The Color Of Love

Reading The Color Of Love was an emotional experience for me perhaps due in part to the parallels I recognized from my own personal experiences with racism and interracial love. That said, I believe this book will stir emotions, sometimes previously unexplored emotions, in just about anyone who reads it.

The author, Gene Cheek, tells his heart breaking true story about growing up in the early 1960's in Winston Salem, NC.

Mr. Cheek weaves his story in the sweet, naive narrative of the young boy he was during that time. He reveals to us how painful it was to endure the rage and anger of an alcoholic father while endearing us to his loving grandmother and mother.

An Interracial Relationship In The Post Civil Rights South

His story tells of a time and place where hate, anger and fear of blacks and white mingling at any level brought out the absolute ugliest actions of people from all walks of life. He leads us deep into the grim poverty his family existed in, the repeated loss of hope felt each time his drunken father fell prey to his demons. We share the happiness his mother and he finally shared when his ever hopeful mother finally realized her husband would never move past his weakness and hate.

Then he introduces us to the wonderful, caring man his mother found true love with. A forbidden love to a black man and the series of events that were triggered resulting from this beautiful but culturally complex relationship.

This was Mr. Cheek's first book but it is written as if he was born with a pen in his hand. He convincingly conveys every emotion and sets each stage so we feel each heart breaking twist and turn of these first years of his young life. He writes in a way that makes the reader feel they are right there living each turn of events with him.

The Color Of Love is one of those books that closes the door to everything that surrounds me until I've absorbed that final captivating page. It is now permanently placed on my short list of treasured books of all time.

Gene describes himself as a blue-collar son of the South. He was born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina on March 2, 1951. He spent the first twelve years of his life living in various parts of Winston-Salem. He presently lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina.

Text and photo courtesy of: Gene Cheek's Website

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