On the Jericho Road by J. Alfred Smith - Book Report/Review Example

On the Jericho Road: A Literary Review Dr. J Alfred Smith Sr. is presently the senior pastor of the Allen Temple Baptist Church, and he also servesas professor of Christian Ministry and Preaching at the American Baptist Seminary of the West in Berkeley, California. For two years now Smith has been listed as one of Ebony' s 100 Most Influential Black Americans and as well he was among Ebony's Top 15 Greatest Black Preachers of 1993. The novel On the Jericho Road: A Memoir of Racial Justice, Social Action and Prophetic Ministry by J. Alfred Smith is a literary work of great importance and significance, and there are many different issues within this book that need to be addressed in order to be able to recognize and understand about the different purposes, morals, and innuendos which are made in this piece of literature. This story is basically an autobiography of one of the authors, Dr. J Alfred Smith Sr., and it tells the story of how Smith grew up in era of intense poverty and segregation, as well as his many experiences of the racially divided country that existed at that time; although racism is certainly still an avid and alive issue, at the point in time that Smith was growing up, the world was much more racially unjust, and not only were more people openly and avidly racist, but as well there were not nearly as many laws and regulations that protected people against racism. In this book Smith addresses and discusses a levy of different issues, including about how with his family and church as his main anchors he was able to emerge as one of the nation's most prominent and reputable African American preachers. There are so many different issues that Smith makes worthy note of in this book, and in order to be able to gain a proper and informed understanding on this book overall, there are many different matters that need to be discussed. By thoroughly addressing and discussing all of the relevant issues here, we will be able to gain a much more aware and knowledgeable viewpoint on this subject matter overall. This is what will be dissertated in the following. The beginning of this book goes into detail about earlier on in Smith's life; where he grew up, what his family and home life was like, and so on. It is here during the start of the book where you really get to gain the first and most serious realization and understanding in regards to what Smith is like as a person. Smith speaks incredibly freely here - and throughout the rest of the book as well - about the injustice that he suffered from not only as a child but during his adult years as well, and as well he talks about how his life was filled with criminals and victims, and how he dealt with all of this. Smith discusses the various different people who he considered - and still does consider - as being major role models in his life, and he also describes about how they helped to shape him as a man and how many of them helped him to realize what he wanted to do in regards to a career, which was become a preacher. We see how the era in which Smith grew up in was treacherous and tumultuous, and he firsthand experienced and witnessed the civil rights era and faced such challenges as urban decay, violent crime, and massive discrimination. Smith was basically frustrated with the world that he was seeing around him, and he considered this as being "a major factor that resulted in influencing him into becoming a preacher" (59). Smith ended up becoming one of the most major and leading activists for social societal transformation, and he worked in many different ways, including by spearheading ministries that have since provided hope for hundreds of thousands of people. During about the middle of the book is when we begin to see how Smith started to get himself into the preaching career, and one of the most major factors that we see in regards to this is just how difficult it actually was for him to even get started as a preacher. We see how Smith becomes one of the most well-known and respected preachers after all the trials and tribulations that he ends up going through to get there and as he states in this particular work of his: It is time for a prophetic word to the nation. It is time for courageous people to stand up and be counted, to call for a change in our country's priorities. In short, people priorities must take precedence over the priorities national and multinational corporations. Those who preach in the name of the lowly Nazarene must remember that Jesus was not a prosperity gospel preacher. (202). From this review we can conclude many different things, several which are of particular importance, namely of how "as one of the most respected elder statesmen of the African American church, Smith tells the story of his remarkable life, describing the events and people that shaped him. His testimony reveals how God works through the church to minister to individuals, families and communities" (129). This piece of literature is one that is without a doubt filled with morals and stories of hope, and because it is an autobiography, we as readers get to hear about firsthand stories and opinions of a difficult and traumatic life, and we truly get sent back to a different era while reading this book, an era which was much more racially unjust and politically incorrect, and one where African Americans such as J. Alfred Smith had much inequality and unfairness put upon them, and where they had to work extra hard simply to be treated even remotely equal. Smith tells the story of his life without expecting praise but without a doubt should be given plenty of it, as he shows how he came out of an incredibly rough and difficult childhood and used his challenges to make the best and most positive outcomes of his life that he could. Rooted firmly messages from both the Old and New Testaments, this compelling book is able to inform both preachers and teachers who aspire to proclaim issues such as peace and justice in their ministries; in particular, for parents, church members, and citizens, this book by Smith will inspire all of those who desire and dare to speak the truth, regardless of what the consequences may be. This autobiography is without a doubt one that needs to be read by all, regardless of your age or gender, race or background, because the morals and meanings that are given within this book can easily apply to anyone. Works Cited Smith, J. A. & Williams, H. L (2004). On the Jericho Road: A Memoir of Racial Justice, Social Action and Prophetic Ministry. Westmont, IL: InterVarsity Press. Read More