas, and creative moments that inspire us. Whether you’re a reader, writer, or fellow creative, you’re in the right place.