Title: The Unsigned, Undelivered Letter: Pindly Left Free… Mandela Set Free
Author: Hon REV Dr Jp Rt Philip a Rahming
Publisher: Westwood Books Publishing LLC
ISBN: 164361956X
Genre: Autobiography
Pages: 110
Reviewed by: Dan MacIntosh

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You can learn a lot about historical figures from the letters they send. Many history books are chiefly comprised of letters sent during notables’ lifetimes. To whom they were sent, and contents within, help shed light on the kinds of lives these folks lived, and more importantly, what they thought. Before the age of the email, where far too often, un-thought-out comments are quickly exchanged between busy communicators, thinkers in past times went to great lengths to make sure their letters expressed precisely how they were thinking and feeling at that moment. The Unsigned, Undelivered Letter: Pindly Left Free… Mandela Set Free by Rt. Hon. Rev. Dr. Philip a Rahming, OBE, JP, however, is not one of these types of books. It is, in fact, quite the opposite of a letter collection. The letter referred to in this book’s title is a letter that was never sent. How can a book be based around something that didn’t happen? Well, it all comes down to that unsent letter’s content.

The Bahamas Christian Council (BCC) had crafted a letter it intended to send to Sir Lynden Pindly, the then Bahamian prime minister. This letter was a strongly worded written condemnation of that leader’s behaviors and relationships with drug dealers in the 80s, when drug trafficking was plaguing The Bahamas. So, why didn’t Rahming send this letter? Well, this Baptist minister was looking at the bigger picture when he decided against this action. Pindly was friends with Nelson Mandela, dating back to when they both attended college together, and this letter was written right at the time when many people internationally were calling for the end of apartheid and Mandela’s release from prison. Rahming feared this letter would dangerously distract from these negotiations – where Pindly was a primary player — going on with South Africa and other world leaders. As Mandela was soon after able to be released from prison and help bring racial equality to South Africa, Rahming now feels vindicated for making the right decision.

This letter was the primary inspiration for Rahming’s book, but we also learn so much about life in The Bahamas from this book. Although the U.S. is relatively physically close to The Bahamas, it’s probably safe to say most Americans don’t know a whole lot about that country. We learn, for instance, Rahming has played a pivotal role in his nation’s development. In addition to being a minister, he is also a leader and member of many religious and civic organizations, Rahming also wrote The Bahamas Pledge of Allegiance and its national song, “God Bless Our Sunny Clime.” When relaying the story about writing that song, Rahming was supposed to be studying Hebrew at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary the day he wrote it. Southern Baptist Theological Seminary is in Louisville, Kentucky, and that region was experiencing some especially bad weather that day. Rahming, while looking outside at the storm, immediately began to reflect upon and appreciate the sunny weather of his home country.

Rahming has lived quite the eventful life, he explains in his book. He’s met many modern American presidents, and even the late Pope John Paul II, back when that Catholic head briefly made his way to The Bahamas. This is also not his first book, as he’s also written a book about Martin Luther King, Jr, one of his heroes, and The Pledge of the Bahamas’ history.

Yes, we often look back on things we’ve done, and wonder if we did the right thing. In this case, Rahming is proud to say something he didn’t do, was actually the right thing to do. The Unsigned, Undelivered Letter: Pindly Left Free… Mandela Set Free is recommended for readers who enjoy historical and biography books that also conveys important social messages. These readers can expect to be treated to a quick, but important read which really resonates in today’s sociopolitical climate.