The title of your new book is We Alive, Beloved. What’s so important about We?

We have a very “I”-focused society and I just want us to get back to understanding that if we don’t do this thing called life-as-a-village, we’re going to fail. We were not meant to be alone. That is not the experience of humans or of any living creature. Everything has to be connected in order to live to its fullest potential.

One recurring image in your new volume that struck a chord with me was The Black Hole. Can you explain?

I love the idea of the cosmos. As a kid, I loved researching and reading about string theory and about black holes, whose gravity has the strongest pull of anything in the known universe. But what if love and honouring relationships was actually stronger than that pull?

The black hole left by my father’s death was supposed to be a gravity that would destroy me. But all the love that my uncles and my mother and my grandmother and my friends and my professors and my coaches poured into me was a power stronger than the gravity of a black hole.

Your bestseller was called The Black Friend: On Being A Better White Person. Have you noticed any white friends trying to be better? 

I’ve certainly had countless white friends, especially from my youth — high school and junior high and college — who read the book, and they’re like, “Oh my God, I hope this isn’t about me. I’m sorry, and, just so you know, I’m trying to be better and I apologise for anything I’ve potentially done.”

It became a bestseller because it wasn’t another survey book, like, say, The History of Racism, or something like that. Black Friend drills down to experiential moments. And I think white people love that. They’re like, “Oh, cool. Great. So I just will not do that anymore. Thanks for letting me know.” You know, like as opposed to having to conceptualise. So, education in America is largely racist. Got it. OK. Duly noted. Thanks.

Biden’s out. Kamala’s in. Will she defeat Trump and the Maga element?

I very much do want her to defeat Donald Trump. But on the other hand, she has been a disappointing force — not just, in terms of race or anything like that, but in terms of humanity, quite frankly. Separating children from their families, crossing the border as refugees; or, not wanting police to wear body cams after Trayvon Martin and other such incidents. That’s a failure of humanity and moral degradation. 

So, I’m hoping she understands she has to be more to win this election. Has to appeal to people who do look at her record and political legacy. Appeal to people she’s disenchanted. But win or lose, I think the face-off between Trump and Harris is going to cause a racial chasm in this country. I think, in terms of racial tension, we haven’t seen anything yet.

We Alive, Beloved is published by Row House.