A Man from Another Land: How Finding My Roots Changed My Life [Hardcover]

Isaiah Washington (Author), Lavaille Lavette (Contributor)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 27, 2011

In this inspirational memoir, Grey's Anatomy actor Isaiah Washington explains how filling in the gaps of his past led him to discover a new passion: helping those less fortunate. DNA testing revealed that Washington was descended from the Mende people, who today live in Sierra Leone. For many people, the story would end with the results of the search; for Isaiah, it had just begun. Discovering his roots has given him a new purpose, to lead an inspirational life defined by faith and charity.

After visiting Sierra Leone, and researching the country and its needs, Washington forged a strong relationship with the Mende people, and was inducted as Chief Gondobay Manga in May 2006. He established The Gondobay Manga Foundation to institute many improvements suggested by the country's people, addressing educational concerns, practical issues (road building, water supply, and electricity), and rehabilitative projects.

Dual citizenship has been a dream of African-Americans such as W.E.B. DuBois, Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X, but Washington became the first to realize that honor in 2008. A twofold milestone, it was also the first time an African president granted citizenship based on DNA.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Actor, producer and human rights activist, Isaiah Washington is an NAACP Image Award and Screen Actors Guild winning American actor. A veteran of several Spike Lee films, Washington is best known for his role as Dr. Preston Burke on the ABC medical drama Grey's Anatomy.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Center Street; First Edition edition (April 27, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1599953188
• ISBN-13: 978-1599953182
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 1.2 x 9.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,266,847 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Isaiah Washington IV (born August 3, 1963) is an American actor. A veteran of several Spike Lee films, Washington is best known for his role as Dr. Preston Burke on the ABC medical drama Grey's Anatomy. In 2005, Washington originated the role of gifted cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. Preston Burke on the ABC medical drama Grey's Anatomy. His portrayal earned him two NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series, as well as a Screen Actors Guild Award. Washington was born in Houston, Texas, where his parents were residents in the Independence Heights community. The family moved to Missouri City, Texas around 1978, where he was one of the first graduates from Willowridge High School (1981). Washington went on to serve in the United States Air Force and attended Howard University. Washington married Jenisa Marie Garland on February 14, 1996. The couple have three children (Isaiah V, Tyme, and Iman).

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars What is more personal than DNA? August 12, 2011

By J Timothy Quirk

Format:Hardcover

I finished reading Isaiah Washington's book last week but as I am still thinking about the book today, I guess it has earned the phrase "thought provoking". The essence of the story for me is that it is a memoir of self discovery told in a very interesting voice with something new to say. While there is the narrative of the DNA that provides a link to Sierra Leone, I think the real discovery is how the reader perceives the author through his account of events. Mr. Washington is a man who knows what it is like to live in relative anonymity (as he starts out), to live in a world of approbation, and to live in a world of public disapproval, somewhat overblown media-hyped disapproval. The discovery is to be true to one's self through it all. There are vignettes of joy and of pain, of history and forgiveness. There is a celebration of knowledge, of understanding DNA and that it has "memory". The author is on a journey that is truly fascinating because he does not know where it will lead when it begins. I found the situations in Sierra Leone compelling and the narrative places that country squarely "on the radar". Like all things in the book, Mr. Washington finds some situations in Sierra Leone exhilarating and some situations truly heartbreaking. There is a story on page 141 of a water pipe which I won't relate here-you can read it. But as a father, my heart breaks reading that story as his does while he is witnessing it. So this is a truly compelling, human story that snuck up on me with each chapter.

As I read A Man from Another Land, it seemed to me like a shoo-in for an audio book. You feel like the account is truly Mr. Washington's personal journey that he is telling.... Personally I think the voice is so strong that when the sequel is done, and I'd like to see it released as an audio book and printed at the same time, maybe with a podcast supplementing it.
Why do I think there's a compelling second book there?

Mr. Washington tells the story in his book how he read in the newspaper that Bausch and Laumb suffered a bad "media liability" moment. Their stock plummeted and he took that moment to buy stock, making enough to finance some of his Sierra Leone work. I think that's where Mr. Washington was after suffering a simple bad media moment blown way out of proportion. The public also loves Act Two, The Comeback, and that's clearly going to happen. Mr. Washington had a ten year plan to work with Spike Lee. He had a 365 day plan to build a school, and did it. I think any reader who reads A Man from Another Land to the end will want to see his three or four year plan for his career and for Sierra Leone. If he achieves success, as I believe he will, that will be the unbeatable story. We will want to watch it, hear it and read it and we're going to learn how it's done. Read more ›

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars I'm Coming Home July 6, 2011

By Dera R Williams VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

Ever since he could remember, no matter where Isaiah Washington went in the U.S., African natives would stop him and ask what country in Africa he came from or what tribe he belonged to. He would always disappoint them with the answer, "I was born and raised in Houston, Texas." From the time he was very young, Washington felt a kinship with Africa. In the color-struck African-American community, where intra-racial colorism ran rampant, he was always fine with his dark skin; he relished in it and refused to let anyone make him inferior. In his memoir, A Man from Another Land: How Finding My Roots Changed My Life, Isaiah Washington recounts his journey of discovering his African ancestry.

