I’d like to thank my wife, Aprielle Wills, and my aunt Maria Hewlett Gittens, who have supported me and gotten me through what proved to be a challenging researching and writing process. I’d also like to thank Maria and my mother for their help with our family history, which became part of this book.
I’d like to thank my mentors Samuel Freedman and Howard French. This book was conceived in Samuel Freedman’s book seminar at Columbia Journalism School, and Sam has seen me all the way through to the publication. Thank you, Sam, for believing in me as a writer and having my back through this entire process. I’d like to thank Howard for being there for me, championing me at every phase, pushing me to be a better reporter and storyteller, and advocating to our wonderful agent, Gloria Loomis, that she sign me and represent this book. Speaking of, I’d like to thank Gloria and Julia Masnik of Watkins-Loomis, who worked with me patiently to find the right publisher for Black Fortunes. Gloria and Julia, you’ve always had my back, and I really appreciate you. Here’s to many more books! I want to thank Tracy Sherrod, Amistad, and HarperCollins for believing in me and believing in this book, and for giving me the opportunity of a lifetime to write these stories.
I’d also like to thank Columbia University for all its support in writing this book. I’d like to shout-out my classmates, especially the members of my books seminar, who workshopped an early version of Black Fortunes. I also take this space to remember Kim Wall, our classmate who died this year while reporting. I’d also like to thank the Linton family, whose fellowship helped make this book possible.
I’d like to thank the Chatham-Kent Black Historical Society for helping me with my research on Mary Ellen Pleasant and the Chatham Vigilance Committee. I’d like to acknowledge all the other researchers who have worked to unearth these hidden figures. I’d also like to thank the University of Memphis for access to its wonderful online archives. And I’d like to thank the San Francisco Public Library archives for giving me access to the Mary Ellen Pleasant archive.
I want to thank my daughter, Zora, for always keeping me hopeful and motivated and giving me a reason to smile every day. I’d like to thank my friends, who have been there for me through this process: John and Brenda Strickland, Brett Shere, Anthony Walker, Magogodi Makhene, James Clarke, Eddie and Teak Senior, Alice Sutcliffe and Russell Clinton, Paula Marcet, Tony Speranza, Jonathan Lindsay, and Bergen Cooper. I’d like to thank my in-laws, Duck, Jim, Rain, and Alanna. I’d like to thank my former colleagues Jeffrey Toobin and Caleb Silver from CNN for having my back even after I left, and for all their help with this book. I’d also like to thank Jelani Cobb and Harry Belafonte for taking an interest in me and helping me along the way where they could.
I’d like to thank my father, Reginald Wills, for introducing me to black history and always underscoring its importance. I’d like to thank my sister, Nayo Wills, for her encouragement, and my brother. I’d like to acknowledge my mother, Pamela Hewlett Wills, who passed on to me her writerly sensibilities and championed me more times than I can count. Thank you.