T. Geronimo Johnson on Atlanta, White Supremacy, and The Occidental Book of the Dead

T.

Geronimo Johnson is an award-winning fiction writer who discusses his new novel, The Occidental Book of the Dead, in an interview with co-hosts V.V.

Ganeshananthan and Whitney Terrell.

The book explores themes of white supremacy and systemic racism in the United States through the perspective of George Washington Jonson, a Black police officer in a fictionalized version of Atlanta.

Johnson explains that the novel incorporates structures inspired by ancient texts like The Egyptian Book of the Dead, The Consolation of Philosophy by Boethius, and Augustine’s Confessions.

The story also includes unconventional elements such as episode credits and a fake copyright page, blending literary traditions with modern narrative techniques.

The novel’s title and themes reflect Johnson’s effort to confront America’s racist history while reimagining its mythological foundations.