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Reluctant Neighbours
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Hardcover
First published January 1, 1972
About the author
E.R. Braithwaite
22 books106 followersE.R. (Edward Ricardo) Braithwaite was a novelist, writer, teacher, and diplomat, best known for his stories of social conditions and racial discrimination against black people.
An alumnus of Queens College, Braithwaite excelled at City University of New York, after which he served in the RAF during WWII as a fighter pilot (1941-45) and then went on to receive an advanced degree in Physics from Cambridge University (1949). Braithwaite also attended the University of London.
Unable to establish a career in physics, his chosen field, which he attributed to his status as an ethnic minority, Braithwaite turned to teaching.
Braithwaite was perhaps best known as an author for his autobiographical novel To Sir With Love set in an east London secondary school, later directed, produced and adapted for the screen by james clavell starring Sidney Poitier as a schoolteacher from British Guiana.
Braithwaite gave up teaching and continued writing, during this time he became a social worker with the London County Council working to provide foster care for black children.
He would later describe these challenging experiences in Paid Servant.
Braithwaite's long and exemplary career took him to UNESCO in Paris as an educational consultant and lecturer (1963-1966). Then he served as a Guyanese ambassador in the late sixties. First as Guyanese Ambassador to the United Nations (1967-68), then as Guyanese Ambassador to Venezuela (1968-69). He was World Veterans' Foundation Human Rights Officer, Paris (1960-63).
Braithwaite returned to teaching as a professor of English, at New York University and later in 2002 held the position of Writer in Residence at Howard University in Washington DC.
Braithwaite was a visiting professor at Manchester Community College, Connecticut, during the 2005-2006 school year, also serving as commencement speaker and receiving an honorary degree.
In August 2007 Braithwaite received the Guyana Cultural Association of New York's Exemplary Award for his work as an educator, a diplomat and an author.
An alumnus of Queens College, Braithwaite excelled at City University of New York, after which he served in the RAF during WWII as a fighter pilot (1941-45) and then went on to receive an advanced degree in Physics from Cambridge University (1949). Braithwaite also attended the University of London.
Unable to establish a career in physics, his chosen field, which he attributed to his status as an ethnic minority, Braithwaite turned to teaching.
Braithwaite was perhaps best known as an author for his autobiographical novel To Sir With Love set in an east London secondary school, later directed, produced and adapted for the screen by james clavell starring Sidney Poitier as a schoolteacher from British Guiana.
Braithwaite gave up teaching and continued writing, during this time he became a social worker with the London County Council working to provide foster care for black children.
He would later describe these challenging experiences in Paid Servant.
Braithwaite's long and exemplary career took him to UNESCO in Paris as an educational consultant and lecturer (1963-1966). Then he served as a Guyanese ambassador in the late sixties. First as Guyanese Ambassador to the United Nations (1967-68), then as Guyanese Ambassador to Venezuela (1968-69). He was World Veterans' Foundation Human Rights Officer, Paris (1960-63).
Braithwaite returned to teaching as a professor of English, at New York University and later in 2002 held the position of Writer in Residence at Howard University in Washington DC.
Braithwaite was a visiting professor at Manchester Community College, Connecticut, during the 2005-2006 school year, also serving as commencement speaker and receiving an honorary degree.
In August 2007 Braithwaite received the Guyana Cultural Association of New York's Exemplary Award for his work as an educator, a diplomat and an author.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
tasted
November 24, 2020This book offers the fascinating experience of watching a frame decompose into a flimsy string. In the first 60% of this memoir, I found the best part the author’s teaching experiences, which was the basis for his most well-known book, To Sir with Love. The writing is otherwise good, but not exciting, and I found little to sink my teeth into.
August 16, 2020
I received a free copy of this book from the author. I had the opportunity to review or not.
The thing that struck me the most in this book was the author’s perception of elitism as racism. I thought his exception to his black face was rather more of his expectations that he should be accepted just as he was with no criticism, which is probably a more narcissistic expectation than racist one. I certainly could empathize with his situation when he had such a vision of his future and then to have it crushed by what was indeed racism. But it seemed that not all rejection should have been attributed to racism.
I did enjoy his book and would definitely recommend it as he had a lot of interesting and revealing statements concerning racism, elitism and self-reflection. His ability to see himself as his students would have seen him allowed us to see him as a vulnerable human with humor and insight. He became much more interesting to me in that short scene than he had to that point. His conversation with his reluctant neighbor was self-serving but gave me pause to think of the many times I have done the same thing. How many times do we talk ourselves into believing what we feel, rather than what was actually meant by the person speaking?
This book is not to be dismissed as ranting and whining. I see it as truth. When anyone, black or not is unfairly rejected there is plenty of whining and ranting going on. It is a truth we are all privy to. This man rose above it all and become someone he could take pride in being. Bravo!
The thing that struck me the most in this book was the author’s perception of elitism as racism. I thought his exception to his black face was rather more of his expectations that he should be accepted just as he was with no criticism, which is probably a more narcissistic expectation than racist one. I certainly could empathize with his situation when he had such a vision of his future and then to have it crushed by what was indeed racism. But it seemed that not all rejection should have been attributed to racism.
I did enjoy his book and would definitely recommend it as he had a lot of interesting and revealing statements concerning racism, elitism and self-reflection. His ability to see himself as his students would have seen him allowed us to see him as a vulnerable human with humor and insight. He became much more interesting to me in that short scene than he had to that point. His conversation with his reluctant neighbor was self-serving but gave me pause to think of the many times I have done the same thing. How many times do we talk ourselves into believing what we feel, rather than what was actually meant by the person speaking?
