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A Nation NamedAfter Me...

Yet Still Not Mine

A revelation by Gerard Matthews

MEET The Author

GERARD MATTHEWS

Follow Gerard Matthews

Follow Gerard:

Gerard A. Matthews is a Chicago-born musician, educator, and truth-teller whose work spans classrooms, concert halls, and community stages. A graduate of Livingstone College and longtime Chicago Public Schools music instructor, he has led bands, recorded with Billboard-charting artists, and directed the Soundmine Merchants Jazz/R&B big band since 2008.

More than credentials, Gerard carries the perspective of a man who has lived through struggle and resilience. His voice — forged in faith, history, and hard reality — speaks directly to America’s contradictions and dares audiences to confront them.

ABOUT THE BOOK

AMERICA SPELLS

I AM RACE

This book is not a collection of verses. It is an indictment. A record. A demand that America look in the mirror and stop lying about what it sees.

01. A Confrontation with History

From 1619 through Jim Crow, Civil Rights, and George Floyd, Gerard lays bare how racial oppression has been stitched into America’s foundation.

02. Exposing the Lie of Progres

America claims liberty and equality while repeatedly moving the goalposts. Gerard documents how systems of white supremacy reinvent themselves to keep power intact.

03. A Call to Accountability

This is not soft reflection. It is a demand that readers — especially those whose ancestors built the system — face the truth and decide what side of history they stand on.

SOUNDMINE MERCHANTS

— THE BAND

MUSIC THAT WON’T LET YOU LOOK AWAY

Gerard is also the leader of Soundmine Merchants, a big band collective that fuses jazz, R&B, and spoken truth. The music doesn’t entertain for entertainment’s sake. It carries the same urgency as his book: to provoke, awaken, and transform. Every performance is both groove and ground-shaking reckoning.

CONTACT ME

Want to invite Gerard Matthews to speak, perform, or collaborate? He brings poetry, music, and truth-telling to stages, classrooms, and community spaces. Fill out the form below for bookings and inquiries, or follow Gerard on social media to stay updated on new work and upcoming events.