Description
This book began as a quiet act of survival, a way to process the weight of unspoken pain, the kind that lives both in the heart and the body. Unable to voice the emotional and physical toll of his own struggles, John Manneh turned inward and found himself tracing the life of a woman he barely understood: his mother.
After her passing in May 2022, grief opened a door that could not be ignored. What started as an attempt to make sense of his mother’s absence became something far deeper, a journey into the complexities of addiction, mental health, and the silent inheritance of unresolved trauma. As Manneh sifts through memories and stories, he discovers how his mother’s life shaped his own in ways he had never fully recognized.
This is not just her story. It is a story about what we inherit, carry, and must confront to heal. Through the lens of a son searching for answers, these pages explore the ripple effects of a life marked by hardship—the ways pain can echo across generations, touching not only family but everyone in its path. Yet within that pain lies something else: understanding, compassion, and the possibility of breaking the cycle.
Beyond Poverty and the Witch Hunt is an invitation to look closer, feel deeper, and uncover that even in the darkest narratives, there is meaning to be found—and perhaps, a transformative path forward.
About the Author: John Manneh was born and raised in The Gambia. In 2010, he completed a two-year program in Architectural Draftsmanship from the Gambia Technical Institute and worked in the construction industry. He moved to the United States in 2014 and has been working with the Regional Transportation District in Denver, Colorado. John enjoys spending time with his wife, children, and relatives. He loves football (soccer), going to the gym, watching movies and shows, and taking walks while listening to music.
