Bass Lab heads to the Writer’s Guild to hear Stacey Abrams’ latest book talk
by John Kwesi Broadway & Taylor Marie ContarinoGrowing up, Stacey Abrams’ family had three rules: go to church, go to school, and take care of one another.
On April 4th, Bass Lab Fellows were in attendance at the WGA Theater in Beverly Hills as former Georgia state representative Stacey Abrams joined actor Dulé Hill for a discussion about her most recent novel, a political thriller titled Rogue Justice. Amidst talking about the novel, Abrams also shared about her background growing up while also offering the attendees insight into how she’s become such a multi-faceted and accomplished woman.
Dulé Hill and Stacey Abrams pose for photos before starting the interview
Rogue Justice is a story about a Black woman named Avery Keene, a Supreme Court clerk who goes on a mission to uncover the truth about the murder of her boss, a federal judge. As Avery digs deeper into the case surrounding his death, she uncovers a frightening pattern of corruption within the judicial system.
Abrams is typically known for her political stardom. However, before Abrams was ever a politician she was a storyteller, writing her first book at the age of 12. Above all, Abrams is someone who’s never allowed people to put her in a box. When asked by people why she doesn’t pick a lane, she responds: “I have, it’s called a highway. I want people to know they can have whatever freeway of life they want.”
Abrams shared with the audience that as a child her mother told her not to be a jack of all trades and master of none. She took that as meaning she should master everything. That mentality fueled her to become her high school valedictorian, receive a law degree from Yale, and embark on successful endeavors as a lawyer, politician, CEO (Sage Works), co-founder (Nourish, Now), and writer of children’s, romance, and thriller novels.
Rogue Justice is Abrams’ the newest addition to the Avery Keene story
Amidst her dizzying array of endeavors, Abrams has always stayed grounded in the roots laid by her parents. Abrams is self-described as growing up genteel poor, the daughter of Robert and Carolyn Abrams. While she experienced poverty she also experienced a wealth of guidance from her parents: go to church, go to school, and take care of one another. The “taking care of one another” manifested in a commitment to social justice, something her dad was unequivocally committed to as he was arrested for the act of signing Black people up to vote. As a politician, Abrams built on her father’s social justice legacy when she led a groundbreaking voter rights campaign in Georgia in 2018.
Her commitment to social justice doesn’t stop with her work as a politician or co-founder of the voting rights non-profit Fair Fight Action. She brings this into her work as a storyteller as well. During her discussion with Dulé Hill, she expressed that she utilizes her background as a lawyer to write complex legal scenes, and her intention with books like Rogue Justice is to encourage people to learn about government processes so they won't be bogged down and discouraged in their fight for justice.
Abrams is not one to get bogged down or discouraged even after losing a fight. She described her first of two gubernatorial losses to Georgia governor Brian Kemp in this way: “In 2018 I applied for a job. I didn’t get it.” to which the audience responded with laughter. As the night wound down, the Q&A session opened up, and when asked what keeps her going, she endorsed a philosophy of focusing only on what she can control, which is effort rather than outcome.
Dulé Hill conducts a lively discussion of Stacey Abrams’ new work
Bass Lab Fellow Sahil Takar had the opportunity to ask a question, inquiring whether she would run for president to save America from “Ron Desanctimoninous” or other less-than-ideal candidates. “I’ll run for President of United Earth. Everything else is up for consideration.” Abrams said, referencing her cameo in the Season 4 finale of Star Trek: Discovery.
The audience erupted in applause.
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