Review: The Delusion of Inclusion – Brian W. Smith

Wood Mercer, a single father, works two jobs to ensure that his only child, Ryan, can grow up in the suburbs of Dallas, TX. Wood has a lot of financial stress on him, but he has an everyday challenge that trumps the pile of bills in his mailbox...living in his predominantly all white neighborhood.

Wood has been racially profiled numerous times by the police and insulted by neighbors who question why he's living in their community. The incidents have left a bad taste in Wood's mouth, but he deals with it all because he feels the suburban lifestyle (i.e., the schools, lack of crime, etc.) is better for Ryan. Nevertheless, the experience has hardened his heart and made him prejudice toward white people. But, things get more stressful for Wood after Ryan graduates high school and attends college. Sensing Ryan wants more freedom, Wood agrees to let him live on campus. But Ryan's new found freedom brings out a new set of challenges for Wood. Ryan gets a new girlfriend...a white girl who admits that her father is a bigot.

The Delusion of Inclusion takes a look into the world of the black middle-class in a way that's rarely done. In particular, the novel delves into how suburban raised black Millennial's have a different perspective on racial issues than their "inner-city" raised parents.

Laced with thought provoking truths, biting humor, and yes, the plot twists that bestselling author Brian W. Smith has become known for, this is a novel you will have a hard time putting down once you start reading. It is the kind of novel that will have readers (especially those in book clubs) debating long after they finish reading it.

After reading this book – I’m reminded why Brian W. Smith is one of my favorite authors.

Wood Mercer, a single father of one, raising his son in the suburbs – to give him a better opportunity than what he had growing up. Even though Wood is barely making ends meet – he’s determined to give his son a better life. But living in the suburbs doesn’t exempt them from real life – racial profiling, prejudice, police harassment, etc.

Our past experiences shape our beliefs – those experiences have left Wood cold-hearted when it comes to dealing with people outside of his race. Wood tries to impart some of those hard life lessons to his son, but it falls on deaf ears. It’s no easy job trying to raise millennials – their beliefs are entirely different from their parents. Let me backtrack and say – it’s hard raising children period because they tend to be stubborn and determined to learn things the hard way.

I will say this… we are never too old to re-examine what & how we feel with it comes to race relations. Wood Mercer will have a lot of re-examining to do when he finds out his son’s girlfriend, Brooke is white. There are so many things I want to say about this book, but I don’t want to spoil it for the reader.

I can’t praise Author Brian W. Smith enough for tackling a sensitive subject such as race relations. This book is a fast-paced read with well-executed characters. The author does an exceptional job of tapping into each of the character’s emotions. I felt as though I knew each of the characters. Author Brian W. Smith’s writing is impeccable in this novel.

The Delusion of Inclusion tackles race relations on a personal level without being preachy. I knew from the title and the synopsis that this would be a thought-provoking book. True to his record – Author Brian W. Smith didn’t disappoint.

Readers will stay glued to this book to the very end. You think you know, but you don’t know how everything will end.

Reviewed by: Orsayor

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