Pearl's Secret: A Black Man's Search for His White Family

Rating:
Summary: A 'Secret' Worth Revealing
Review: Neil Henry took this journey for himself and his family. That he chose to share it through 'Pearl's Secret' is a gift to us all. This work is an excellent addition to the body of literature about race relations in America. This book chronicles Henry's often exasperating research into the history of his white ancestors and their descendents. Through years of diligent, tedious searching, Henry managed to find his present-day white kin and visited with them in the hope of having his burning questions answered and sharing collective lore and memories. His writing style and candor in describing his curiosity, anger and dissapointments made for more engaging reading than I had anticiapted from a book which I had mistakenly believed was only about genealogy.
The conculsion that Henry's 20th century black family raised in Seattle was far better off than his distant white relations living in the south is a testament to the home enviornment in which he was raised by loving parents who truly understood the importance of instilling pride, self worth and confidence in their children--no matter the odds stacked against them.
Overall, I found the book to be uplifting and positive. I would recommend it highly.

Rating:
Summary: Seeker of truth and family ties
Review: Read this book if you want to read a true story about a seeker of truth and strange family ties. The author Neil Henry clearly utlized his journalistic skills effectively to trace his family tree. What was shocking was the fact that the story is about a black man investigating his white roots. The author clearly did an excellent job explaining the struggles and joys that he faced as a researcher/ seeker of truth. I particularly like the scene in which he requests a magnifying glass, from Rita his long lost white cousin, to varify where the photograph of his great grand mother was taken. Also, I was particularly moved by the author's emotional identification with Rita inspite of their different ethnic background and life expeeriences. However, the book could have been more successfully concluded without the author's lengthy glorification of his uncle, of whom very little was previously heard.

Rating:
Summary: Seeker of truth and family ties
Review: Read this book if you want to read a true story about a seeker of truth and strange family ties. The author Neil Henry clearly utlized his journalistic skills effectively to trace his family tree. What was shocking was the fact that the story is about a black man investigating his white roots. The author clearly did an excellent job explaining the struggles and joys that he faced as a researcher/ seeker of truth. I particularly like the scene in which he requests a magnifying glass, from Rita his long lost white cousin, to varify where the photograph of his great grand mother was taken. Also, I was particularly moved by the author's emotional identification with Rita inspite of their different ethnic background and life expeeriences. However, the book could have been more successfully concluded without the author's lengthy glorification of his uncle, of whom very little was previously heard.

Rating:
Summary: Neil Henry's Journey
Review: This is a splendid book on many levels for the historian, genealogist, or anyone who just likes a spellbinding story. For Mr. Henry tells a fascinating story of discovery. Mr. Henry
not only reveals the various paths he trod to find his other family--but reveals many insights into black/white relations and how they change, black/black relations within and outside black neighborhoods, and, in snippets, gives hints on how we all can get our act together to make this a better country for all Americans.
I was absolutely mesmerized by this book and highly recommend it.

Rating:
Summary: Neil Henry's Journey
Review: This is a splendid book on many levels for the historian, genealogist, or anyone who just likes a spellbinding story. For Mr. Henry tells a fascinating story of discovery. Mr. Henry
not only reveals the various paths he trod to find his other family--but reveals many insights into black/white relations and how they change, black/black relations within and outside black neighborhoods, and, in snippets, gives hints on how we all can get our act together to make this a better country for all Americans.
I was absolutely mesmerized by this book and highly recommend it.