Cousins of Color

By William Schroder

Book Overview

A young black soldier in search of respect and inclusion sacrifices his past, future and country for the sake of another "colored" peoples' freedom. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0692415351
• ISBN13: 9780692415351
• Release Date: April 2015
• Publisher: Red Catcher Publishing
• Length: 296 Pages
• Weight: 0.76 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Engrossing history and character study

"Cousins of Color" is a fascinating and enlightening view of America's involvement in the Philippines at the turn of the century. President McKinley has sent US military forces to Manila for 'humanitarian' purposes. This is not a book about the men who make important decisions but about the trickle down effect those decisions have on other men. Schroder's story allows the reader to see what doors are opened by the arrogance of those in power. We see the dark side of some men manifest itself and the strength of character in others come through. It's a book about choices and one man choosing to do what is right over what is expedient.

Outstanding

In the tradition of Stone and Vidal, this vivid and visceral biographical novel took me on a page turning journey into the depths of David Fagen's soul. William Schroder has painted a truly astonishing story of one man's agonizing and passionate clash between love of country and personal truth. Set in the Philippines during the Spanish American War, this country's frist encounter with "liberating occupation," I found myself engrossed in this remarkable story and asking the same difficult questions that must be facing many Americans in today's challenging times. When Hollywood makes this into a movie, and surely it will, I pray it will be as honest as this work so richly deserves. Excellent, absolutely excellent. Dean T. Welsh, Los Angeles, California

Fascinating Historical Novel

I must admit I knew very little about the period in time described in Cousins of Color prior to reading the book. Afterward, I felt as if a window to the time period had been opened for me, and I could clearly see the inhabitants going about their lives! The story is fascinating, and I quickly became involved in the tale and the lives of the protagonists. In particular, the dialog seemed unforced and genuine, and the plot flowed seamlessly to the stunning finale. I look forward to more books by this talented author.

History Comes to Life

History comes to LifeCousins of Color, from first to last, is exciting and visual (I can't wait for the movie!). Black troops in the Philippines to help "liberate" it from the Spanish must fight not only the enemy, but also suffer prejudice from many white soldiers. David Fagen becomes an outcast, forced to desert, unwelcome where he is and unable to return home. The story of how he survives and triumphs is fast-paced and intriguing. The characters walk off the pages into the mind and heart forever.William Schroder is a man who can write!Byron L. Sacre,Author of Family and Other Strangers

Letter to the author from Dr. Willard Gatewood

Dear Mr. Schroder: I have spent much of my rather long career as an academic historian studying various aspects of African American life and culture. I knew of David Fagen, but mine was a very superficial knowledge of this most extraordinary individual. In my view, you have used Fagen in Cousins of Color - a work that follows very closely the historical record - to capture the "real" story of America's involvement in the Philippines, especially as it relates to the issue of race. Cousins of Color demonstrates the extent to which Uncle Sam and Jim Crow marched arm-in-arm into the Philippines under the banner of something officially called "benevolent assimilation." No other work with which I am familiar so thouroughly captures the complex forces involved in this aspect of the Spanish-American War or demonstrates such a firm grasp of the context and diverse ingredients of this conflict. Your knowledge of the plight of African American soldiers, the different cultural and language groups in the Philippines and the relationship that developed between these two so-called "colored peoples" is indeed extraordinary. There is no doubt that through historical fiction you have illuminated a highly significant chapter in America's past in ways we historians have been unable to do. Cousins of Color explores with extraordinary skill themes and ideas that have persisted in our history for a very long time and will capture and hold the attention of readers, most of whom are certain to detect analogies between "the struggle for empire" at the end of the 19th century and later struggles waged under various banners in the 20th century and beyond. Dr. Willard B. Gatewood,Alumni Distinguished Professor of History (Emeritus) Author of: Black Americans and the White Man's Burden Smoked Yankees and the Struggle for Freedom Aristocrats of Color