New Books in American Studies Trymaine Lee, "A Thousand Ways to Die: The True Cost of Violence on Black Life in America" (St. Martins, 2025)
Dec 26, 2025
Trymaine Lee, an Emmy and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and MSNBC contributor, shares powerful insights from his book, 'A Thousand Ways to Die.' He discusses the profound impact of gun violence on Black life in America, shaped by his personal experiences and family history. Lee reflects on the emotional burden of storytelling, the complexities of balancing family privacy with public truths, and the deep connections between historical injustices and contemporary issues. He emphasizes the need for systemic understanding over individual blame, celebrating the resilience of Black communities.
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Writing As Catharsis And Risk
- Trymaine Lee describes writing the book as cathartic and a way to name and shape the psychic burden of witnessing Black death.
- He says public storytelling can free people but also risks exposure to a hostile white gaze that misreads those truths.
Let Truth, Not Sensation, Guide Detail
- Lee uses a simple test: include material if it serves the story and truth, not for sensation or stereotype.
- He resists tailoring scenes to appease prejudiced perceptions and prioritizes accurate, granular depiction.
A Historical Train Ride Through Guns
- Lee frames the book as a train ride through geography and time, stopping to introduce people and places that shaped Black life.
- He emphasizes guns' dual role: instruments of oppression and tools Black people sometimes used for defense and liberation.