Pushing Hope: An Illustrated Memoir of Survival

(Hardback)

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One of the Central Park Five reflects on his wrongful conviction-and tireless fight for his 2002 exoneration-in this moving young adult illustrated memoir. Raymond Santana's story is an example to teens of the power of hope and resilience-and the importance of fighting injustice to stand up for what's right. "This is what justice looks like. We are told we live in an age of few if any heroes, but Raymond Santana is a real genuine hero. His story is one of unbelievable courage in the face of rampant injustice and impressive resilience as he maintains his dignity and in the face of obstacles that would destroy many of us. Bravo!" -Ken Burns, filmmaker One of the Central Park Five reflects on his wrongful conviction-and tireless fight for his 2002 exoneration-in this moving young adult illustrated memoir. Raymond Santana's story is an example to teens of the power of hope and resilience-and the importance of fighting injustice to stand up for what's right. When Raymond Santana was just 14, he was accused of a crime he didn't commit. The 1989 rape of a jogger in Central Park was pinned on Santana and four other young teens, a tragedy that would change their lives forever. In this powerful illustrated memoir, Raymond Santana takes readers on a journey from his move to Harlem, to his arrest and trial, and from his time in prison to his ongoing fight for justice. Exonerated in 2002, Santana has made it his mission to fight wrongful convictions and injustice. What has sustained him and given him the strength for that fight, is his creativity-art and fashion have always been a refuge and a source of hope. Teaming up with celebrated artist Keith Henry Brown, Raymond Santana shows in vivid color how one can survive by pushing a message of hope.

Reviews

"This account by one of the Exonerated Five is an inspiring story of one mans fight against institutional racism... It shows the ways racial profiling, entrenched within American society, has life-altering consequences for people of color (Santanas father came from Puerto Rico, and his mother was Afro-Latina). The text is succinct and punchy, printed in large, bold, colorful type. Browns dynamic art, which often covers wordless two-page spreads, transports readers to 1980s Harlem (shown as a place filled with art and music), through gut-wrenching prison scenes, and into Santanas rocky transition to a new life as a fashion designer and activist. Despite the suffering he endured as a boy and young man, the books overall tone is one of optimism. A searing critique of the justice system with a narrative arc that turns despair into hope."Kirkus Reviews

Thoroughly moving and inspiring. The Conscious Kid

This is what justice looks like. We are told we live in an age of few if any heroes, but Raymond Santana is a real genuine hero. His story is one of unbelievable courage in the face of rampant injustice and impressive resilience as he maintains his dignity and in the face of obstacles that would destroy many of us. Bravo! Ken Burns, filmmaker

As [Raymond Santana] finds his way in a new neighborhood and new school with a totally new vibe, his art helps him adjust... He takes the reader through the Central Park jogger case and the injustices that were heaped upon him and his fellow co-defendants. He keeps his story rooted in his art. How the events in his life affected that art and how his art ultimately saved him... The art is bold and powerful and just as full of joy and hope as the words themselves. Carroll County Library, Maryland

Author Bio

Raymond Santana is an author, designer, and activist. He currently travels around the country telling his story of hope and overcoming obstacles as he continues to fight against the inequities of the American justice system. Santana also owns the clothing company Park Madison NYC (ParkMadisonNYC.com), named after his hometown of New York. He currently lives in Harlem and is running for a New York City Council seat representing District 8. Keith Henry Brown began his artistic career in comics, went on to pursue painting, and later became creative director for Jazz at Lincoln Center. He has illustrated many award-winning children's books and album covers for prominent jazz musicians as well as created posters for Jazz Appreciation Month for the Museum of American History. The father of two sons, he lives in Brooklyn, New York.