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Same Same
Samuel Lewis, the youngest of seven children born to African American working class parents and Hamilton Armstrong III, the only son of a wealthy white family and whose father is the local leader of the Ku Klux Klan, grow up in the same small Virginia town, but live worlds apart. They meet through mischief and despite the racial barriers of the pre-Civil Rights era, a life-long friendship is formed.
Both driven by a passion for writing, they begin journalism careers at different New York newspapers, experience dangerous, as well as raunchy times in Vietnam and enter the sunset years of their careers at the same Atlanta newspaper where they are dueling political columnists: Sam provides the conservative viewpoint and Ham pens the liberal perspective. Unexpected excitement enters their lives as a bomb meant for Sam kills his mentor in the midst of their coverage of Barack Obama’s rise to the presidency.
Both driven by a passion for writing, they begin journalism careers at different New York newspapers, experience dangerous, as well as raunchy times in Vietnam and enter the sunset years of their careers at the same Atlanta newspaper where they are dueling political columnists: Sam provides the conservative viewpoint and Ham pens the liberal perspective. Unexpected excitement enters their lives as a bomb meant for Sam kills his mentor in the midst of their coverage of Barack Obama’s rise to the presidency.
186 pages, Hardcover
First published August 31, 2012
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November 2, 2014
5.0 out of 5 stars Will the Seemingly Impossible Ever Happen? Let's hope so, April 30, 2013
Same Same (Dui-ay in Vietnamese) written by Doug Smith presented a very strong introspective into the lives of two men that couldn't be more different, yet they were able to forge a friendship that surpassed the norm. Sam was a black man who experienced all the same hatred that has been directed towards the Negro for generations. Born with a "spiritual veil" he was able to see things clearly and felt he was protected. Sam seems to accept this with admirable aplomb. Ham, or Hamilton Armstrong III, was born in the lap of luxury lessened by the fact that he was the son of a man who embraced beating and killing black people. Ham could not accept this side of his father and it caused a schism in their relationship.
The book began when Maury, a highly respected journalist and mentor to both Sam and Ham was killed one night in the office of the Atlanta Herald. They both felt the grenade was meant for Sam. Offended, they determined to find the killer, but life got in the way and set their lives spinning out of control.
These fast friends were both Pulitzer Prize level journalists. Given a chance to write dueling commentaries, Sam wrote the conservative view while Ham concentrated on liberal. The story built from both their backgrounds, their professions and their outlook on the racist issue. The joy of receiving Pulitzer Prize nominations were dimmed when Sam was denied one even though he and Ham wrote as a team. The result of this insult was very shocking and should be read.
If you are looking for a book that was written by an author who is capable of taking your mind into several different directions and then deftly bringing it back to center point, Same Same is perfect. You will learn Black History, experience some of the agonies and joys of the Vietnam War, the McCain/Obama Presidential election and more. I could go on forever, but, you have to read the story to understand this friendship, this country and how far we have to go before general acceptance of each other, regardless of race or faith, is achieved.
Same Same (Dui-ay in Vietnamese) written by Doug Smith presented a very strong introspective into the lives of two men that couldn't be more different, yet they were able to forge a friendship that surpassed the norm. Sam was a black man who experienced all the same hatred that has been directed towards the Negro for generations. Born with a "spiritual veil" he was able to see things clearly and felt he was protected. Sam seems to accept this with admirable aplomb. Ham, or Hamilton Armstrong III, was born in the lap of luxury lessened by the fact that he was the son of a man who embraced beating and killing black people. Ham could not accept this side of his father and it caused a schism in their relationship.
The book began when Maury, a highly respected journalist and mentor to both Sam and Ham was killed one night in the office of the Atlanta Herald. They both felt the grenade was meant for Sam. Offended, they determined to find the killer, but life got in the way and set their lives spinning out of control.
These fast friends were both Pulitzer Prize level journalists. Given a chance to write dueling commentaries, Sam wrote the conservative view while Ham concentrated on liberal. The story built from both their backgrounds, their professions and their outlook on the racist issue. The joy of receiving Pulitzer Prize nominations were dimmed when Sam was denied one even though he and Ham wrote as a team. The result of this insult was very shocking and should be read.
If you are looking for a book that was written by an author who is capable of taking your mind into several different directions and then deftly bringing it back to center point, Same Same is perfect. You will learn Black History, experience some of the agonies and joys of the Vietnam War, the McCain/Obama Presidential election and more. I could go on forever, but, you have to read the story to understand this friendship, this country and how far we have to go before general acceptance of each other, regardless of race or faith, is achieved.
Displaying 1 of 1 review