Narratives From Professor Robert Aaron Whitney: Honor/Dishonor

By David Henschel

Narratives From Professor Robert Aaron Whitney A sweeping family anthology and historical novel, Narratives From Professor Robert Aaron Whitney intertwines three eras--the past, present, and future--through the journey of three enslaved families whose ancestral ties remained largely unknown for centuries. In the future, Los Angeles medical journalists Daniel Gambela and Denise Smith set out to write a biography of Professor Robert Aaron Whitney, a pioneering African-American physician and head of research at Colgate College in Santa Monica, California. Their investigation uncovers deep-rooted connections between Whitney's lineage and two other families, revealing a legacy shaped by racial oppression, resilience, and buried histories stretching back centuries. In secrecy, Professor Whitney and his research team push the boundaries of science, using his sperm and the ovum of Dr. Margary Schmelz, a Caucasian scientist, to unlock the mysteries of life itself. Their groundbreaking work leads to the birth of a male child--Wilbert--conceived entirely in vitro. But when their discovery is made public, it ignites a firestorm of fury from religious and racist extremists. What follows is a tragic five-year period of violence, culminating in the assassination of Professor Whitney, the destruction of his laboratory, and the kidnapping of Wilbert. As Gambela and Smith continue their research, they uncover a dark truth about Whitney's father, Charles, and his two cousins. The men's criminal past--including a racially motivated bank robbery that left seven innocent people dead--leads them to prison. While incarcerated, criminologists Judith Weinstein and Raymond Irons seek to understand the psychological forces behind their descent into violence, delving into their unspoken history of systemic oppression. Through private conversations with Professor Whitney, Gambela and Smith gain access to family genealogy records and maps detailing the forced displacement of enslaved relatives. In a twist of fate, the research leads to a remarkable discovery--in the early 1900s, despite centuries of separation, the three families unknowingly reunite in East St. Louis, Illinois, restoring a bond that had been severed by the horrors of slavery. A Story of Survival, Legacy, and Justice David Henschel's novel is an unflinching exploration of America's racially bigoted past, present, and future, offering an intimate portrait of three families whose lives were shaped by enslavement, resilience, and the search for justice. Narratives From Professor Robert Aaron Whitney is more than a historical reflection--it is a saga of identity, survival, and the enduring power of truth.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1090942001
• ISBN13: 9781090942005
• Release Date: April 2019
• Publisher: Independently published
• Length: 534 Pages
• Weight: 1.96 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 1.2" x 6.0"