Pearl's Secret
A Black Man's Search for His White Family
A George Gund Foundation Book in African American Studies
$18.95, £11.50 paperback
978-0-520-22730-9
Available Now
321 pages, 5-1/2 x 8-1/4 inches, 25 b/w photographs, 2 line illustrations
May 2001, Available worldwide
Categories: American Studies; African American Studies; United States History; Social Problems; Media Studies; Cultural Anthropology; Autobiographies & Biographies
May 2001, Available worldwide
Categories: American Studies; African American Studies; United States History; Social Problems; Media Studies; Cultural Anthropology; Autobiographies & Biographies
Downloadable eBook version available:
Adobe eReader and MS Reader at eBooks.com, $12.95
Adobe eReader and MS Reader at eBooks.com, $12.95
"Neil Henry's vivid memoir of his search for the truth about his mixed-race family led him to discoveries about them, himself, slavery and America today, all of which be recounts with unusual insight."—Dallas Morning News
"A deeply personal American story and a valuable contribution to the study of race in our culture."—Kirkus Reviews
"An engaging, emotional, genealogical adventure into ethnicity and self-acceptance. The author uses his investigative instincts to create an intriguing 'back to the future' page-turner as he searches for the white branch of his family tree. What sets this biography apart from other family biographies, like Alex Haley's 'Queen', is Henry's riveting personal narratives of his genealogical research and childhood accounts. Fascinating and compelling."—starred review, Library Journal
"The stories of [Henry's] black family are stark, tender and moving in their honesty. Pearl's Secret is more than a genealogical mystery; it is a memoir, a family history, and the story of one man trying to make a little more sense of the racial landscape we all find ourselves in. In its attempt to record two related families' journeys since slavery, and to reach a deeper understanding of America itself, the book is victorious."—Washington Post Book World
"Henry's account of the complicated warp and woof of American race relations manifested in one family proves most moving."—Booklist
"Readers who enjoyed James McBride's 'The Color of Water' may find Henry's tale equally compelling."—Publishers Weekly
"A genealogical detective story wrapped in a complex memoir about race."—USA Today
"A genealogical detective story and an interesting reflection on race."—The Washingtonian magazine
"In his new book, Henry tells the absorbing story of his two families: the white, landowning Beaumonts-who were wiped out by the boll weevil and later sank into poverty-and the descendants of Laura, who prospered among the black bougeoisie of St. Louis."—Washington City Paper
"Not since Roots has an African-American traveled as deeply into foreign territory in search of his family history as Neil Henry does in Pearl's Secret, in which Henry recounts his journey to the doorstep of his white cousins. Blending genres-history, memoir, investigation-Henry peppers his genealogical quest with detail only a veteran journalist could provide. Yet he is at his best when he abandons objectivity and reveals the emotional toll of finding his white relatives."—Brill's Content
"[Henry's] painstaking search [is] documented in Pearl's Secret, a meditation on race in America that's part memoir, part family history and part detective story."—San Francisco Chronicle
"His book reflects a real warmth, and while avoiding syrupy sentiment, reveals the inner goodness that managed to survive despite racial oppression."—New Orleans Times-Picayune
"Journalist and professor Neil Henry takes 'the trip of a lifetime.'"—Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"Revelatory in a quiet, human, and very realistic way-full of ambiguities and further questions, but no less satisfying for that."—Washingtonian online
"As a former Washington Post journalist, Neil Henry knows how to grip the attention of his readers. The framework of this moving book is his quest as a black intellectual to find the descendants of his great-great-grandfather, an English immigrant to Louisiana who, like many of his time, had a relationship with a freed slave. The book hits hard as a scorching account of prejudice, endeavour and the continuing emotional cost of striving for success. The racial history may be peculiar to America but this compelling personal odyssey, with its sensitive author by turns chippy and generous, has universal lessons."—Sunday Times of London
"A touching memoirÉHis insights into the black experience are powerful and apt, speaking with candor and honesty about the complex issues that surface when one lives as a black American."—Associated Press
"[Henry's] tale deftly balances candor and objectivity, reeling in the reader with vivid reportage and nonthreatening discourse. But it soon produces layers of emotions worthy of any drama."—Smithsonian magazine
"An intensely intimate autobiographyÉa heartfelt, candid and painstakingly written essay of one man's search for answers to his own family's racial enigmas. As such, it is a creditable contribution to solving the puzzle of emotions and facts that continue to divide people and nations."—Black Issues Book Review
"Pearl's Secret does not conjure up happy endings or easy solutions to the barriers of race. Instead it bears witness to the possibility of change and to the transformative role family can play in this process."—Columbia magazine
"A deeply personal American story and a valuable contribution to the study of race in our culture."—Kirkus Reviews
"An engaging, emotional, genealogical adventure into ethnicity and self-acceptance. The author uses his investigative instincts to create an intriguing 'back to the future' page-turner as he searches for the white branch of his family tree. What sets this biography apart from other family biographies, like Alex Haley's 'Queen', is Henry's riveting personal narratives of his genealogical research and childhood accounts. Fascinating and compelling."—starred review, Library Journal
