By Forris Day JR
“No Place For Race” is a book that deals with and discuses racial divisions, mostly between whites and blacks. Written by Rod Demery, a 25 year veteran of the police force, “No Place For Race” delves into why race should not be the main focus in crimes. A murder is a murder weather it is white on black, white on white or black on black crime. He addresses both blacks and whites in this short but information filled book. Demery is a black officer who has seen more than his fair share of murders and death in his long career as a police officer. Presently he is a homicide detective for the Shreveport, Louisiana police department and his views are very enlightening to a person like me who has never seen an autopsy or lived a life within the drug community.
The book starts out with Demery’s view on the many murders he has had to investigate and he makes great points. Take the racial component out of the crime and the victim is still dead regardless. Sadly many people focus on the color of the killers skin if it is different than the victims. This leads to many killings becoming huge national stories which takes resources away from the one that are less noticeable such as black on black or white on white crimes. He gives many examples of crimes that have made headlines and discuses why they are in fact no more horrific than most any other murder if the racial aspect is removed. He questions the reader “Why are they different?” and he makes you think.
A well thought out book, Demery has strong opinions about many problems including race relations, family breakdown, drug abuse and problems within many of todays police forces. He does not just write about the problems but he offers up solutions. At the end of each chapter he lists several questions for you to ponder. At the end of the book he offers a list of things that anyone can do to make their community a better one. Thought provoking indeed.
The book is broken into three sections. The first section talks about race and discuses why people need to begin moving beyond race. The second section talks about choices and the third section discuses the war on drugs and why it isn’t working. He offers up viable solutions to any of the problems he discusses in this quick read.
Rod Demery is a man who wants to make changes in the way black people and white people treat each other and he is actively working at these changes by speaking to anyone who is willing to listen be it a school group, church group or business gathering. “No Place For Race” is a small, yet powerful, book that anyone, black or white, who has been touched by racism should read. It is also a book that hopefully will spur you into going out in your community and using your skills to make it a better place to live.