The author wrote an academic paper titled "They Shoot Black Intellectuals, Don't They," which he never submitted because it was beyond the scope of mainstream medical journals. The work reflects on what it means to be a black scholar. This scholar works in the wake of predecessors who spoke of the interconnectedness of black life, health, and the broader political order. However, these predecessors eventually fell victim to violence and erasure. The article is part of the perspectives under the title "In Search of Rest — Kerry James Marshall: A History".