This book is not to be dismissed as ranting and whining. I see it as truth. When anyone, black or not is unfairly rejected there is plenty of whining and ranting going on. It is a truth we are all privy to. This man rose above it all and become someone he could take pride in being. Bravo!
October 22, 2015
Mr. Braithwaite writes well and convincingly. Unfortunately, he himself is racist, sexist and homophobic. You cannot fight for rights while simultaneously stepping on others.
February 22, 2009
This author based his "To Sir, With Love" on his own
experience as a teacher in England at a time when, because
he is black, he could find no work as a physicist despite his
Cambridge M.A. This autobiography of his mental life,
so to speak, is built around his conversation on a New
York commuter train with a white man who sat beside
him because that was the only seat left in the car. We
get three sides of the conversation: what the two men
said to each other and what Braithwaite's memory was
saying to him. Very provocative in relation to what has
changed and what has not, in race relations, since
1972 when this book was published.
experience as a teacher in England at a time when, because
he is black, he could find no work as a physicist despite his
Cambridge M.A. This autobiography of his mental life,
so to speak, is built around his conversation on a New
York commuter train with a white man who sat beside
him because that was the only seat left in the car. We
get three sides of the conversation: what the two men
said to each other and what Braithwaite's memory was
saying to him. Very provocative in relation to what has
changed and what has not, in race relations, since
1972 when this book was published.
February 6, 2018
Braithwaite has earned a PhD from Cambridge in physics, no less, and he served during the war. Yet, he could not find work in England because he was black. He took a job teaching troubled youth which led to the beginning of his writing career: he captured his role experience as a teacher in “To Sir With Love”. By all account, he is a most accomplished author, diplomat and teacher.
Reluctant Neighbors is the account of his conversation with the fellow who takes a seat “reluctantly” by Braithwaite on a train and starts a asking questions around what it is like to be black in today’s world. I don’t know that such a conversation could really take place because the questions Braithwaite is asked are sometimes more pointed than you would ask a stranger on a train. Nevertheless, the author takes us back to past experiences and provides background to his own “reluctant” answers.
This was a 5 stars for me until the very end where Braithwaite starts losing patience and some of the diplomatic veneer. Not that I blame him, given his life experience but the tone changes and not for the better in my opinion.
Still well worth reading.
Reluctant Neighbors is the account of his conversation with the fellow who takes a seat “reluctantly” by Braithwaite on a train and starts a asking questions around what it is like to be black in today’s world. I don’t know that such a conversation could really take place because the questions Braithwaite is asked are sometimes more pointed than you would ask a stranger on a train. Nevertheless, the author takes us back to past experiences and provides background to his own “reluctant” answers.
This was a 5 stars for me until the very end where Braithwaite starts losing patience and some of the diplomatic veneer. Not that I blame him, given his life experience but the tone changes and not for the better in my opinion.
Still well worth reading.
November 29, 2020
I picked this up because it is written by the author of To Sir With Love, a movie which I love (but a book I have never read). It expands on some of his time working in England and discusses other experiences he has had but especially explores the reality of a black man in a white world. A fellow commuter (on a train line in NYC) sits next to Braithwaite and brings his prejudices to the seat with him. Eventually, after various discussions, he discovers this is the teacher portrayed in the movie and is "star struck." This shifts the conversation and his attitude. While I found the conversations interesting and sometimes enlightening I found the format a bit hard to get into. Braithwaite would recount a few lines of the conversation but then would travel off into his own head reliving experiences and personal perspectives. It became very philosophical at times but then suddenly you were back in the conversation. I appreciated hearing his perspective though..and hearing more about his life experiences. A fascinating man but I'm not sure if he was always a likable one.
February 16, 2020
The right to be born
A lot of thought and mental search engineered this writer's book .I found it somewhat deep and meaningful.. There were a lot of anger and distrust involved.
e
A e
A lot of thought and mental search engineered this writer's book .I found it somewhat deep and meaningful.. There were a lot of anger and distrust involved.
e
A e
July 1, 2020
Excellent!
My introduction to this author, already famous for To Sir, With Love. An uncompromising look at the issues of racism, race relations, but above all about the right and freedom to live and to aspire equally. Very strong writing.
My introduction to this author, already famous for To Sir, With Love. An uncompromising look at the issues of racism, race relations, but above all about the right and freedom to live and to aspire equally. Very strong writing.
September 9, 2020
I absolutely loved this book. I was constantly highlighting passages that dealt with education, and I felt I got a deeper understanding of what it feels like to live Black in America.
February 25, 2021
Interesting and relevant read which gave insight into how race relations influenced the author's life.
April 27, 2021
Recommended Reading!
Timely and relevant now with charges of racism in all spheres of society! Valuable insight from one whose lived it.
Timely and relevant now with charges of racism in all spheres of society! Valuable insight from one whose lived it.
April 27, 2022
enlightening
Another great book from the Author of To Sir With Love. A must read for white people. It’s us who need to dismantle white supremacy.
Another great book from the Author of To Sir With Love. A must read for white people. It’s us who need to dismantle white supremacy.
November 3, 2025
Powerful book that still packs a punch. It was really great to have further insight into "To Sir With Love".
February 19, 2018
Great book. Thought provoking.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews