The Sound of Melanin (formerly known as The Unpopular Truth) was originally published in 2000 and asked the question which begged to be answered: If I speak the unpopular truth, does that make me a liar? In his first book of poetry, Kirk Nugent brilliantly examines social, political and relationship issues with a critical eye. He addresses the Bill Clinton/Monica Lewinsky scandal; he ponders how humane we would be if we ever landed on Mars and met little green Martians. Did Thomas Jefferson actually have a 'love affair' with his slave Sally Hemmings, or was he just a regular ole' rapist? Where exactly is the physical location of heaven? How does unhealed childhood trauma surface to sabotage adult relationships? These are just a few of the questions that The Unpopular Truth originally tackled.The Sound of Melanin has been updated to include poems such as, Too Big to Hate, Gangsters R US and You Deserve Better. This volume is a brilliant and timeless examination of the complexities and contradictions that make us human.