Book Reviews

“Consistently well-developed, Looking over Black Shoulders is a searing work of historical imagination and perspective that succeeds in turning America on its head. Not since John Howard Griffin’s Black Like Me has a writer so captured the essence of American race relations.”
—Tom Layne, author of The Assassination of Rush Limbaugh

“A fascinating and provocative eye-opener that produces a vertigo-inducing perspective on race relations in the United States—and that in the end, admirably demonstrates that it doesn’t matter who holds the whip and who receives the lashing, the core problems remain the same.”
—Brenton Butler, author of They Said It Was Murder

“A counterfactual rollercoaster ride. Adam Perkin’s topsy-turvy world tackles the issue of race relations in a bold new way. This speculative history of an alternate America is a brilliantly clever way of exploring race relations with children, as well as adults.”
—Edward M. Brittingham (Capt., USN Ret.), author of The Iranian Deception

Thought provoking and innovative
A very interesting and thought provoking premise of healing bigotry among whites and blacks in America. A very witty and funny book at times though the subject matter is very serious.
—Steven Bock, a guitarist

A Must Read For Everyone
This is the definitive book for our generation on race relations. Perkins has captured in words and pictures the 'Jim Crow' era in reverse and has given viable solutions for healing on both sides!
—George Evans, a lover of books and people.

This book is so needed in bringing the races together!
This book is the answer that we have been waiting for in discussing race in America. Trust me, there's nothing like this book anywhere! The author does an excellent job focusing on the real issues. White and Black Americans cannot afford not to have this book. For me, seeing racism from this perspective has changed my life for the better. I had no idea that racism was like this until now. The pictures are amazing! It leaves you asking 'how'? I expect this book to make it on Oprah. Buy it! It's worth more!!!
—A reviewer, A reviewer

This book asks what if...
Looking Over Black Shoulders by Adam L. Perkins ,asks the question "What if African-Americans were the dominant power in America 150 years ago and whites were the enslaved?"

The end of the Civil War in 1865 did not mean the end of prejudice. The White man was declared free, but that did not mean he was allotted the same rights as the Black man. The blacks enacted "White Codes." All Whites were to be employed by a Black. The Whites could not carry weapons and it was illegal to educate one. Southern Blacks were frightened of the Whites. They feared the Whites would rebellion. "Keeping whites `in their place' became the driving force behind the White Codes of 1865." The Blacks felt superior and believed that their superiority was a God given gift. In 1868, the Blacks formed a group known as the Black Riders Association, B.R.A. The group dressed in black rode through the countryside frightening whites with verbal threats and physical violence many times leading to murder. The South enacted segregation laws determining where Whites could live, what bathroom they could use, and where they could go to school. The races had separate hospitals, schools, and churches. In this fictional account, Perkins takes the reader through history to the 21st Century.

Even today prejudice still exists, while we have come a long way we have much farther to go. I found Looking Over Black Shoulders left me much to think about and much to question myself. Adam Perkins is to be commended for his effort to demonstrate the damage brought about by feeling superior to another. As he states, "Jesus Christ is the Author of Diversity." Well done Mr. Perkins. I think all Americans should be required to read this book.
—Debra Gaynor, ReviewYourBook.com