From the first slave writings to contemporary hip hop, the canon of African American literature offers a powerful counter-narrative to dominant notions of American culture, history and politics. Resonant with voices of prophecy and resistance, the African American literary tradition runs deep with emancipatory currents that have had an indelible impact on the United States and the world. Mumia Abu-Jamal has been one of our most important contributors to this canon for decades, writing from the confines of the U.S. prison system to give voice to those most silenced by chronic racism, impoverishment and injustice. ‘Writing on the Wall’ is a selection of 100 previously unpublished essays that crystalize Mumia Abu-Jamal’s essential perspectives on community, politics, power, social change and U.S. history. From discussions of Rosa Parks and Trayvon Martin, to John Walker Lindh and Edward Snowden, Abu-Jamal articulates lucid, humorous and often prescient insight into the past, present and future of American politics and society. Written as radio commentaries from his prison cell in Death Row, where he was held in solitary confinement for close to 30 years, Mumia’s revolutionary perspective brims with hope, encouragement and profound faith in the possibility of social change and redemption.