The Evidence of Things Not Seen is a book-length essay by James Baldwin, published in 1985 by Holt, Rinehart and Winston.

[1][2] Baldwin had ventured to Atlanta as a literary reporter on assignment for Playboy magazine, which had previously published many prominent black writers, such as Alex Haley and James Farmer.

While researching the Atlanta child murders, he encountered Camille Bell, the mother of a 9-year-old, named Yusef, killed in this period.

[4] According to Derrick Bell, who wrote the foreword in the book's 1995 edition, the earlier outcry had revealed the need for Baldwin to write an essay that "eschews a search for clues and, instead, undertakes an exploration for truths.

However, over the years there has been significant debate over the culpability of Williams and the common assumption that he was the sole perpetrator of the murders.

Many observers have put forth alternative theories concerning the murders based on circumstantial evidence, including involvement by the Ku Klux Klan, convicted pedophiles, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the CIA.

"[3] Baldwin also references his own interactions with friends in Atlanta who assume the identity of being an Atlantan without identifying as a Georgian.

"[3] In a review for The New York Times, John Flemming highlighted Baldwin's impression of being like a stranger in Atlanta during his investigation and research.

Schur supports Baldwin's claims that eradicating racist legal doctrines was insufficient to rehabilitate the lives of African Americans.