Review of Defining Moments of a Free Man from a Black Stream
-
Elendu Ekechukwu
- Book of the Month Participant
- Posts: 362
- Joined: 19 Jun 2021, 06:26
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 149
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-elendu-ekechukwu.html
- Latest Review: Killing Abel by Michael Tieman
Review of Defining Moments of a Free Man from a Black Stream
[Following is a volunteer review of "Defining Moments of a Free Man from a Black Stream" by Dr Frank L Douglas.]
Dr. Frank L. Douglas is a world-renowned expert in his field. We learned so many valuable lessons about life from this motivational biography. He had a great and prosperous career after emerging from poverty. In this autobiography, we learned about his life's journey, which started when he was a young child in British Guiana (now Guyana) and ended when he received numerous accolades and accomplishments. His childhood, spent with his family in poverty, is where this autobiography began. He had to head out on Saturday morning to do his weekly shopping. He fell off his bike and spilled his food box since the yard entrance was not only sandy but also sloped downward.
The author's determination and fervor drew me into the book and kept me turning the pages. His professionalism was questioned more because of his skin tone than because of his abilities. It is demoralizing to have a good education and still experience racism based on skin color. This book is, in my opinion, one of my favorites so far. I can't even begin to enumerate all the things I learned from the book. What I find most fascinating is the author's tenacity in the face of rejection, humiliation, and poverty. The author provides a few strategies that readers of any color might use to achieve their objectives. The entire book was a pleasure to read.
The only difficulty I had with this book was the use of technical language. Although I am aware that is what the author's life is all about, I couldn't help but lose interest in the story. A reader with knowledge of science and medicine, however, would find that enjoyable. I also didn't like how little information the author provided about his family. Readers would have valued knowing what his family was going through as he achieved all of his professional milestones. As an illustration, we read about his engagement to Lynnet and then discover several chapters later that they are parents to two children with no explanation of what took place in between.
The book does a good job of highlighting the prevalence of racial discrimination in workplaces and educational settings. Douglas experienced a lot of racial prejudice because he was an African-American. In one instance, his ethnicity is a factor in whether he receives a promotion. He also observed a lot of racial discrimination at school. He begins investigating the topic and writes a book detailing his startling findings. I also appreciate the memoir's ability to inspire hope in spite of the formidable challenges it faces. It wasn't until I reached the scene where Douglas first encountered Professor Daen that I felt such gratitude for that particular scene. Professor Daen showed empathy by being aware of the author's difficulties and helping him get through a difficult period of his life.
As a result, I'd give Dr. Frank L. Douglas's Defining Moments of a Free Man from a Black Stream a 5 out of 5 stars for its educational and informative content. The book received a lot of positive feedback, but I had none. I haven't felt this emotional for a while. This book is perfect for anyone who loves reading memoirs.
******
Defining Moments of a Free Man from a Black Stream
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Dr. Frank L. Douglas is a world-renowned expert in his field. We learned so many valuable lessons about life from this motivational biography. He had a great and prosperous career after emerging from poverty. In this autobiography, we learned about his life's journey, which started when he was a young child in British Guiana (now Guyana) and ended when he received numerous accolades and accomplishments. His childhood, spent with his family in poverty, is where this autobiography began. He had to head out on Saturday morning to do his weekly shopping. He fell off his bike and spilled his food box since the yard entrance was not only sandy but also sloped downward.
The author's determination and fervor drew me into the book and kept me turning the pages. His professionalism was questioned more because of his skin tone than because of his abilities. It is demoralizing to have a good education and still experience racism based on skin color. This book is, in my opinion, one of my favorites so far. I can't even begin to enumerate all the things I learned from the book. What I find most fascinating is the author's tenacity in the face of rejection, humiliation, and poverty. The author provides a few strategies that readers of any color might use to achieve their objectives. The entire book was a pleasure to read.
The only difficulty I had with this book was the use of technical language. Although I am aware that is what the author's life is all about, I couldn't help but lose interest in the story. A reader with knowledge of science and medicine, however, would find that enjoyable. I also didn't like how little information the author provided about his family. Readers would have valued knowing what his family was going through as he achieved all of his professional milestones. As an illustration, we read about his engagement to Lynnet and then discover several chapters later that they are parents to two children with no explanation of what took place in between.
The book does a good job of highlighting the prevalence of racial discrimination in workplaces and educational settings. Douglas experienced a lot of racial prejudice because he was an African-American. In one instance, his ethnicity is a factor in whether he receives a promotion. He also observed a lot of racial discrimination at school. He begins investigating the topic and writes a book detailing his startling findings. I also appreciate the memoir's ability to inspire hope in spite of the formidable challenges it faces. It wasn't until I reached the scene where Douglas first encountered Professor Daen that I felt such gratitude for that particular scene. Professor Daen showed empathy by being aware of the author's difficulties and helping him get through a difficult period of his life.
As a result, I'd give Dr. Frank L. Douglas's Defining Moments of a Free Man from a Black Stream a 5 out of 5 stars for its educational and informative content. The book received a lot of positive feedback, but I had none. I haven't felt this emotional for a while. This book is perfect for anyone who loves reading memoirs.
******
Defining Moments of a Free Man from a Black Stream
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Killing Abel by Michael Tieman
