No Way Out: The War Story of a WWII Black Buffalo Soldier - Paperback

by Rothacker Smith (Author)

The story of an African American whose life was shaped by the prejudices and practices of pre- WWII America. How the military service, severe wounding, and prisoner of war treatment aided the shaping process. All of these factors produced a responsible citizen, husband, father and educator.

Author Biography

I was born I n June 1923 in Harlem, New York City. My father moved the family several times through different towns or cities to Detroit, Michigan in the middle of the depression (1932). I attended the Detroit public schools through high school. We learned how to survive in the depression, being some times on welfare, sometimes my father employed by the WPA and sometimes my mother being the breadwinner by doing maid service. I grew up in mixed, predominately white neighborhoods, (we escaped the ghetto). My father was a staunch Seventh Day Adventist Christian and taught the three us (two younger brothers) Christian values and behaviors. I learned what it meant to be different because we grew up differently. We did not attend the cinema, we did not dance, or play cards or smoke or drink. (At this date I have never put a cigarette in my mouth.) These differences enhanced my social development with those who are different. It did not prepare me for the inferiority attitude with which my country felt was fitting and proper for my usefulness as a contributing citizen. My Heavenly Father has guided me through this life, often without my cooperation, and developed me into a usefully contributing citizen of the United States of America and a candidate for eternal citizenship in heaven.