Help me identify this short story!

January 16, 2008 9:09 PM

Help me identify this short story! It is a story told from the perspective of an infant as he is free-falling through the garbage chute of a multi-level housing complex after being discarded by his teenage mother. The story is divided into nine parts, with each part signifying the baby's arrival at each floor until he finally reaches the trash compactor at the ground level.

The title itself is long. If I recall correctly, the author is African American.

If anyone can identify this story, I will be eternally grateful! I've Googled and Googled, but all to no avail.

posted by sansgras to writing & language (4 comments total)

Was it "Newborn Thrown in Trash and Dies" by John Edgar Wideman?
posted by bottlebrushtree at 1:11 AM on January 17

Here's a bit more about it, looks like it.
posted by bottlebrushtree at 1:13 AM on January 17 [1 favorite]

Wow. I will be looking that one up!
posted by fiercecupcake at 10:50 AM on January 17

That is the one. Thank you, bottlebrushtree!!
posted by sansgras at 1:42 PM on January 17