Title: Telling It Like It Is
Author: J.W. Blackwell
Publisher: XlibrisUS
ISBN: 978-1-5434-1937-5
Pages: 286
Genre: Inspirational Non-Fiction
Reviewed by: Matt Hurd
Pacific Book Review
The first word that comes to mind when considering Telling It Like It Is – is “polarizing.” Not everyone will like the things author J.W. Blackwell has to say, but that doesn’t lessen their importance. Blackwell lays out a case for change deeply rooted in his faith and his life experiences. His treatise delves into faith, racism, police work, history, and more to lay out a case against the flaws in the world and present a plan to correct mistakes while there is still time.
As a black man in America, Blackwell has lived through periods of tremendous change and upheaval. Throughout all of it, he has held fast to and developed his faith in something greater. This book is his answer to what he sees as a willful forgetfulness on the part of humanity as a whole, regarding our purposes here on Earth (and beyond).
Blackwell’s role in these pages is that of a modern-day Moses; he speaks out where he feels others won’t, saying things which defy political correctness in favor of the titular “telling it like it is.” From fraudulent pastors to crooked cops, race relations to biblical history, Murphy’s Law to murder, Blackwell sets forth his opinions (grounded in his Biblical faith), on where humanity has turned away from its Creator and how humanity can and needs to turn itself back around.
A large portion of the book is dedicated to the subject of race relations and how they affect different communities and showcase the ungodly divisions among humanity. As an African American and a former police officer, Blackwell has a unique and fascinating perspective on numerous aspects of this subject. Whether the reader agrees with him or not is less important than recognizing a clear and firsthand account of the world around us.
Blackwell’s writing is strong and flows well. He has a knack for storytelling that makes each of his many narratives engaging. On top of this, a majority of the stories he tells are personal and firsthand – making his entire book feel as if it has been lived and real. Subjectively, readers may find themselves disagreeing (perhaps strongly) with the case which Blackwell mounts. Objectively, however, it’s impossible to deny he does a strong job of mounting it to begin with. From structure to content and beyond, Telling It The Way It Is clearly is a labor of intense care and love, as such this alone makes it worthwhile read for a wide audience.
