The High Desert: Black. Punk. nowhere.
Author and artist James Spooner shares his story of discovering the punk scene as a Black teenager during the late 1980s in The High Desert: Black. Punk. Nowhere.
Spooner moved to a majority White area in California with his White mom (his dad was a Black bodybuilder who lived in Brooklyn) during his high school years. While trying to find where he fit in, skateboarding videos introduced him to punk music, “…the first time I found music that matched my emotions,” (24). The music led him to new friends, a new style and expression, and lent him a veneer of toughness to hide his deeper emotions behind. As the story progresses, James is exposed to the drug scene, white supremacy and Nazi skinheads. He also learns about the Black influence on punk music, intersectionality, and radical political activism.
During a crucial visit to his dad in Brooklyn during winter break, Spooner meets socially involved punks and discovers new bands through them. More importantly, he begins to understand that punk isn’t just about nonconformity and disdain towards authority. Punk is about questioning and disrupting potentially harmful norms, using one’s voice, and collaborating with others to seek social justice and foster inclusivity. “If punk rock was teaching me anything, it’s that us kids have power,” (344). This lesson was vital for the politically and socially focused adult Spooner would become.
The book first caught my eye because of the bold, expressive art. The grayscale illustrations with rich splashes of opaque black are dynamic and character-driven. Lyrics from songs by Black Flag, Minor Threat, Wasted Youth, and other bands populate the pages, with footnotes that include the song and band names. Flipping through and seeing the punk outfits, haircuts, and depictions of teenage life during that time period intrigued me enough to take on the 300+ page memoir. This is a graphic novel with art that tells the story as much as the text does.
This book is great for adult readers, but you don’t have to have any special interest in memoir, punk music, or activism to enjoy it. The universal themes of The High Desert and the wonderful art should appeal to any adult graphic novel enthusiast.
The High Desert: Black. Punk. Nowhere.
By James Spooner
Harper Collins, 2022
ISBN: 9780358659112
NFNT Age Recommendation: Adult (18+)
Creator Representation: Black
Character Representation: Black
