An "American Revolutionary" on Living through Decades of Anti-Black Racism

Nelson Peery has just published his memoir, "Black Fire: The Making of an American Revolutionary," about coming of age against a background of racism, the Depression, and World War II. The book chronicles Peery's travels west during the Depression, and his experiences as a soldier fighting in World War II. He writes about his simultaneous love for America and hatred for the people who discriminated against African Americans, especially in the Army. The book details his vision of a worldwide revolution of people of color, his involvement in the Communist party, and his own personal revolutions against officers in his unit who were cruel to black soldiers. Perry began his book when he was 24, but did not finish it until now, almost 25 years later.