ARA Review by PoeticGem65 of Defining Moments of a Free Man from a Black Stream

[PoeticGem65]

[Following is an OnlineBookClub.org ARA Review of the book, Defining Moments of a Free Man from a Black Stream.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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The mere thought of someone putting a gun to my head and telling me I must leave and never return makes me faint. The fact Frank Douglas had the audacity to ask said real-life villain to pay for the trip tells you just the kind of man we are dealing with here, fearless.

Taking the journey of his life through highs and lows, but I have to say it was the episodes of homelessness and racism that really brought about the tenacity required to conquer more than one career because he was not afraid. Respected as a physician, executive, venture capitalist, researcher, the list goes on. You do not get to those places without unwavering confidence in yourself.

When we are introduced to a 12 year Frank Douglas being whipped by his mother for the misfortune of losing a week’s worth of groceries because of the ruthlessness of his mentally troubled sister Edith’s lie we feel Frank’s hopelessness because it was a pattern of abuse he thought he could only be free of through suicide. He contemplated jumping into the deep waters off the coast of his native Guyana. Wondering how to go on if he was not safe in his own home at such a young age. Fortunately he thought it through and we are along for the ride of Frank’s very interesting life.

He seeks counsel from a woman he calls “Moms” and she discloses a secret about his birth that empowers him to face his abusers and inform them they have no power over him no more.

Academy did not protect him from racism. Whether at the small private school in Guyana to Lehigh University or at Cornell Frank faced outright racism. Frank fearlessly faced the threats without giving any weight to the consequences. He forged on confronting the cowards that wished to destroy him because he was black.

I strongly recommend this book especially for those that go through life fortunate enough to not have experienced anything close to Frank’s trials and tribulations. Defining Moments has many teaching moments but above all how important a belief and respect for ourselves plays in the outcome of our life. I give it 4 out of 5 stars!

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