"Perfect Peace"

“Perfect Peace”

By: Daniel Black PhD.

                Author and Associate Professor Daniel Black in his third novel ‘Perfect Peace’ addresses the complexities of gender, sexual identity, and the nature vs. nurture argument within the African American community. Set in Jim Crow Arkansas rural south. Black introduces his reader to the Peace family. Henrietta and Gus Peace are the parents of 6 boys; they are a farming family that relies heavily on manual labor in order to make ends meet. The book opens with Henrietta in labor with their 7^th child whom everyone is hoping turns out to be a girl. Gus has already stated regardless of the sex of the child, this will be their last child because they simply cannot afford another mouth to feed. Henrietta gives birth to another boy, however, overwhelmed with disappointment and panic she blackmails the midwife forcing her to announce that the new addition to the Peace family is a beautiful baby girl named Perfect.

                Perfect is a child that grows up believing she is as any ordinary girl until her 8^th birthday when her world falls apart after her mother tells her the truth. Now turning from Perfect into Paul Peace author Daniel Black takes the reader on Paul’s journey through confusion, heart break, and ultimately resolution to who he is as a man. Black demonstrates his ability to develop characters in a manner in which none are one dimensional, he works multiple plot lines and gives all who are featured in this story depth.  Black brotherly love, whether sexual or not pervades this book in a way of reassurance that demonstrates men, specifically Black men are able to express themselves and reveal feelings about themselves unashamedly. Perfect Peace is a noble effort in the discussion of gender identity which has been swept under the rug in the past by the Black community rather than seeing it with a critical eye. And how past generations may have dealt with this type of issue which conflicts with some modern interpretations.

                Overall this is a good read for anyone, Perfect Peace is a page turner that keeps the reader engaged in the story never wanting to put the book down. So whatever you do, however you get it, go and check out Perfect Peace by Daniel Black and READ A BOOK!