Book Description

Since the Tulsa race riots of 1921, the black male and education have been going in opposite directions. In a society that's stacked up against them, many black males have fallen victim to the realities of discrimination, racism, and the inability to provide for their families. Survival has taken priority over the value of education to the extent of high-risk behavior and the shattering of dreams of stardom in the entertainment and sporting industries.The efforts to save black boys in America has been the goal of many people and organizations. Unfortunately, the limited amount of viable men to carry out such a task, has left the doors open for other non-productive activities like gang wars, the distribution of narcotics, and the usage of illegal and harmful drugs and alcohol to filter into the lives of these young men and their counterparts. The education that has been given to help save these black boys have shown to be of little or no use when it comes to the academic gains of these young men. A more culturally relevant approach seems to be an alternative way to reach the brilliant minds that our black boys possess and by doing so, we will be able to attract the genius that lies within them. The Gentleman in the Grey Suit is an informative, educational, & motivating tale about the most sought-after secret society of black men called "The Guild". More revered than all fraternal and social organizations, these men have been in hiding for over 100 years, operating within a transparent reserve located in the central west region of present-day South Dakota. These men, who have been charged with preventing the extinction of black men in this country, believe that they have found the savior of the black male species. Aaron, the main character, is a product of a single parent home. Like many other black boys his age, his father was not involved in his life and he had to navigate his manhood through what he saw and what he thought it should be. In this tale, Aaron is on the brink of death when he has the most enlightening moment of his life. He realizes that all of the solutions to the plight of all black men was right in front of him. He brings this information back to The Guild and exports this revelation to all of the urban cities of America. From St. Louis to Baltimore, Chicago to Memphis, and all places in between, enlightenment changes funerals into graduations and replaces guns with books. The end result being the biggest educational uprising in the history of this country. After reading this novel, you will never be able to look at a black man in a grey suit the same again.