Customer Reviews

Mr. Ambassador: Warrior for Peace

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The memoir of Career Foreign Services Officer Edward J. Perkins, the first U.S. black ambassador to South Africa in 1986, comes to life in a hard-hitting memoir of politics and social change that will prove a 'must' for any seeking insights into South Africa under apartheid - and after. Perkins came from a cotton farm in segregated Louisiana to join forces with the elite Foreign Service, becoming the first black officer to ascend to director general. But even these many achievements would be superceded by his work in South Africa - and MR. AMBASSADOR: WARRIOR FOR PEACE tells it all.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

An account of a black man who truly pulled himself up by the bootstraps. He was raised on a cotton farm in segregated Louisiana by grandparents who could neither read nor write. He went on to get an education and ultimately enter the elite white Foreign Service. He was appointed as U.S. Ambassador four times: Liberia, South Africa, the United Nations, and Australia. A very well written book.

This is a terrific book! Perkins is a Black American born in 1928, who became a diplomat in the Foreign Service, and was the US Ambassador to South Africa in the 1980s during apartheid. The first chapter describes life in rural segregated Louisiana and Arkansas in the 1930s. It is a moving account, the more so because it is so simply and straight-forwardly told. Anyone who wonders if we've made progress in race relations should read this chapter. Moving on we meet the people outside Perkins' family who mentored him, and see clearly the truth of his statement that "... none of us goes through life unassisted." Later we see him as a US Marine, learning Japanese and studying Asian philosophy. It is just inspiring.

That's enough. Get the book; read it; and pass it on.

Really enjoyed the book. Great story. Author incoroporates lessons from the Art of War well into his own life situations.