I did not want to write to you. I wanted to write a lie. I did not want to write honestly about [black experiences]. I did not want to write about us. I wanted to write an American memoir. I wanted to write a lie.
-- The Author (Narration) (Prologue - "Been")

Importance: In this few lines from the book's prologue, the author introduces a conflict central to his work throughout the book, the conflict between truth as he has lived it and learned it, and lies as he has been forced to live them. These lines also introduce a key ambiguity associated with his use of the word "you," here, and throughout the book; at this point, there is no indication exactly who "you" refers to. Later in the prologue, the mystery is cleared up, but for now, there is the distinct possibility that the "you" the author is referring to is the reader. This ambiguity of...