A provocative debut in the BLACK Novel Series asks a bold question: What if you discovered that the American Civil War never ended, it just started being waged on different fronts?
Nationwide — Award-recognized author J. A. Faulkerson announces the release of his latest novel, BLACK: The Bear on Our Backs, the first installment in the ambitious BLACK Novel Series. Blending political suspense, speculative fiction, social commentary, and visionary entrepreneurship, the novel challenges readers to reconsider America’s past while imagining a radically different future.
At the heart of the story is Jason Black, an elite American sprinter preparing to compete for Olympic gold in the 100-meter dash at the 2016 Rio Summer Olympic Games. His pursuit of athletic greatness is abruptly interrupted when he is forced to defend himself against an armed white security guard during a late-night encounter that quickly becomes a national flashpoint.
While awaiting trial at the Black-owned Sojourner Vista Resort and Conference Center, Jason experiences a transformative realization. Rather than allowing his case to become another chapter in America’s cycle of racial conflict, he envisions a movement that reconstructs Black labor today for the jobs of tomorrow by mobilizing the collective resources of Black athletes, entrepreneurs, innovators, and intellectuals.
Standing in opposition is Malcolm Stillwell, a powerful 76-year-old Manhattan businessman whose presidential ambitions conceal a far more dangerous agenda. As Stillwell manipulates public outrage surrounding Jason’s case, readers uncover the existence of a shadowy organization determined to infiltrate American institutions and resurrect the ideals of the Confederate South from within the nation’s political system.
More than a political thriller, BLACK: The Bear on Our Backs explores enduring questions surrounding race, economic power, leadership, innovation, and national identity. Through compelling characters and high-stakes storytelling, Faulkerson presents a vision that challenges readers not only to confront history but to imagine practical solutions for building a more equitable future.
“BLACK: The Bear on Our Backs isn’t simply a novel about racial conflict,” says Faulkerson. “It’s about ownership, innovation, and the power of communities to write a new future. The central question isn’t whether history still affects us—it’s whether we have the courage to become authors of the next chapter.”
Known for combining compelling storytelling with thought-provoking social themes, J. A. Faulkerson has authored works spanning fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and screenwriting. His previous novel, Adinkrahene: Fear of a Black Planet, earned recognition as a finalist for the Phillis Wheatley Book Award for First Fiction. Through the BLACK Novel Series, Faulkerson continues his exploration of leadership, community empowerment, entrepreneurship, and the enduring struggle for justice.
BLACK: The Bear on Our Backs is the first book in a planned series that combines fast-paced suspense with visionary ideas about economic empowerment, technological innovation, and the future of America. It is available for online purchase through Amazon. Retailers can purchase it through IngramSpark.
About the Author
J. A. Faulkerson is a Northern Virginia-based author, poet, and screenwriter whose work explores leadership, entrepreneurship, social justice, and the transformative power of community. His books include Adinkrahene: Fear of a Black Planet, Real Men Raise CHAMPIONS: Unleashing Your Inner COACH, Young Achiever Playbook: Planning to Achieve, and the poetry collections The Wise Man Say and March of the Compassionate Neighbor. His stories challenge readers to think beyond conventional narratives while envisioning innovative pathways toward a stronger, more inclusive future.
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