Book Review: Silenced-But-Determined by Synnachia McQueen Jr.
by ReadersMagnet | August 25, 2025 | Uncategorized | 0 Comments
Despite all the best interests and calls for reform, many cracks remain in America’s justice system. And for Synnachia McQueen Jr., these problems have cost him over 20 years of his life. It is why he was determined to publish the details of his ordeal in his own book titled Silenced-But-Determined.
In just the first few chapters, the book already proves itself to be an intriguing read for anyone researching the thousands of wrongfully convicted men of color like McQueen. In this review, we’ll be going over just some of its highlights, the things that helped see McQueen through imprisonment, and what he intends to do next after his book’s publication.
From the emotional impact of false accusations to the hard work of teaching himself more about law while in prison, McQueen painstakingly describes his journey. And through it all, his account demonstrates the psychological toll of being silenced by the very institutions meant to uphold justice.
Growing Up Rough (But Not THAT Rough)
In the earliest chapters, McQueen openly admits to many of the things that would make him a suspect to the usual profilers. He was raised by friends of his father (though he only found out when he turned 14). He was then moved around the foster care wards of Houston, Texas.
And as he reached young adulthood, he was definitely living a rather free-wheeling life, having to support many children through past relationships.
Despite this, however, he was also doing quite well for himself. Both his childhood and his early life in foster care weren’t impoverished. He was a hard worker in every job he took on to make an income. He lived relatively free of debt and was still able to save up while handling all his other obligations.
Tragically, none of that was enough to prevent the shadow of systemic racism that denied his pleas of innocence when he was presented with false charges and incarcerated.
McQueen goes to great lengths compiling evidence of mistrial and wrongful conviction in this one book. He describes the suspicious ways the Houston Police Department tagged the evidence of his supposed crime. He also offers his testimony about being denied DNA testing to prove his innocence.
Adding to the injustice was the fact that McQueen was pushed into a bench trial without fully understanding the implications. He was denied the right to a jury of his peers, and his court-appointed attorney failed to challenge glaring issues in the prosecution’s case.
There were inconsistencies in witness accounts as well as procedural misconduct during police lineups. (One incident even involved detectives deliberately exploiting his inability to afford an attorney to wrongfully implicate him.)
Despite it all, McQueen was determined to spend his sentence fighting to clear his name. The book then goes on to describe his efforts to teach himself law, what finally got him out, and how he endured the toll it all took on his mind, body, and spirit.
A New Advocate Against American Systemic Racism
Today, McQueen continues his campaign to not only clear his name but to be another light shining on the injustice of racial profiling and the systemic biases in American law enforcement. He currently works with the Shape Community Center and the Texas Organizing Project, having become a familiar face and a passionate advocate.
Overall, McQueen would be the first person to admit that the charges that were levied against him were of a serious nature. Still, that has not stopped him from gathering documentation and testimony to dispute the allegations.
For those who have also been tackling the issues of persistent racial inequality and undocumented abuses against people of color, McQueen’s testimony is another case worth looking into.Those who would like to read it all can get their copy of Silenced-But-Determined, available at various book retailers, including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and ReadersMagnet Bookstore.
