Customer Reviews

The Other Side of the River: A Story of Two Towns, a Death, and America's Dilemma

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(19)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I grew up in St. Joseph, Michigan. While it would be difficult for any author who is not a resident to capture the sentiment of a community in which he did not live, I think Mr. Kotlowitz's attempts to understand the differences between St. Joseph and Benton Harbor are well-intended. To be sure this book has its faults and biases (as do both cities in the book), but overall I felt it captured the striking differences on both sides of the river (though not the subtle similarities). It was, at times, uncomfortable for me to read such an analysis of my home town - especially when recognizing some of the names. But this was a good read.

I would recommend it to anyone who wants to learn more about how a community (and yes St. Joseph/Benton Harbor make up 1 community, not 2) can divide itself. In this case, the division was an easy one to recognize - a river and two races.

This book certainly had a impact on me. Being about my home, I felt obligated to read this - and am glad I did. I can't say whether ot not it would have the same impact on those who have not lived in these cities, but it does provide an interesting light on lingering suspicions.

As a resident of Benton Harbor, I read with great interest Alex Kotlowitz's "The Other Side of the River". As a white person who spent my entire childhood in Stevensville (the community directly adjacent to St. Joseph), was educated there, was insulated there, and who was influenced by the subtle but constant undercurrent of racism there... only to find myself moving to the "other side" of the river for the last 16 years, I can tell you that Alex Kotlowitz absolutely captured the state of race relations in and around the "Twin Cities"... and probably most of the country. The author does not climb up on a soapbox, agenda in hand, and tell the reader what they should think. Instead, he lets the facts speak for themselves. The result that this book has caused many in the white St. Joseph community to go howling in protest, railing against this "unfair" portrayal, only goes to show that bare facts apparently don't leave much cover for those who would like to hide their fear, loathing, and head-in-the-sand refusal to believe there's a problem, behind a pretty tourist brochure facade. Painfully even-handed, the book does not exactly paint a pretty picture of either the white OR the black communities involved. Rather, it offers a map of several incidents and betrayals that have led these two towns to such a sorry state. That there can be no real conclusion to this book leaves the reader to think about their own prejudices and assumptions. It also leads you to wonder if there can ever be a conclusion to the race problems in our country as a whole... which is perhaps at least a first step to getting there -- just THINKING about it at all! I do wish Alex Kotlowitz would return to the area and look into the community of Fairplain - the only truly integrated area between the two towns. How does this community survive? Because it is made up of working people, all of the same basic socio-economic make-up? Because the people have adopted a "live & let live" attitude? Or because they know the problems of either side of the river, and have tried to make a place where they may not live like kings, but at least they're allowed to live with some dignity. Do read "The Other Side of the River". It will make you think!

I am a white resident of St. Joseph, Michigan. . .a transplant, not a native. We moved here in June 1991, just as the Eric McGinnis story hit the headlines. I was outraged by what I read in the papers about it then and the rumors I heard around "White St. Joe," not because I believed he had been lynched, but because the bigotry and misunderstanding on both sides of the river were so apparent. And now comes this book by a distinguished author. . .let me tell you, St. Joseph residents on the whole were not happy about what he wrote. However, it is accurate from what I have read, heard, and know, with only a couple of insignificant errors which don't affect the story. I'm glad I finally read Kotlowitz's book, because it caused quite a stir around here and has really made the townsfolk reevalute racial relations, in spite of their bellyaching. And I believe it should be mandatory reading for every resident in both of these monotone hamlets. I can never cross the river again without thinking of Eric, imagining him struggling against the currents, and thinking of the symbolism of that image.

A number of people have covered race relations in the U.S and in a number of different ways; however, Kotlowitz still manages to find a fresh take on the matter.

I grew up in a small community about a half-hour from Benton Harbor/St. Joe area, so I found the book especially interesting; however, the relationship between the "twin cities" that Kotlowitz discovers and explores is certainly not unique. Benton Harbor is a primarily black, lower-income city with a horrific crime problem while St. Joe is a primarily white, upper-middle class city with very little crime. The twin cities relationship is especially interesting because both communities are relatively small and only a river serves to divide. However, similar questions could be raised about the relationship between many urban areas and their suburbs.

Kotlowitz is a journalist by training and that style of writing works well in the book. While we're hearing about a sociological problem, we're also being told a compelling story.

