Synopsis

In September 1969, Cuffy Lambkin, a 71-year-old church deacon known for his love of alcohol (particularly a home-brewed concoction called King Kong), does something completely out of character: he walks up to Deems Clemens, a nineteen-year-old drug dealer, and shoots him at point-blank range in broad daylight. This impulsive act sets off a chain reaction that ripples through the Cause Houses, a Brooklyn housing project where African American and Latinx families have built a tight-knit community. Deacon King Kong follows the aftermath of this shooting through the eyes of multiple characters, including Sportcoat himself, who claims he doesn't remember the incident; Sister Gee, a church elder trying to hold the community together; Bunch Moon, a local gangster; and various residents whose lives become entangled in the chaos. McBride weaves together themes of gentrification, addiction, faith, and community resilience while exploring how one moment of violence can reveal the deep connections and hidden histories that bind people together. The novel celebrates the power of community while honestly confronting the challenges facing urban neighborhoods in the late 1960s, including poverty, drugs, and the loss of young people to both crime and the Vietnam War. Through humor, warmth, and profound empathy, McBride creates a portrait of people trying to survive and maintain dignity in difficult circumstances.