Two compelling literary works, You Are Only Innocent Once, and Once Is Not Enough and Unseen Scars, offer unflinching examinations of injustice, resilience, and the lasting impact of systemic inequality in America. Together, these books provide timely and deeply human narratives that resonate amid ongoing conversations about criminal justice reform, racial bias, and personal redemption.

You Are Only Innocent Once, and Once Is Not Enough chronicles the extraordinary journey of Martin Terrell, a former drug abuser and ex-felon who is wrongfully convicted and sentenced to six to twenty-five years in prison for a crime he did not commit. His protestations of innocence are dismissed due to his past, forcing him to confront injustice in isolation. Rather than surrender to the cycle of recidivism, Terrell makes a defining choice: to rewrite his life through education.

While incarcerated at the Chillicothe Correctional Institution, Terrell enrolls in a college program offered by Ohio University. Against the odds, he graduates summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in just five years. Upon release, he receives an unprecedented graduate scholarship to the prestigious Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University. The book follows his continued ascent—from coauthoring a textbook as a master’s student to leadership roles at Ohio University, Florida State University, the United Negro College Fund, and ultimately serving as vice president and campaign manager for development at Stony Brook University in New York.

Set against a backdrop of civil unrest and growing scrutiny of the criminal justice system, the book stands as a powerful testament to the transformative power of education and the possibility of redemption, particularly for those unfairly targeted because of race and prior records.

Complementing this narrative of perseverance is Unseen Scars, a poignant and evocative collection that explores emotional and psychological wounds left by urban prejudice, racism, and generational trauma. Rather than offering easy resolutions, Unseen Scars confronts readers with unresolved tensions, clashing emotions, and truths that are often ignored. The collection balances moments of warmth—such as the comforting “Old Words” of Martin’s sister—with stark portrayals of despair, including reflections on Black lives lost to systemic violence, described as “stillborn sons destined for the Walking Dead.”

Despite its gravity, Unseen Scars also weaves in sharp humor and irony, using wit to expose the absurdity of racial stereotypes and long-standing social contradictions. Through wounds and jests alike, the collection paints a raw, honest portrait of why urban prejudice has endured so comfortably alongside American life.

Together, You Are Only Innocent Once, and Once Is Not Enough and Unseen Scars offer readers both a roadmap for overcoming injustice and a mirror reflecting the emotional cost of inequality. These works are essential reading for those seeking deeper understanding, empathy, and hope amid calls for meaningful social and penal reform.

Martin Terrell’s Interview Premieres on the Global Book Network with Paul Ryden!

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