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In this detailed, compelling, and timely memoir, Dr. Bracy not only recounts his life and career, but he also provides a sobering account of racism during and after segregation. The author's early days in Alabama and Milwaukee come to life with vividly told anecdotes about family, schooling, a wide variety of jobs, and the constant racist mistreatment of the black community. Bracy excelled in school and was then drafted into the Army, serving as a medic. After leaving the military, he pursued a career as a cardiac perfusionist, a demanding, highly skilled job of operating the heart/lung machine during surgeries. Later, he was drawn to psychology, earned a Ph.D. in this field, and became a practicing clinical psychologist. Bracy describes these experiences with a precise chronology that illustrates how hard he worked to achieve success in spite of ever-present racist roadblocks.
The book occasionally generalizes about race relations, but what truly compels is the uncompromising detail with which it describes both blatant and subtle incidents of racism. For example, when he was in the sixth grade, Bracy earned the highest marks on a test but was made to retake it because he was suspected of cheating off white students. Numerous examples of racist comments and mistreatment of black patients are documented through the author's insider perspective. By contrast, Bracy's family members are portrayed with great respect. His knowledge of psychology deepens the chapters describing some of their deaths. The memoir incorporates hymns, poetry, and photographs that contextualize the narrative. If the ending of the memoir feels a bit incomplete, this perhaps suggests that the work achieving racial justice remains unfinished and ongoing. These stories from Bracy's life testify to his indomitable spirit even as they hold a racist society to account.