Colson Whitehead: 'The truth of things, not the facts'

By Andrew Purcell
Updated May 25 2017 - 9:43am, first published May 20 2017 - 1:22am

In his late twenties, Colson Whitehead had a fugitive slave advert pinned over his desk: "Run away from this subscriber for the second time are TWO NEGROES ??? Both speak tolerable plain English and may insist on being called Cuffee and Khasa respectively. Whoever shall deliver the said goods to the gaoler in Baton Rouge, or to the Sugar House in the parish, shall receive all reasonable charges plus a genteel reward besides what the law allows."

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