Bruce Jackson

nonfiction/memoir - Black child grows up in NYC Projects with absent father, manages to stay out of trouble (for the most part--he does get arrested several times for crimes he didn't do), finds a mentor who helps him (along with his hard work in school) get into Georgetown School of Law, makes his way through entry-level law positions to opening his own firm representing hip hop artists, and finally finds a place at Microsoft (at first in Seattle, then thankfully a transfer back to NYC). Along the way he continues to try to mentor underprivileged Black youth in elementary school and tries to help other Black professionals get a foot in the door as well.

Very readable--Mr. Jackson is an excellent writer and really knows how to tell a good story. For more books about successful Black people, see also:
Wolf Hustle: a Black Woman on Wall Street by Cin Fabre
A Visible Man by Edward Enninful
Finding Me by Viola Davis
The Awkward Thoughts of W. Kamau Bell (comedian)… (mere)

autobiography, education, judiciary, lawyers, memoir, memories,*****

I'd never have made it as a Black kid anywhere.
Bruce started out in the projects in Brooklyn and had a large and complicated extended family. Despite all of his accomplishments and standings in law and business, he has still been subjected to the same unreasonable bias and discrimination. Too real, just as the bias and discrimination are still stupid and definitive of unreasoning fears.
This is a good read and a very necessary one.
I requested and received an E Galley from Atria Books via NetGalley. Thank you!… (mere)