Change of Heart, A [Paperback]

Jermaine Watkins (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 2001

ROSS CRASS HAD BEEN RAISED TO HATE BLACKS, whom he sees as an evil race responsible for the murder of his father. Now, more than ever, his hatred is inflamed by the recurring memories of his altercation with a desperate black writer, who was rejected from literary representation by Ross. An ensuing civil suit awards the black writer with the bulk of the agent's wealth, and Ross is reduced to living in a dismal housing project in Hartford, Connecticut. In the depth of Ross's own despair, there are special moments with new neighbors, an aspiring black novelist and his grandmother. And what ensues is a healing life change -- a change that is part of God's master plan.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The energy and sheer will required to change is a struggle Watkins knows well." -- The Hartford Courant

From the Inside Flap

Ross Crass had been raised to hate blacks, whom he sees as an evil race responsible for the murder of his father. Now, more than ever, his hatred is inflamed by the recurring memories of his altercation with a desperate black writer, who was rejected from literary representation by Ross. An ensuing civil suit awards the black writer with the bulk of the agent's wealth, and Ross is reduced to living in a dismal housing project in Hartford, Connecticut.

In the depth of Ross's own despair, there are special moments with new neighbors, an aspiring black novelist and his grandmother. And what ensues is a healing life change... a change that is part of God's master plan.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 168 pages
• Publisher: Metropolis Ink (December 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0957985835
• ISBN-13: 978-0957985834
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,719,171 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

JERMAINE WATKINS is the author of A Change Of Heart, Book 1 of the Hartford Series. His father is Willie Rogers, the lead singer of the Legendary Soul Stirrers--the gospel group that launched the career of Sam Cooke and was inducted into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame in 1989. Watkins has appeared on radio (including CBS's Hot 93.7 FM and Clear Channel's Power 104.1 FM), was featured in such periodicals as The Hartford Courant and Hartford Magazine, and has signed at Barnes and Noble and Walmart superstores. An advocate for reading and writing, he's attended high schools and universities to discuss the importance of books and publishing. Watkins is presently working on releasing the second installment of the series set in his Connecticut hometown: Hartford.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Divine Intervention, June 20, 2002

By 

The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers (RAWSISTAZ.com and BlackBookReviews.net) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Change of Heart, A (Paperback)

It's not every day that God sends an angel to reprimand us for the err of our ways. It's not every day that a white racist man is saved from a gang incident and nursed back to health by a black woman and her grandson. And, it's not every day that a man like this white man, whose hatred had run so deep, has a change of heart. Almost oblivious to the immorality of his upbringing, Ross Crass becomes an adult racist harboring full-grown hate. Once an accomplished literary agent, he now lives in the housing projects of Hartford, Connecticut, surrounded by those he was taught to hate, and submerged in his own self-pity. After a close call with a local gang, Maggie Turner and her grandson Tracie bring Ross into their home while he recuperates.

After a visit from a black angel... and through the kindness of Maggie and Tracie, Ross' viewpoint changes. In addition, now that he is using a cane and getting stares from folks on the bus and rejections from potential employers, he realizes that black folks get those kind of stares and rejections on a daily basis.

Tracie has been working on his novel for years now. He has endured countless rejections from publishing houses, abhoring the impersonal form letters that smash his dreams. Can Ross use his literary skills to help Tracie get published? Will he help a man from the race he was raised to hate?

Jermaine Watkins has crafted a fine novel that centers not only on racism, but also on humanism. The prose and storyline are flowing, and the reader feels compassion, anger, and a plethora of other emotions while following this wonderful story. The characters had depth, and neither the concept nor the storyline were overdone. This is a fresh, new plot line, and I anxiously await the next effort from this talented author.

Reviewed by CandaceK

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars New Voice, October 10, 2005

By 

Angie "Chini's Girl" (Camden, NJ) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Change of Heart, A (Paperback)

Mr. Watkins is a new voice in the book world today. I was brought up to look white people in the eye when I had something to say and to never let one of them see me sweat even if I was sweating. But never brought up to be racist. Growing up we had a huge picture of Angela Davis on our living room wall, yet I still love all kinds of people.

To read a story like this was very interesting and brought on a whole new look at how people really feel. The story was well told and entertaining. I recommend it to all.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Delightfully Different and enlightening, June 15, 2005

By 

S. Hudson "Avid Reader" (Tucker, GA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Change of Heart, A (Paperback)

If you read a lot of my reviews, you'll quickly find out I'm always on the hunt for a book with something different, something that grabs my attention and holds it until the end of the book. The biggest factor for me, and lets admit it, most reviewers have some bias, but anyway, what grabs me is something shocking and unexpected, followed closely by an ending I can't readily guess. A Change of Heart has half of my winning book combination- the unexpected- and this alone kept my interest through the book.

Ross Crass is an interesting man. The book opens where he has fallen from a secure kingdom he's built for himself in the literary world to land him squarely in the confines of an urban housing complex. Not terribly unexpected if you compare Ross to others who are one paycheck away from homelessness, but Ross is different in many ways. He's white and his attitude is one of disgust for black people. He would rather die than be in the situation he's in. If it had not been for Maggie and her grandson Tracie, he very well could have received his wish. After being brutally attacked one night and Maggie took Ross in and nursed him back to health both physically and mentally.

Ross' feelings on black people are so negative, he resists Maggie's assistance at first. During his convalescence he dreams and is approached by a black angel whose duty it is to aid him. He refuses to accept the angel's aid as well. Only when he comes to the realization that his upbringing has harmful implications to his present and future situations does he slowly knock down his destructive racist thought patterns and actions.

As Ross gets closer to Maggie and Tracie, he experiences a true change of heart, which is why this book is missing my other half of the great book equation. Nonetheless it's an average book to read and enjoy. Told from a perspective that avid readers don't come across much, A Change of Heart explores topics not readily discussed in open forums or over the dinner table. Expounding on racial matters is a delicate path to tread, but Jermaine Watkins has forged a path to dialogue through a book that contains controversial moments and situations.