RACE IN AN AMERICAN LIFE is the personal story of one individual navigating the turbulent racial conflict, of the twentieth century. There is an intrinsic need, to chronicle a lifetime interfaced with the most conflict-ridden social phenomenon of the human race, since there was a human race. This is an attempt to place into context, on an intellectual and visceral level, the incredible effect race relations had on one American’s life. Without question, every American, from Colonial times until the present, has been impacted by the ongoing racial component of United States culture. Whatever resolutions are made in the future, race is indelibly printed into the fabric of the American ethos. There are, of course, many Americans, since 1607, that have been impacted more, and impacted less, but this is the story of an American who has charged, strolled, meandered, and been dragged through the aftermath of the Civil War, Reconstruction, and the ongoing Civil Rights Movement. It is very up close and personal—it is a life.

To say that race was the only, or even the most prominent, force in my life would stretch credulity. In the course of seventy five plus years, there have been the same general influences that formed my life as every other American—family, school, community, church, government, wars, social conflict, etc. Along the way, many people have touched my life in positive and negative ways, again like all Americans. It would take a series of boring volumes to record all of that. Those factors will be contained only as they fit and round out the basic objective, of interrelating my life with the larger issue of racial conflict and impact. This includes the most important force in my life—my wife, LeVan. My purpose is to present the intersection of my life and America’s racial division. This may be of interest only to me, but it is something I need to record.

Throughout this book, there will be no attempt to “spin” history, be politically correct, or soften terminology used at any particular time. The N-word will be Nigger, because that was the terminology used, along with Jungle Bunny, Jigs, Darkie, Uncle Tom, Gringo, Spic, Hymie, Wet-back, Cracker, Red-neck, Honky, Jap, Kraut, Gook, Huskie, or any other term considered to be a pejorative. If it fits, it will be recorded. No doubt, especially in the younger years, exact timelines will be elusive. In the end, this is my story and it will be told with every respect to cold harsh reality, and reasoned analysis. I must point out that I am a novelist, and describe events as an artist, not a journalist. In effect, I have changed some names, or not used names, where it is possible, and compressed some events, and filled-in where my recollection failed me. This happens to a great extent when there are interactions with other people. This fictionalizes the account to some degree. Therefore, I will call the book a novel, though it is my personal saga. My emotional reactions are just those—mine. My purpose is as stated. 

The book is one person’s account, in one lifetime, of the most pressing social conflict in human history. This is from my intellect, my heart, and my gut. Go there with me or not.      -R.P. Rogers

The book is one person’s account, in one lifetime, of the most pressing social conflict in human history. This is from my intellect, my heart, and my gut. Go there with me or not.      -R.P. Rogers