There are a lot of things in the book that have been challenging. Likewise, writing the book and fighting against cancel culture has been challenging as well. However, Avery Severson—who wrote the afterword—certainly faced challenges that few of us could imagine.
So-called peaceful protests…
Avery was there when BLM protesters were outside our house and Minnesota representative-elect John Thompson spoke to the crowd. Well, maybe it’s better to say that Thompson was screaming at the crowd, particularly the “white people” in the neighborhood, including Avery.
Just to be clear, Minnesota state representative-elect John Thompson yelled “white racist mother f—ers” directly at Avery and her friends.
See for yourself…
A race-based hoax…
As if that wasn’t bad enough, Avery was later targeted in a race-based hoax at her high-school. In April, 2021, another student at her school shared hateful racist remarks on social media and claimed that Avery wrote them.
Students and teachers held protests and a walk-out.
Avery was investigated by the school, local law enforcement authorities, and even the FBI.
It was later discovered to be a hoax.
The student who actually sent the hoax messages was never identified.
However, Avery was publicly ridiculed, doxxed, and cancelled in the court of public opinion. Worst of all, she said that she “didn’t feel safe” in her own community.
None of her accusers ever apologized to Avery—and still haven’t in the past two years since. And none of the media outlets that were so eager to publicize the story did nothing to help clear her name or reputation—or make any substantial corrections on her behalf. Even though the city tried to explain the hoax, as reported in a Newsweek article, the damage had already been done.
So, in many ways, I’m honored and humbled that Avery agreed to write the afterword for my book. But at the same time, I wish it wasn’t necessary for her to tell that chapter of her own life story.