Another River to Cross

by Charles R. Johnson

Here is a firsthand account of how a young black boy struggling in the cotton fields of Texas pursues his passionate love of music. How can he make his God-given dream come true in the face of racial hatred and discrimination? How can a young female African slave, brutally torn from her twin sister on the auction block, keep alive the faith to be reunited with that sister more than one hundred years later? This book is a slice of history straight from the hearts of those who lived it. It is a story that everyone needs to read. It is a story of hope and love that proves that not matter how humble the beginnings and how terrible the oppression, God can cause the best to grow out of it all. The answer is, as Granny always said to young Charles, "Now listen to me, child. Stead of complaining that roses get thore, be glad that thorns got roses."

192 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2002

About the author

Charles R. Johnson is an American scholar and author of novels, short stories, and essays. Johnson, an African-American, has directly addressed the issues of black life in America in novels such as Middle Passage and Dreamer. Johnson first came to prominence in the 1960s as a political cartoonist, at which time he was also involved in radical politics. In 1970, he published a collection of cartoons, and this led to a television series about cartooning on PBS.

1990 National Book Award Winner.

Reviews

[Moronke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charles Johnson narrates his early childhood years during the slavery era, how his grandmother and mother played a significant role in his upbringing. He had a dream, to be a gospel singer but his big dream looked bleak considering that his parents were poor slaves. With determination and dogged persistence, he breaks the cycle and launches into the world without enough funds.
Faced with persecution and adversity, Charles went with JESUS all the way until his fame spread to parts of the world.
A very emotional and intriguing story!