T. Geronimo Johnson on Atlanta, White Supremacy

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.

The novel’s structure shifts from third-person narration to first-person perspective through George Washington Jonson’s voice, marked by a note advising against reading the text aloud. Johnson describes how this shift was not part of the original plan but emerged as a solution to a critical issue: the book initially felt haunted by racism without directly addressing it. The first-person perspective allowed Johnson to create a human consciousness that could process and convey the emotional weight of systemic oppression. Additionally, Johnson drew inspiration from medieval texts like The Consolation of Philosophy and Augustine’s Confessions to shape the book’s structure. The inclusion of faux documentary elements, such as episode credits and copyright pages, further blurs the line between fiction and non-fiction, reinforcing the novel’s themes of authenticity and historical reckoning.

Johnson reveals that the novel underwent significant changes during its creation. At one stage, it was over 1,000 pages long and spanned 400 years, tracing the interconnected family lines of Anthony and George Washington Jonson back to a plantation. The early draft included multiple trials that interrogated Founding Fathers and religious beliefs, framed within a legal framework. However, an early reader pointed out that the manuscript felt overwhelmed by atmospheric racism without processing it meaningfully. This feedback led Johnson to restructure the book, ultimately deciding that a first-person narrator was essential to ground the narrative in human experience. The final version reflects years of persistence, with Johnson describing the process as a mix of determination and unexpected breakthroughs that aligned the story with his original emotional goals.

Johnson emphasizes a deep sense of obligation to his ancestors, teachers, and the broader writing community as a driving force behind completing the novel. He frames his work as a response to the sacrifices made by those who came before him, particularly Black Americans and other marginalized groups whose struggles enabled his opportunity to write. Johnson’s determination is rooted in the belief that finishing the book is not just a personal endeavor but a responsibility to honor historical struggles and continue the conversation about systemic racism. This perspective is reflected in the novel’s exploration of white supremacy and its enduring impact on American society, as seen through the lens of George Washington Jonson’s experiences.