Dear People

Dear People is a deeply personal memoir that captures the bittersweet transition from adolescence to adulthood against the backdrop of some of the most turbulent years in recent American history. Kenneth Nwanze takes readers through the highs of graduation, summer nights with friends, and the comfort of pop culture escapes, while also confronting the heartbreak of political disillusionment, the struggle for self-preservation, and the heavy weight of mental health battles.
Through 26 honest, unflinching chapters, Nwanze reflects on what it means to come of age as a young Black man in a country wrestling with its past and present. Blending moments of joy, grief, music, and resilience, Dear People is both a testimony of survival and a declaration of hope. At its heart, it's a story about learning to protect your peace, honor your truth, and keep moving forward-even when the world feels unbearably heavy.
Raw, vulnerable, and inspiring, this memoir reminds us that while the fight for progress may take time, the power of self-love, community, and resilience will always carry us through.