Mirror to America

Mirror to America is a story of a life that spans almost a century. It is a story of a human being who isn't fully accepted by the larger society because of the color of his skin. Unfortunately, it is a common story. It is a story psychiatrists, especially clinical psychiatrists, would benefit from understanding if we are to truly appreciate the world of people whose skin is darker than most. Dr. Franklin's life takes us through rural and small U.S. communities and through academic centers in the South, Midwest, East Coast, and even in Hawaii. His story takes us to the Oval Office, to India, behind the Iron Curtain during the Cold War, and to Australia. He writes about the major events of the past century and what these events meant to his life, to his family, and to the majority of African Americans. He faces the harsh reality of racism at every stage of his life. It never ceases. We readers, however, are lucky to read his account, for it allows us to glimpse the injustice, the pain, the burden, and the will to overcome a life in which one is often hated, ignored, suppressed, criminalized, or humiliated for having more melanin in his or her skin. This book is thoughtful, uplifting, and necessary. It is painful to read at times. The author writes about events that took place more than seven decades ago, and yet your patient may talk about similar events that took place last week. Dr. Franklin's book is thoughtful in that it considers almost every aspect of human experience, including world events, mental processes, individual personal traits, chance, and destiny. It is uplifting because Dr. Franklin enjoyed his life despite the hardships. He often comments on the joys of a good meal, fishing, his orchids, and of course "my old gold," his wife of more than 50 years. It is a necessary read for our field of treating human suffering. Reading this story is essential even in 2006, because racism continues to thrive all over the world. Unfortunately, racism is a common story that many would rather ignore. However, ignoring the problem rarely brings about healing.