Joseph C. Phillips
Phillips, probably best known as the straitlaced son-in-law on the Bill Cosby Show, but lately a columnist and commentator on public radio, reflects on his life and politics from the perspective of a black conservative in Hollywood. He offers an honest look at his personal journey, exploring areas of character, family, faith, idealism, and identity. Phillips was raised in predominately white or integrated areas of Denver, where his diction earned him criticism from some blacks for talking "like a white boy." He recounts other personal experiences in an integrated setting that set him apart from other blacks in the post-civil rights era. A child of divorce, Phillips was also forced to cope with his mother's suicide. His father, a doctor, was stern, and the two didn't develop a close relationship until Phillips became an adult. His struggle to reconcile his life with his ideals led Phillips to become a conservative Republican and to a personal analysis of what it means to be authentic. Readers interested in different perspectives on race and identity will enjoy this revealing memoir.
Vernon Ford - Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved