In a sense this is two books. While it starts with a discussion of how the author, a medical ethicist, was drawn to write this book about Eldrewey Stearns, the first 100 pages primarily tells the story of integration in Houston, Texas in the late 50s and 60s. It's a compelling and interesting story, but it is more compellingly told by the video that was made simultaneously with this book. That video, The Strange Demise of Jim Crow: How Houston Desegregated Its Public Accomodations, 1959-1963 is available from University of Texas Press (I can't find it on Amazon). The video includes interviews with many of the prominent actors in this drama and is always a favorite when I use it in my Introduction to US and Texas Politics class.
The second 100 pages of the book is about Eldrewey Stearns' life before and after the movement. Stearns was one of the leaders of the civil rights movement in Houston, but he is also someone who has struggled with mental illness all his life. This book provides a fascinating insight into the struggles the author goes through in trying to help Eldrewey and to understand this complex, flawed, yet sometimes heroic man. He also comes to considerable insight about himself through the process of trying to chronicle Eldrewey's story.
An excellent read, whether you are interested in the history of the movement or in getting an understanding of how it is to deal with mental illness.

In the 1990s I spent two years traveling in Europe. One day in a Hungarian history museum I hit the wall: Here I was reading all about the Magyars, but I knew little about my own hometown--Houston, Texas--except whatever I'd been forced to memorize eons ago in grade school. Unfortunately, once I got back to Texas I found many of the local history books unbearable: "In 1832, Lamar So-and-So reined in his trusty steed at the banks of Buffalo Bayou." I gave up my getting-to-know-Houston project until recently, when I stumbled upon No Color is My Kind: The Life of Eldrewey Stearns and the Integration of Houston. This is easily the best book I've ever read about Houston history. Thomas Cole personalizes the story, makes himself visible as a person confronting his own ideals, frustrations, and personal myths. His subject, Eldrewey Stearns, is obviously no easy man to pin down. Stearns has troubles, and I'm afraid he suffers more than most people. However, the fact that the writer refused--or was unable--to paint Stearns as a perfectly noble (and flat) hero is, in my opinion, exactly why Stearns is such a moving figure and why this work is so much richer than the Daughters of the American Revolution (or worse, Daughters of the Confederacy) tributes that so many other books about Houston and Houstonians seem to be. Stearns is real, and Cole's depiction of him and his part in Houston's integration movement deepened my appreciation for African-Americans' struggles and their courageous stands.

I bought this book about a year ago and then taught a class based on it at my church. I know I will return to this book over and over throughout my life.

I found an original 1987 copy of this book at a small book store in my town. To my suprise, this is one of the most inspirational books I have read. The book starts off with basic information and exercises on developing your imagination and sensory perception and along the way takes you deeper and deeper into your own psyche. Some of the exercises are long and a bit complicated, but worth the effort. Her ideas and theories on spirituality can easily fit any spiritual path or belief system. This is an excellent book to use as a reference for a spiritual development group. Many of the exercises can be incorporated into such a group or be performed alone. This is a wonderful book that can act as a catalyst for emotional, psychological, and spiritual growth and development.

I love this book. I've had it for over a year now and it's one of my most used design books for inspiration. It's always on my nightstand.

I have just purchased a lot at a new beach development called Watercolor right next to Seaside, Fl and am in the process of learning about the styles of decorating that I like. I saw a copy of this book at the sales center today and thought, wow, this will be a great guide for me. Some decorating books seem kind of over-the-top, but this one is beautiful and some of the looks seem attainable after studying them. I plan to have my own copy soon!

This is one of the finest courtroom novels I've ever read. Sol Stein, in his book, STEIN ON WRITING, mentions it as a flawless example of use of point of view. Never mind that -- it's a great read! It captures the seamy side of the legal life, it has excellent characters, and I couldn't put it down! Much better than anything that Grisham has ever written. Clifford Irving is a winner -- just about everything he writes is 5-star. One day he'll be recognized as one of our best novelists.

I can't believe that noone has reviewed this book. I have read it several times and recommend it to anyone who likes to read.

Wonderful Ethiopians of the Ancient Cushite Empire represents the crowning achievement of Ms. Drusilla Dunjee Houston. The work was originally published in Oklahoma City in 1926. It is the first known attempt by a Black woman, and perhaps anyone, to produce a multi-volume work on African history told from an African perspective.

Ms. Houston herself was an educator, journalist and historian. She spent most of her life in Oklahoma and Arizona and succumbed to tuberculosis in Phoenix, Arizona in 1941.

Her work is broad and comprehensive and was quite advanced for its time. Its audience was not confined to scholars but the layperson, particularly Black folk, who were in need of a accurate tonic to boost Black self-esteem. It retains a powerful value even today, more than seventy years since its initial publication.

Western civilization has grudgingly recognized that homo sapiens evolved in Africa, within the last 40 years through the work of Richard and Louis Leakey and the discovery of the "Lucy" skelital evidence in Ethiopia.

However, Drusilla Huston's book copiously documents legends of of African culture before the dessication of the Sahara and the Egyto-Nubian desserts. She continued with ancient references to the ancient Kushite and Ethiopian civilizations and Kings refered to by Homer, Heroditus, Diodorus, Massey Champoleon and others to flesh out the stories of the Nubian, Nahesey, Napatan, Meroic, Alumic, Egyptian, Summarian and Ethiopean nations over 75 years ago.

It is therefore, a prophetic and profound example of pioneering African-American scholarship operating in a bleak and hostile environment over many decades. It's veracity is only enhanced and fortified with the passage of time and recent production of books such as "Black Athena" by Martin Bernal, "Civilization or Barbarism" by Cheik Anta Diop and the 1996 "African Exodus" by Chris Skinner and "Egypt Revisited" edited by Ivan Van Sertima and numerous others.

First of all, this book is by far the best account of Algernon Sidney's thought that can be found. Houston brilliantly analyzes his works and demonstrates just exactly what he stood for. One comes away with a deeper understanding and admiration for Sidney, even if you may have made careful study of his works in the best.

In addition to the invaluable material on Sindey's life, thought, and influence, Houston also rebuts a great deal of the Pocockian civic humanism/republicanism nonsense that has dominated studies of early modern thought for the past few decades.

What a fantastic idea. We bought ours for Father's day, but the
kids could not wait til then. So their Dad already wears his rather bright - hand- printed tie with pride to work. The instructions were clear and the mess was manageable. We think the
kit offers great value, especially compared to the price of
ties today. We really had some good old fashion fun making it. Sure hope this publisher comes up with some
more great ideas soon.

Brilliantly written about the biases people bring to ordinary life. Sheds new light on the subject.

A detail from Frieseke's "Lady with a Parasol" wraps around the cover of this beautiful quality paperback. The book is aptly titled, as the authors include many works that show the bredth and depth of American painters best known for their Impressionist works, and of contemporaries such as Winslow Homer, Chase, Sargent, Maurice Prendergast, and others. Works by F. C. Frieseke include "Girl Reading" c. 1900, o/c 107.6 x 90.8 cm, The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston;"Lady in Rose" c. 1910-1915, o/c, 82.2 x 82.2 cm, William Hill Land & Cattle Co.;"Sewing in the Garden" c. 1915, o/c 74.6 x 93 cm, Ann Gordon Trammel; "Sunbath" c. 1910, o/c 73.4 x 92.7 cm, The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; and "Lady with a Parasol" c. 1908, o/c 64.8 x 81.3, Private Collection.

This is a comprehensive and intelligent study of the work of John Staub, who designed many of the most notable structures in Houston (both domestic architecture and commercial structures). He designed an incredible number of buildings, and not only in Houston, but in other parts of the country. For a student of architecture, and for someone interested in the history of Houston, this book is a must.