Themes

Criminal behavior and mental health challenges  

In Make It Right, author Willie Mae Jackson draws on her expertise as a forensic psychiatrist to   examine the complexities of the human mind and provide psychological insights into criminal behavior. Jackson grew up on the West Side of Chicago, an area known for its economic challenges and high rates of addiction. Her background influenced the novel’s protagonist, Donovan Montgomery, whose journey advocates for mental health awareness in African-American communities.

Systemic racism in the American justice system 

Make It Right by Willie Mae Jackson addresses contemporary social issues, focusing on systemic racism and inequality in the American justice system. The novel is set in modern-day Chicago and follows Donovan Montgomery, an African American attorney, as she confronts racial disparities. Jackson portrays the disproportionate barriers faced by African Americans and minorities in legal and socio-economic contexts. The persistence of systemic racism emerges through the narrative, showing how economic and political frameworks maintain racial injustice. Donovan's courtroom scenes depict his battle against these inequities, representing a broader societal struggle. Jackson contributes to discussions on justice reform and equity, prompting consideration of societal changes needed for equality.

Quick facts

• Make It Right is the debut novel of Willie Mae Jackson.

• The author is a forensic psychiatrist, similar to her novel's protagonist, Donovan Montgomery.

• Make It Right combines suspense, legal drama, and crime thriller elements.

• Protagonist Donovan Montgomery is Chicago's top forensic psychiatrist, harboring a terrifying personal secret.

• Make It Right delves into themes of racial tension, neo-Nazi political movements, and violence in Chicago.

• The novel appeals particularly to fans of true crime and courtroom dramas.

• Donovan Montgomery's character was inspired by strong figures like Pam Grier and acquaintances of the author.

• Make It Right has been compared to works by Walter Mosley and Kathy Reichs.

• Dr. Jackson aims to reflect societal issues impacting Chicago, such as social injustice and mental health.

• Make It Right is intended to be part of a trilogy, with follow-up novels currently in progress.

• Dr. Jackson actively promotes mental health awareness and access, especially in underserved communities.

• The novel and its author share a focus on achieving justice and addressing mental health within Chicago society.

About the author

Willie Mae Jackson is a forensic psychiatrist based in Chicago. Her work focuses on improving mental health access and addressing stigma in underserved communities. She is regularly called on by criminal prosecutors to assess defendants' mental competency in court. In her debut novel Make It Right, Dr. Jackson draws on her understanding of both psychiatry and the law to illuminate the connections among mental illness, criminal behavior, and inequities in the justice system.

Jackson was raised in a single-parent household on Chicago's West Side. Her decision to pursue a career in psychiatry was influenced by her mentors as well as her family. She earned a master's degree in Clinical Psychology from Roosevelt University and completed a forensic psychiatry fellowship at Northwestern’s Feinberg School of Medicine.