Support My Debut Novel on the Black Experience

About Me

My name is Spike Adams. I am a retired county court judge. Born in 1945, I grew up in a small, black community. A railroad track literally separated the black community from the white. I was never told, but it was understood that you did not cross over the tracks into the white community. Segregation was the law of the land.

One day, my father told me a horrible story about how white men had tortured a black man. It was a story shared to keep me safe. In 1955, in Jet Magazine, I saw the disfigured body of Emmett Till. This was the reality my father was trying to tell me. His truth became my truth. Black skin can cost you your life.

About the Book

I have written a story with strong, interesting characters, a fast paced plot, and challenging social issues that will take you into a world that you may already know, but will most certainly provide a nuanced perspective about how the ideology of white supremacy impacts America.

In the novel, an incident of bullying wildly spirals into a cycle of revenge and

racial hatred, reviving an old rivalry between a white prosecutor and a black

defense attorney. Of particular concern is a sexual assault charge, suspected by

the attorney to be fabricated by the victim’s father, a cop.

At the center of the maelstrom is Mathew “L’il Bits” Carver, a teenager, who is

determined to do whatever he can to help his closest friend who has been jailed.

L’il Bits is an extraordinary young man blessed with spiritual gifts who threatens

to upend the criminal conspiracy.

Reminiscent of themes in The Hate U Give, Native Son, and The World Between

You and Me, you will find that The Fourth Cross is a raw and gripping read. The

novel contains spiritual elements that adds an intriguing and hopeful dimension

to the plot.

Funding

I have set up this GoFundMe to help cover the costs of self-publishing this book.

Admittedly, the genesis of The Fourth Cross is black trauma. The horrific image

of Emmett Till has never left me. Writing The Fourth Cross is almost an

“exorcism”- a way for me to let people understand the impact of racism in

America and the anguish, loss, and pain suffered by black people as a result of

it.

This GoFundMe would cover the following costs:

The most rewarding experience has been to receive positive feedback from

individuals who have read and enjoyed the manuscript. For example, Diane

Donovan, a book editor and reviewer of 30 years wrote:

“...powerfully written and a solid examination of prejudice, racism, and racial

relations in America, and the social and psychological dynamics of the legal

system”

“ ...an excellent story of prejudice and adversity in America”

To anyone who feels inclined to support this book, you have my profound

gratitude. I have put my all into The Fourth Cross-- my experience defending the

underprivileged, the racial experience I’ve experienced myself, and the years I’ve

spent researching institutional, systemic, and cultural racism. Any donation helps

and is deeply appreciated.