Title: Whom God Has Blessed, Let No Man Curse
Author: Jermel Shim
Publisher: Infinity Publishing
ISBN: 0-7414-9628-3
Pages: 218, Paperback/Kindle
Genre: Current Events & Politics, Race Relations, Biography, Spirituality
Reviewed by: Kimberlee Hicks, Pacific Book Review
Book Review
If you ask the average white man or woman living in America if racism is still a significant problem in today’s society, a large percentage of them would say no. If you ask a person of color the same question, you’d get a completely different answer. Barack Obama emerged victorious from the 2008 election, the first African-American president of the United States. In a time when laws restrict minority voting abilities and immigration is a hotly contested item, the timing could not have been better for a man of Obama’s unique experience to take the stage. His interracial background made him the ideal candidate to bridge the gap between the races and move them forward into a new period of enlightenment.It would not be an easy task, as President Obama would find himself facing many detractors; their vitriol more personal and more vicious than that aimed at any other president before him. In his book, ‘Whom God Has Blessed, Let No Man Curse’, author Jermel W. Shim gives a detailed account of the myriad ways in which the president’s foes have attempted to thwart him throughout his administration, identifying the clear reason for their motivation as nothing other than racism.
His claims are compelling; no matter how numerous or terrible their failures, no other president has faced the determination of their opponents to see them fail at all cost, or outright opposed at every turn, even on issues beneficial to their cause. Nor has any other president been the subject of such personal invective and defamation, and the racially charged nature of their attacks – questioning the circumstances of his birth, and his religion – expose just how far we still have to go as a nation. That few of his supporters speak against this behavior only emphasizes the author’s point that while we have finally evolved to a place where we can elect an African-American president, there is still a vein of racism in our society we need to address.
The author has faith though, not just in President Obama’s ability to overcome whatever obstacles his detractors throw at him, but in his divine calling to his elected office. The title of the book is something Shim takes literally – that the president is a blessed man, and his successes are due to a destiny preordained for him by God. Those who attempt to destroy him are doomed to fail because of this.
Because of the large spiritual focus, this book’s best audience would be those of a similar temperament, although the ideological rhetoric is sound. The author has a tendency to belabor some his points, and there are some obvious editing issues, but there is no denying his passion for the subject, nor his knowledge of politics, which makes him an excellent spokesman for the cause.
In the closing chapter of his book, Shim outlines the Buddhist code of living known as the Noble Eightfold Path, guidelines for conducting your life in order to achieve happiness. Politics seem to be more divisive now than ever, our system of checks and balances bringing us to a standstill instead of serving the purpose for which it was intended. Shim not only identifies a major problem in the system, he provides us with an answer. It may not be a simple one, but if everyone abided by principles that emphasize integrity instead of dishonesty, our country would be better for it.
Anyone with an interest in politics and race relations who believes in fate will find their faith for the future of our country bolstered by this book’s inherent trust in President Obama’s destiny.
