I found this book at the library's "New Releases" stand recently. I was tempted to read this for the simple reason that this was written by a Bay Area resident and portrays the discrimination that African Americans had to face in the neighboring community of San Leandro back in the 60s-70's. Brian Copeland, who is the author of this book is also a stand up comedian and an actor (most recently in "The Bucket List" which stars Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson)It is common knowledge that most of the comedy is a positive way of reconciling with ones past. I admire these comedians for only a very strong willed person can do so. It is not rare to see people losing their self when they are unsecured. In fact every minute you try to underestimate others, remember your insecurity has taken over.
In short, the story is about a Afro American family who moves into a lily white colony of San Leandro in the 60s and what they faced there. There are a few extremely touching incidents portrayed in the book. In fact even the wry humor with which it has been told does not mask the pain. One of them is a shop security personnel asking Brian as a boy to turn his pocket out doubting him to have stolen things from the shop. Another one is when he as a 8 year old boy, was confronted by a policeman in front of a park as he was carrying a baseball bat. He was then immediately frisked away to his house for the safety of the other residents!!
What impressed me the most is author's determination to survive in such tough conditions. The pain of isolation can easily drive a person mad. There is no doubt that the society has changed for good in all these years but there is still some ground to be covered. The least that we can do is to keep our guard against these discrimination instincts!!!
Posts