After a stint in the U.S. Air Force, Washington entered Howard University in Washington D.C. where he was confronted with more colorism issues from classmates and college officials, which only served to draw him closer to his African roots. He became an activist, joining protests against South Africa apartheid and the imprisonment of Nelson Mandela. He began acting at Howard and soon was doing dinner theater, then the plays and films with Spike Lee in New York and eventually movies in Los Angeles. In 1998 he went to Namibia to shoot a movie, Kin. The crew went to Cape Town first and when they stepped off of the airplane, Washington felt as if he had arrived home. Sitting by the river, a force came over him that shook him to his core and he knew he had been there before. Later after he returned home, he was put in contact with Dr. Kittles of African Ancestry, his DNA was tested and it was revealed he shared 99.9 percent ancestry with the Mende and Temne people of Sierra Leone and his paternal side revealed he shared 99.3 percent with the Mbundfu people of Angola....

Washington became more visible as one of the stars on Grey's Anatomy, a hospital drama and began to think of ways he could connect with Sierra Leone. He established a foundation, The Gondobay Manga Foundation, putting together a stellar staff and establishing relationships in Sierra Leone and cultivating support in several arenas, including the White House. He came away from Freetown, Sierra Leone vowing to build a school there. He also began cultivating relationships there in Africa. There were officials and tribal chiefs whose power and influence could be the gateway to access for resources in order for Washington to obtain his goals.

Meanwhile in Hollywood Washington's star was soaring but he hit a rough spot in fall 2007 when he had a dispute with a fellow actor on the set of his television show. In the entertainment world, one slip of the tongue, one bad judgment call, or one false move can be a career-deal breaker. After months of uncertainty filled with tension that became worse when attempts to repair his image backfired, he was let go by producer Shonda Rhimes who was pressured by ABC officials. There were some hard times that followed but his dedication to his dream and promise to Sierra Leone kept him going. He continued to work tirelessly with his foundation making several trips to Africa and acquiring other acting roles. Isaiah Washington, a man from another land, was on his way to fulfilling his destiny.

I recommend this book to those who are involved with genealogical research and others who are searching for their African roots. The advance copy was provided by the publisher for review purposes.

Dera Williams
APOOO BookClub Read more ›

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Sugar Coating What Really Happened July 19, 2011

By Jill

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I read the book by Mr. Washington and to be honest he is not telling the truth when it comes to his exit from Grey's Anatomy. He makes up many excuses for his behavior and acts likes he is the victim. He went on Larry King to bad mouth the show after he was fired. He released his anger in the press with Grey's Anatomy.
He talked badly about everyone on that show and TPTB did not like that.
He talks of his ten cast mates with one in rehab...I knew he was talking about Justin Chambers. Yes, I still think Isaiah is a great man. He has done a lot of wonderful things but do not dance around the truth and expect people to say nothing when you are clearly lying.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Disappointed June 24, 2011

By mimi

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I was somewhat disappointed. The book started out great but began to drag so much that I just lost interest. Such a let down when I had looked so forward to sinking my teeth into it. I just didn't buy into the whole tribal worhip/connection aspect. It seemed as though the author's popularity was based more on his deep pockets and notariety.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars How "knowing" yourself can change everything June 2, 2011

By P. Ginsburg

Format:Hardcover

I must admit I do not watch much television and have not seen any of Isaiah Washington's movies. Thus, I am not familiar with him as an actor, but only as an author - a very good one. In his book, he recounts how he was adrift until, by chance, he was given a DNA test and learned that he is descended from two tribes in Sierra Leone. This knowledge changed him, gave him a sense of belonging, and set him on a quest to connect with and help the people of Sierra Leone. His story is an engaging one for anyone who has ever wondered about or attempted to locate his or her ancestors or, having discovered one's roots, has felt a powerful connection to the country of ancestry. The story of Mr. Washington's efforts to aid Sierra Leone is reminiscent in some ways of Three Cups of Tea. The difference is that Mr. Washington actually has a DNA connection to the people he is seeking to help.

The book is well written and extremely interesting. If I were Mr. Washington's editor, however, I would have encouraged him to provide more information about the history of Sierra Leone, the slave trade from there, and the recent war - none of which I know very much about, even after having read Mr. Washington's book. Likewise, I would have advised him to provide more information about the events that led to him being released from his contract for Grey's Anatomy. The author assumes that the reader is familiar with tabloid stories about these events. Many readers are not, or will have forgotten, or even if familiar with this episode in the author's life, would have been interested in Mr. Washington's side of the story, which is merely alluded to. These gaps, along with some anecdotes that come across as being narcissistic (e.g., complaints about a cameraman who failed to have the camera rolling when Mr.... Washington performs a heroic feat) are a weakness of the book. Overall, however, this is a very interesting and enjoyable read. Read more ›