Customer Reviews

Cousins of Color

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

"Cousins of Color" is a fascinating and enlightening view of America's involvement in the Philippines at the turn of the century. President McKinley has sent US military forces to Manila for 'humanitarian' purposes. This is not a book about the men who make important decisions but about the trickle down effect those decisions have on other men. Schroder's story allows the reader to see what doors are opened by the arrogance of those in power. We see the dark side of some men manifest itself and the strength of character in others come through. It's a book about choices and one man choosing to do what is right over what is expedient.

Dear Mr. Schroder:

I have spent much of my rather long career as an academic historian studying various aspects of African American life and culture. I knew of David Fagen, but mine was a very superficial knowledge of this most extraordinary individual.

In my view, you have used Fagen in Cousins of Color - a work that follows very closely the historical record - to capture the "real" story of America's involvement in the Philippines, especially as it relates to the issue of race. Cousins of Color demonstrates the extent to which Uncle Sam and Jim Crow marched arm-in-arm into the Philippines under the banner of something officially called "benevolent assimilation." No other work with which I am familiar so thouroughly captures the complex forces involved in this aspect of the Spanish-American War or demonstrates such a firm grasp of the context and diverse ingredients of this conflict. Your knowledge of the plight of African American soldiers, the different cultural and language groups in the Philippines and the relationship that developed between these two so-called "colored peoples" is indeed extraordinary.

There is no doubt that through historical fiction you have illuminated a highly significant chapter in America's past in ways we historians have been unable to do. Cousins of Color explores with extraordinary skill themes and ideas that have persisted in our history for a very long time and will capture and hold the attention of readers, most of whom are certain to detect analogies between "the struggle for empire" at the end of the 19th century and later struggles waged under various banners in the 20th century and beyond.

Dr. Willard B. Gatewood,
Alumni Distinguished Professor of History (Emeritus)

Author of: Black Americans and the White Man's Burden
Smoked Yankees and the Struggle for Freedom
Aristocrats of Color

We label soldiers like David Fagen deserters. How do we label a nation which first commits treason against a segment of its own citizenry? In this novel, perhaps the most honest account of Teddy Roosevelt's ill-considered war of conquest in the Philippines, Schroder illuminates not only the politics of the invasion, but the human story of one black soldier's heart-wrenching response to being ordered to suppress his 'cousins of color' on behalf of his own suppressor. A veteran of another Asian jungle war, Schroder's landscapes, villages, and cultural insights ring true. His stirring story of a heroic act of conscience is a lesson that even the best of nations must heed. Perhaps Cousins of Color packs such an emotional whallop because we come to understand, in this forgotten chapter of US history, the danger of allowing a president to use the military as a plaything or an instrument of wealth-building. If only the heads on Mt. Rushmore could speak, it's clear that Roosevelt and Lincoln would have much to disagree about.

In the tradition of Stone and Vidal, this vivid and visceral biographical novel took me on a page turning journey into the depths of David Fagen's soul. William Schroder has painted a truly astonishing story of one man's agonizing and passionate clash between love of country and personal truth. Set in the Philippines during the Spanish American War, this country's frist encounter with "liberating occupation," I found myself engrossed in this remarkable story and asking the same difficult questions that must be facing many Americans in today's challenging times. When Hollywood makes this into a movie, and surely it will, I pray it will be as honest as this work so richly deserves. Excellent, absolutely excellent.

Dean T. Welsh, Los Angeles, California

I must admit I knew very little about the period in time described in Cousins of Color prior to reading the book. Afterward, I felt as if a window to the time period had been opened for me, and I could clearly see the inhabitants going about their lives! The story is fascinating, and I quickly became involved in the tale and the lives of the protagonists. In particular, the dialog seemed unforced and genuine, and the plot flowed seamlessly to the stunning finale. I look forward to more books by this talented author.

Cousins of Color, from first to last, is exciting and visual (I can't wait for the movie!). Black troops in the Philippines to help "liberate" it from the Spanish must fight not only the enemy, but also suffer prejudice from many white soldiers. David Fagen becomes an outcast, forced to desert, unwelcome where he is and unable to return home. The story of how he survives and triumphs is fast-paced and intriguing. The characters walk off the pages into the mind and heart forever.

William Schroder is a man who can write!

Byron L. Sacre,
Author of Family and Other Strangers

History comes to Life

Cousins of Color, from first to last, is exciting and visual (I can't wait for the movie!). Black troops in the Philippines to help "liberate" it from the Spanish must fight not only the enemy, but also suffer prejudice from many white soldiers. David Fagen becomes an outcast, forced to desert, unwelcome where he is and unable to return home. The story of how he survives and triumphs is fast-paced and intriguing. The characters walk off the pages into the mind and heart forever.

William Schroder is a man who can write!

Byron L. Sacre,
Author of Family and Other Strangers

Mr Schroder has captured the rough and tumble times back when America stumbled into what became known as the Philippine Insurrection. Once the Spanish were routed from the Philippines, the US entered into a bloody and merciless conflict between the inhabitants and Americans. The actual events dealing with one Private David Fagan, an African-American soldier faced with the issues of suppressing Filipinos fighting for their freedom and the relentless and segregated American army and its brutal campaign. Interesting plotline, good characters, actual events and people blended into an excellent and compelling adventure that begs for life on the big screen.
The author survived combat in Vietnam and knows what fear and death is like and blends those into this powerful story of Fagan as he faces his own fears and deserts and fights against his own countrymen, many of whom dispise him for the color of his skin.
One problem I did have with this excellent novel was the fact that nearly all the African American soldiers speak English as if they just graduated from a well to do college rather than the broken and slang-riddled verbiage that should have been used in the text. Aside from that, the action is brisk, the fear tangible and the humidity almost soaks into the readers finger tips.

Fascinating Historical Novel, July 30, 2004
Reviewer: S. Esposito (lake havasu, az. United States) - See all my reviews


I must admit I knew very little about the period in time described in Cousins of Color prior to reading the book. Afterward, I felt as if a window to the time period had been opened for me, and I could clearly see the inhabitants going about their lives! The story is fascinating, and I quickly became involved in the tale and the lives of the protagonists. In particular, the dialog seemed unforced and genuine, and the plot flowed seamlessly to the stunning finale. I look forward to more books by this talented author.

"Cousins of Color" is a fascinating and enlightening view of America's involvement in the Philippines during the turn of the century. President McKinley has sent U.S. military forces to Mania for 'humanitarian' reasons. This is not a book about the men who make important decisions but about the trickle down effect of those decisions on other men. Schroder's story allows the reader to see what doors are opened by the arrogance of those in power. We see the dark side of some men manifest itself and the strength of character in others come through. It's a book about choices and one man choosing to do what is right over what is expedient.