Two small Michigan towns, the disappearance of a young black man, and the ever-present societal issues of race and hatred. Alex Kotlowitz's narrative story, The Other Side Of The River is a well-written, well-researched account surrounding two small towns in southeastern Michigan separated only by a river, and the 1991 disappearance of high school student Eric McGinnis. This story deserves a four-star rating for its engrossing subject matter and look into the lives of people consumed by ignorance and hatred for their fellow man. The Other Side Of The River tells the true story surrounding the disappearance and death of Eric McGinnis. Alex kotlowitz, the author, spends five years investigating the situations surrounding his death. While investigating the death of Eric McGinnis, Kotlowitz uncovers a much larger theme, one of racial bigotry and ignorance that has divided these two towns for decades. Kotlowitz determines, from his research and speaking with residents of these towns, that ingrained feelings of hatred, stupidity and which side of the river is home greatly influences people's opinions of what really happened to Eric McGinnis. The Other Side Of The River is a wonderful book that exposes racism and fear, but also kindness and decency. At the same time the reader is left with many unanswered questions because the crime has not yet been solved. This books very universal theme will appeal to a broad audience.
Through Kotlowitz's research he undoubtedly uncovers many underlying issues between Benton Harbor and St. Joseph, issues that go much deeper than Eric McGinnis's death. However, Kotlowitz also shows that not all of the residents share the same hateful feelings. For instance, when Amy Johnson, a St. Joseph dentist's wife suggested the start of a pen-pal program between Benton Harbor and St. Joseph high schools, she was turned down. She was told by school officials, "Well, if they start writing they might start talking on the phone." This example speaks loudly of both the pure magnitude of ignorance and fear but also shows that there are good people out there who do not see a person for their color. Now we see where children get their feelings of racism, they are taught!
Despite Kotlowitz's thorough investigation into the death of Eric, this book fails to answer a lot of questions. Most importantly, "How did Eric McGinnis die?" unfortunately the answers are not in this book, nor any book. The crime has not been solved. In the end, Kotlowitz offers the reader a few of his conclusions, but ultimately, because this is a true story, the reader is left feeling confused with a lot of yearning to know what really happened.
Racism is a pretty universal issue that everyone has seen or experienced, so with that I feel like this book should appeal to a large audience. We are a society the loves human interest stories and true stories. People love to relate to stories they read, and this is an easy one to relate to, not necessarily the death of Eric, but just the different situations that occur and the reactions of the local people to those situations.
In conclusion, The Other Side Of The River is a compelling and accurate portrayal of the issues we as a society deal with on a daily basis. Those who read this book are again reminded of the challenges our society faces to end racism. Hopefully what one takes from reading this book is a newfound passion, a passion to be apart of the race to end hatred. This passion, along with a feeling of urgency to make a difference is what one will carry with them long after this reading experience is over.

Chicago writer Alex Kotlowitz, known for his study of public housing families in There Are No Children Here, is drawn to the twin cities of St. Joseph and Benton Harbor, Michigan. One town is predominantly white, the other predominantly black. He interviews seemingly everybody in Southwest Michigan about the circumstances of the death of a black teenager. He appears more investigator than reporter but expertly fleshes out many colorful characters as he tells how this death, which otherwise would not have made news outside the area, helped polarize the community. During the days I read this book, all I could think about was getting back to it.

"The Other Side of The River" is the devastatingly self-aware, uncomfortable chronicle of Kotlowitz's permanent quest for the understanding of race relations with the death of Eric McGinnis as the focul point. Over the course of the story, Kotlowitz will have you helpless with amazement. "River" is channeling something so universal and familiar that readers will find it useful as a means for raising the precontemplative conscious. A book that can be read in one setting. I appreciate greatly the efforts of Kotlowitz and The Cast.

Here's the thing - you know who died, and you know where the body was found and in what condition, but you don't know the why and how. And you still can't put this book down!
Alex Kotlowitz is a master story teller of a real life murder in a racially charged small town, geographically divided by a river but racially divided by mistrust and suspicion. His research is detailed and thorough, and the reader finds himself quickly immersed and emotionally invovled with the characters. Every character is complex and likeable. There are no bad guys/good guys. Just an unsolved murder, in a town yearning to heal.

"The Other Side of the River" is a thought-provoking read. It seems reasonably unbiased, but appears eager to pigeonhole the characters and should have asked some deeper questions.

Kotlowitz filled his book with two stock character types: black Benton Harbor residents suspicious and resentful of the surrounding whites, white St Joe residents who are either bumbling small town officials or overtly racist. This is too simplistic.

I grew up in Stevensville (which Kotlowitz calls "Lakeshore", the name of our public school district), which borders St Joe to the south. It's incredibly hard to live there and not develop bad attitudes toward Benton Harbor. Benton Harbor's crime and unemployment rates are one of the worst in the state. Its local politics is a comedy of errors. The mostly white communities south of the river are certainly not wealthy, but comfortable and safe. Most of the residents across the river don't want to have racist attitudes, but are constantly bombarded with these contrasts. They'd love to see the situation change, but Benton Harbor often seems beyond hope. Most don't see anything they could do to help, so the easiest solution is to avoid the place and pretend it doesn't exist.

Stereotyping everyone south of the river as a racist is just as bad as stereotyping all Benton Harbor residents as criminals. What Kotlowitz misses (just barely, for there are hints of it in his interviews with Jim Reeves and the McGinnis family) is that the vast majority of people on both sides of the river are good, honest, well-meaning folks who just don't know what to do about the situation.

While Kotlowitz does establish that racism exists on both sides, he would have better served his readers by at least acknowledging the existance of deeper questions, such as "why?" or "So how do we fix it?".

Kotlowitz set out to investigate the mysterious death of Eric McGinnis, and ended up writing a superb narrative on the American racial divide. The setting is adjacent but mutually suspicious communities in southwestern Michigan. St. Joseph (population 9,300) is mostly white and middle class, while across the narrow river Benton Harbor (13,000) is largely black, poor, and crime-ridden. McGinnis, a black teen from Benton Harbor, vanished one evening in 1991 after fleeing from a man in downtown St. Joseph whose car he'd allegedly broken into. Days later McGinnis turned up in the river. Perhaps he was beaten, but this fleet young man could easily outrace his hefty pursuer. As the author investigates what happened, he finds opinions hardened by race and community bias rather than by the facts (shades of O.J. Simpson). Kotlowitz also finds allegations of police misconduct and biased housing patterns, plus smug indifference by some whites, and certain blacks that cry racism at every turn.

Kotlowitz writes about tragedy and race without casting blame or seeking favor. For that reason alone one should read his outstanding narrative. Sadly, the author never discovers how McGinnis died, or the key to healing our racial divide.