My Neighbor's Island (PDF)

This book treats the problems, issues and emotional attitudes that arise when a black family moves into an all-white neighborhood. The author has a talent for realistic, dramatic situations and an unerring eye for the detection of social evil. The story revolves around two families-the Burtons, a black household, and their neighbors, the Armstrongs. Mrs. Armstrong suffers from many conventional prejudices and from fears for the value of her house and land. She is restrained from moving only by her husband and daughter, who see beyond her limiting views. Dr. Burton, a distinguished obstetrician, his wife and his child want only to live accordingly to the standard that best suits their tastes and income. The conflict that develops between the families is stark evidence of the unreasoning hostility that arises out of ignorance and fear. It takes an accident and a dramatic birth to open the way for friendship and civilized behavior. The reader will find much to ponder, much to engross him, but, above all, he will see a striking example of the truth that people of different racial backgrounds can live together in harmony if they try. Mrs. Johnson knows her characters; the dialogue rings true. A perceptive, dynamic exposure of a gnawing contemporary problem vital to everyone, this unassuming book, with its familiar, true-to-life approach, may well accomplish more than many a heavy and scholarly volume.