"Tears roll down her face as a family enters the town's lone black funeral home. She frowns disgustedly, watching a public bus roll by with blacks sitting in the back."
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Same Same by Doug Smith Xlibris
book review by John E. Roper
American society has radically changed since the courage of individuals like Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King, Jr. began to inspire African Americans to take a stand against discriminatory laws and practices. In fact, racial equality between blacks and whites in the United States is believed by some to be completely achieved as evidenced by the election of the nation's first black president for not just one but two terms of office. Racism, however, is a persistent virus, and despite the outward appearance of equal opportunities and treatment in most public sectors, in reality the color barrier still exists in many areas. In an effort to expose how subtly racism manifests itself and how deep its infection can spread in one of our most sacred institutions, the author has written a novel about how prejudice still rules the day in the nation's Fourth Estate.
A veteran journalist who has written for some of the most well-known and influential newspapers in the country, Smith offers an insider's glimpse into the racial realities that exist within media circles. His two protagonists, dueling columnists for a respected newspaper whose popularity is generated by their ongoing Conservative vs. Liberal battle, are actually the best of friends. Samuel Lewis, an African American, writes from the Right's viewpoint, while his white buddy Hamilton Armstrong III gives the Left's slant to his pieces. It is a gimmick that has served the newspaper well for years, even if it hasn't always reflected the writers' true beliefs on the subject. Still, the friendly war of words might have continued on indefinitely, but sometimes success brings with it a new set of challenges. When Sam and Ham's editor tells them they will both be awarded Pulitzer Prizes for their commentary writing they are naturally pleased and honored; but then when the Pulitzer Prize Board of Advisors rejects the recommendation of their nominating committee and instead decides to give the award only to Hamilton, they suspect that the decision is due to Sam's race. Adding to the duo's problems is the violent death of a fellow black journalist, and as Sam and Ham attempt to find his killer they discover that digging too deeply may unearth secrets that could change their lives forever.
Smith writes with a passion about a subject that several in America have fooled themselves into believing is a dead issue. While it is true that life has improved in many ways for blacks over the last few decades, complete integration, acceptance, and appreciation in all segments of society is still lacking. This is the theme that the author continues to drive home throughout his novel. Intriguingly, while Smith's exposition frequently seems a bit stilted, and his plot could use some work to make it more believable, he is at his best when offering historical background or presenting his points through the voices of his two heroes in their respective columns. It is in the latter, especially, that the reader gets a glimpse of his journalistic past and a sense of the true power of his prose.
Same Same will probably appeal more to an audience a little left of center than to those on the right, but its thought-provoking observations on racism and how true friendship is colorblind has the potential to touch hearts at all points on the political spectrum.