Review of Defining Moments of a Free Man from a Black Stream

[Philip Mahlangu]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Defining Moments of a Free Man from a Black Stream" by Dr Frank L Douglas.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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A life of hardship can define a man. When all you've known were challenges, that may have a great impact on the man you become. Whilst this life of strife impacts you negatively, different people from different places may react differently to it. Dr. Frank L. Douglas is one of the people who came out of a life of poverty and became a successful man in many ways. This book honours that struggle and recounts defining moments that the author had to experience to become who he is today. He was raised in British Guiana, but his success has allowed him to travel and live in different parts of the world. He had difficult relationships with his family and relatives. His life in America wasn't as rosy as he would have imagined. Reaching the pinnacle of success didn't mean he was exempt from facing challenges.

Defining Moments of a Free Man from a Black Stream is a memoir that was written to show us the special journey the man has travelled. The themes of this book cover everything from relationships, religion, colonialism, and racism. It is as beautiful as it is heartbreaking. It is as beautiful as it is uncomfortable. It is intense as well. I felt such different emotions as I read. I felt the joy and the pain so eloquently portrayed. This is one of the most memorable memoirs I have read.

For me, the highlight of the memoir involved the religious parts. I have been in the exact situation the author explains in the book. I have dealt with similar challenges, and that reaffirmed my journey. I felt seen and validated.

I think that some parts of the book were unnecessarily detailed. I don't see much value in the minor details that he shared about his jobs. They didn’t add much value to the book. These could have been omitted to shorten the book a little bit. Aside from this, I enjoyed the book a lot. I rate it 5 out of 5 stars.

I think that the ideal reader of this book is someone who appreciates memoirs. The author writes a compelling book about the things he has witnessed and lived through.

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Defining Moments of a Free Man from a Black Stream
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