Charles M. Blow writes about politics and social justice as a columnist for the New York Times, but in his book "Fire Shut Up In My Bones", he discusses abuse he suffered as a child, his own sexuality, and the current national conversation and race and police mistreatment. In fact, as a college student at Grambling State University in Louisiana, Blow was pulled over by a cop for a broken tail light and a friend's life was threatened.

Blow talked to Here & Now's Jeremy Hobson about his experience at the Martha's Vineyard Book Festival last week.