Black, White, and Gray All Over

Although this is a book about the life of a police officer, it is about so much more than just “cop stories”. It dives into stories of family dysfunction, racial division and strife, police corruption and brutality, and ultimately, the redemption of someone who struggled with it all. I believe this book is timely given the current climate in the United States.

From shootouts and robberies to riding in cars with pimps and prostitutes, Frederick Reynolds' early manhood experiences in Detroit, Michigan in the 1960s foretold a future on the wrong side of the prison bars. Frederick grew up a creative and sensitive child but found himself lured down the same path as many Black youth in that era. No one would have guessed he would have a future as a cop in one of the most dangerous cities in America in the 1980s---Compton, California. From recruit to detective, Frederick experienced a successful career marked by commendations and awards. The traumatic and highly demanding nature of the work, however, took its toll on both his family and personal life---something Frederick was able to conquer but only after years of distress and regret.