"The stories of [Henry's] black family are stark, tender and moving in their honesty. Pearl's Secret is more than a genealogical mystery; it is a memoir, a family history, and the story of one man trying to make a little more sense of the racial landscape we all find ourselves in. In its attempt to record two related families' journeys since slavery, and to reach a deeper understanding of America itself, the book is victorious."—Washington Post Book World
"Henry's account of the complicated warp and woof of American race relations manifested in one family proves most moving."—Booklist
"Readers who enjoyed James McBride's 'The Color of Water' may find Henry's tale equally compelling."—Publishers Weekly
"A genealogical detective story wrapped in a complex memoir about race."—USA Today
"A genealogical detective story and an interesting reflection on race."—The Washingtonian magazine
"In his new book, Henry tells the absorbing story of his two families: the white, landowning Beaumonts-who were wiped out by the boll weevil and later sank into poverty-and the descendants of Laura, who prospered among the black bougeoisie of St. Louis."—Washington City Paper
"Not since Roots has an African-American traveled as deeply into foreign territory in search of his family history as Neil Henry does in Pearl's Secret, in which Henry recounts his journey to the doorstep of his white cousins. Blending genres-history, memoir, investigation-Henry peppers his genealogical quest with detail only a veteran journalist could provide. Yet he is at his best when he abandons objectivity and reveals the emotional toll of finding his white relatives."—Brill's Content
"[Henry's] painstaking search [is] documented in Pearl's Secret, a meditation on race in America that's part memoir, part family history and part detective story."—San Francisco Chronicle
"His book reflects a real warmth, and while avoiding syrupy sentiment, reveals the inner goodness that managed to survive despite racial oppression."—New Orleans Times-Picayune
"Journalist and professor Neil Henry takes 'the trip of a lifetime.'"—Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"Revelatory in a quiet, human, and very realistic way-full of ambiguities and further questions, but no less satisfying for that."—Washingtonian online
"As a former Washington Post journalist, Neil Henry knows how to grip the attention of his readers. The framework of this moving book is his quest as a black intellectual to find the descendants of his great-great-grandfather, an English immigrant to Louisiana who, like many of his time, had a relationship with a freed slave. The book hits hard as a scorching account of prejudice, endeavour and the continuing emotional cost of striving for success. The racial history may be peculiar to America but this compelling personal odyssey, with its sensitive author by turns chippy and generous, has universal lessons."—Sunday Times of London
"A touching memoirÉHis insights into the black experience are powerful and apt, speaking with candor and honesty about the complex issues that surface when one lives as a black American."—Associated Press
"[Henry's] tale deftly balances candor and objectivity, reeling in the reader with vivid reportage and nonthreatening discourse. But it soon produces layers of emotions worthy of any drama."—Smithsonian magazine
"An intensely intimate autobiographyÉa heartfelt, candid and painstakingly written essay of one man's search for answers to his own family's racial enigmas. As such, it is a creditable contribution to solving the puzzle of emotions and facts that continue to divide people and nations."—Black Issues Book Review
"Pearl's Secret does not conjure up happy endings or easy solutions to the barriers of race. Instead it bears witness to the possibility of change and to the transformative role family can play in this process."—Columbia magazine
"Pearl's Secret is a masterful memoir. As he leads the reader through the awful history of American race relations, Henry narrates the search for his ancestry with lyrical wonder and honesty. His voice is neither cynical nor romantic, but pulses with the mystery of human behavior, a sociological detective transforming his singular quest into a universal one. What emerges inevitably along the way is the secret of Henry's own amazing grace."—David Maraniss, author of First In His Class and When Pride Still Mattered
"Neil Henry combines an investigative journalist's zeal for fact-digging with a talented writer's insight and sensitivity to produce an extraordinarily moving portrayal of his own racially-divided family."—James V. Risser, two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist
"Pearl's Secret is a haunting, boldly conceived memoir that explores the warped complexities of Black-White relations in the United States with a compassionate grace. A seasoned journalist and artful storyteller, Henry jars the reader into contemplating the idiocy of racism by bringing us along on his geneological journey of poignant discovery."—Douglas Brinkley, Professor of History and Director of the Eisenhower Center for American Studies at the University of New Orleans
"Pearl's Secret is riveting—I couldn't stop turning pages. Neil Henry's extraordinary racial journey takes him through fascinating terrain—both personal and historical. His relentless search for his white roots is both engaging and moving. As he traces the migration of his English great great grandfather from Kent to a small backwater town in the American South, Henry uncovers a wealth of surprising details. His family history and the remarkable climax to his search make this an unforgettable story."—Gordon Parks, author of The Learning Tree
"With this book, Neil Henry, an outstanding newspaper journalist who has become an influential academician, joins the growing ranks of African-American authors in newsrooms and the academy who are generously sharing their lives and experiences in vivid examinations of the realities of race in a changing world. It is a moving American story with poignant lessons for all of us."—Leonard Downie Jr., executive editor of The Washington Post
"Pearl's Secret is an elegant, intimate journey through the American past and present. It slides effortlessly among genres—detective story, memoir, history—and succeeds at every level. Its revelations about race and identity lie at the wounded heart of American culture."—Steve Coll, managing editor of The Washington Post
"Neil Henry's journey to find the truth of his roots is a remarkable mix of investigative and personal journalism at its most courageous and compelling."—Tom Goldstein, Dean, Graduate School of Journalism, Columbia University
"This fine book tells an unusual and surprising story. It also introduces a remarkable writer. I read it with great interest and pleasure and I expect that you will too."—Donald E. Graham, Chairman, The Washington Post
"A kind of real life detective story where what's been lost and what's finally found is part of the author's identity. Henry is a dogged, civilized sleuth. What he finds is revealing, ugly, and fascinating. Pearl's Secret deals with the racial divide not as the subject for a treatise on hate but for one on healing. That, in itself, is news."—John Lahr, author of Prick Up Your Ears: The Biography of Joe Orton
"I love Neil Henry and his work. Pearl's Secret is a beauty and his best work. He has found the narrative line—and humanity—in the generations. Like all great books it is a tale of self-discovery and surprise."—Bob Woodward, co-author of All the President's Men
"Neil Henry combines an investigative journalist's zeal for fact-digging with a talented writer's insight and sensitivity to produce an extraordinarily moving portrayal of his own racially-divided family."—James V. Risser, two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist
"Pearl's Secret is a haunting, boldly conceived memoir that explores the warped complexities of Black-White relations in the United States with a compassionate grace. A seasoned journalist and artful storyteller, Henry jars the reader into contemplating the idiocy of racism by bringing us along on his geneological journey of poignant discovery."—Douglas Brinkley, Professor of History and Director of the Eisenhower Center for American Studies at the University of New Orleans
"Pearl's Secret is riveting—I couldn't stop turning pages. Neil Henry's extraordinary racial journey takes him through fascinating terrain—both personal and historical. His relentless search for his white roots is both engaging and moving. As he traces the migration of his English great great grandfather from Kent to a small backwater town in the American South, Henry uncovers a wealth of surprising details. His family history and the remarkable climax to his search make this an unforgettable story."—Gordon Parks, author of The Learning Tree
"With this book, Neil Henry, an outstanding newspaper journalist who has become an influential academician, joins the growing ranks of African-American authors in newsrooms and the academy who are generously sharing their lives and experiences in vivid examinations of the realities of race in a changing world. It is a moving American story with poignant lessons for all of us."—Leonard Downie Jr., executive editor of The Washington Post
"Pearl's Secret is an elegant, intimate journey through the American past and present. It slides effortlessly among genres—detective story, memoir, history—and succeeds at every level. Its revelations about race and identity lie at the wounded heart of American culture."—Steve Coll, managing editor of The Washington Post
"Neil Henry's journey to find the truth of his roots is a remarkable mix of investigative and personal journalism at its most courageous and compelling."—Tom Goldstein, Dean, Graduate School of Journalism, Columbia University
"This fine book tells an unusual and surprising story. It also introduces a remarkable writer. I read it with great interest and pleasure and I expect that you will too."—Donald E. Graham, Chairman, The Washington Post
"A kind of real life detective story where what's been lost and what's finally found is part of the author's identity. Henry is a dogged, civilized sleuth. What he finds is revealing, ugly, and fascinating. Pearl's Secret deals with the racial divide not as the subject for a treatise on hate but for one on healing. That, in itself, is news."—John Lahr, author of Prick Up Your Ears: The Biography of Joe Orton
"I love Neil Henry and his work. Pearl's Secret is a beauty and his best work. He has found the narrative line—and humanity—in the generations. Like all great books it is a tale of self-discovery and surprise."—Bob Woodward, co-author of All the President's Men
Pearl's Secret is a remarkable autobiography and family story that combines elements of history, investigative reporting, and personal narrative in a riveting, true-to-life mystery. In it, Neil Henry—a black professor of journalism and former award-winning correspondent for the Washington Post—sets out to piece together the murky details of his family's past. His search for the white branch of his family becomes a deeply personal odyssey, one in which Henry deploys all of his journalistic skills to uncover the paper trail that leads to blood relations who have lived for more than a century on the opposite side of the color line. At the same time Henry gives a powerful and vivid account of his black family's rise to success over the twentieth century. Throughout the course of this gripping story the author reflects on the part that racism and racial ignorance have played in his daily life—from his boyhood in largely white Seattle to his current role as a parent and educator in California.
The contemporary debate over the significance of Thomas Jefferson's longtime romantic relationship with his slave, Sally Hemings, and recent DNA evidence that points to his role as the father of black descendants, have revealed the importance and volatility of the issue of dual-race legacies in American society. As Henry uncovers the dramatic history of his great-great-grandfather—a white English immigrant who fought as a Confederate officer in the Civil War, found success during Reconstruction as a Louisiana plantation owner, and enjoyed a long love affair with Henry's great-great-grandmother, a freed black slave—he grapples with an unsettling ambivalence about what he is trying to do. His straightforward, honest voice conveys both the pain and the exhilaration that his revelations bring him about himself, his family, and our society. In the book's stunning climax, the author finally meets his white kin, hears their own remarkable story of survival in America, and discovers a great deal about both the sting of racial prejudice as it is woven into the fabric of the nation, and his own proud identity as a teacher, father, and black American.
The contemporary debate over the significance of Thomas Jefferson's longtime romantic relationship with his slave, Sally Hemings, and recent DNA evidence that points to his role as the father of black descendants, have revealed the importance and volatility of the issue of dual-race legacies in American society. As Henry uncovers the dramatic history of his great-great-grandfather—a white English immigrant who fought as a Confederate officer in the Civil War, found success during Reconstruction as a Louisiana plantation owner, and enjoyed a long love affair with Henry's great-great-grandmother, a freed black slave—he grapples with an unsettling ambivalence about what he is trying to do. His straightforward, honest voice conveys both the pain and the exhilaration that his revelations bring him about himself, his family, and our society. In the book's stunning climax, the author finally meets his white kin, hears their own remarkable story of survival in America, and discovers a great deal about both the sting of racial prejudice as it is woven into the fabric of the nation, and his own proud identity as a teacher, father, and black American.
CONTENTS
Prelude
PART ONE: Search
1. Clues in Microfilm
2. Road Maps
3. Natchez
4. Jim Crow's Shadow
PART TWO: Discovery
5. The Chase
6. 'Welcome to the Family'
7. Tenth Man Classic
Acknowledgments
Prelude
PART ONE: Search
1. Clues in Microfilm
2. Road Maps
3. Natchez
4. Jim Crow's Shadow
PART TWO: Discovery
5. The Chase
6. 'Welcome to the Family'
7. Tenth Man Classic
Acknowledgments
Finalist for best nonfiction 2001 by Northern California writers by the Bay Area Book Reviewers Association.
Ties That Bind: The Story of an Afro-Cherokee Family in Slavery and Freedom, by Tiya Miles
Blood Politics: Race, Culture, and Identity in the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, by Circe Sturm
Immigration and the Political Economy of Home: West Indian Brooklyn and American Indian Minneapolis, 1945-1992, by Rachel Buff
Indians in the Making: Ethnic Relations and Indian Identities around Puget Sound, by Alexandra Harmon
American Carnival: Journalism under Siege in an Age of New Media, by Neil Henry
Blood Politics: Race, Culture, and Identity in the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, by Circe Sturm
Immigration and the Political Economy of Home: West Indian Brooklyn and American Indian Minneapolis, 1945-1992, by Rachel Buff
Indians in the Making: Ethnic Relations and Indian Identities around Puget Sound, by Alexandra Harmon
American Carnival: Journalism under Siege in an Age of New Media, by Neil Henry