Title: Defining Moments of a Free Man from a Black Stream
Author: Dr. Frank L. Douglas
Publisher: Frank Douglas Books
ISBN: 978-1-948828-70-3
Pages: 323
Genre: Autobiography
Reviewed by: CC Thomas

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In Defining Moments of a Free Man from a Black Stream, author Dr. Frank A. Douglas stands out as a unique voice in the emerging genre of systemic racism. Douglas was not born in America but symbolizes all that is beautiful and patriotic about this nation: he arose from humble beginnings to become a renowned health-care professional and scientist. Douglas has won countless awards for his work in pharmaceutical research. However, you likely won’t remember his contributions in that area. Instead, after reading his autobiography, you’ll remember his determination to make the world a better place…not in spite of the tremendous prejudicial treatment he received, but because of it.

Douglas was born in British Guiana, now known as Guyana. From an early age, Douglas recognized that white officials were treated much differently than his own hard-working black family. The powerful whites resided in mansions and ate like kings, while his own family lived in poverty and struggled to put food on the table. Why, he asked his minister, did such radically different lifestyles exist between blacks and whites? Early on, Douglas realized that American Christianity was taught with inherent racism as a base for its culture and society. In what would become true Douglas fashion, he did not accept such answers but sought to find deeper truths.

Furthermore, Douglas did not let such racial differences stop him from discovering these truths. Instead, he devoted himself even more doggedly to achievement, receiving scholarships for his effort and intelligence. During the turbulent 60s, Douglas arrived in the United States and continued his pursuit of academic excellence, earning many degrees. Never, though, did he forget his home country. He watched British Guiana struggle for independence as he fought and struggled for his own racial independence and a desire to be viewed as simply a man, not a black man.

In his book, Douglas harbors no fools and makes no excuses, neither for himself nor for those around him. His writing is logical and reasonable yet is also filled with concern and motivation. Above all, the work is probably most illuminating in its portrayal of the inherent racism in education. While these institutions are supposedly the bastion of our democratic society, Dr. Douglas shows there is, still, much work which needs to be done. Douglas likely didn’t write his autobiography solely to shine a light in this area, but it is in fact a lighthouse on this turbulent sea, nonetheless.

Dr. Frank L. Douglas’s Defining Moments of a Free Man from a Black Stream is both creative and rational, both inspiring and heart-wrenching, both motivational and grounded in realism. In his autobiography, Douglas seeks to point out the differences to make one point: to stand steadfast and true no matter the obstacles placed in the way. While many might want to read the book to learn more about the man of science, all should read it to learn more about humanity, that which connects us all in this civilization.  I highly recommend Defining Moments of a Free Man from a Black Stream by Dr. Frank L. Douglas. It’s a must-read book that is a true testament of inspiration.