M. Suejette Rosser Riley

Nearly Ninety: the Life and Times of John R. Rosser M. Suejette Rosser Riley

As far back as I can remember, as a little girl, when asked about his age my dad would respond, "Nearly ninety!" He celebrated his actual ninetieth birthday December 1996; accordingly, as a tribute at his party I decided to recount some of the things he experienced in his first ninety years. It was through conversations and hearing his stories over and over that this book came into being. It shows his struggles to attain his dreams when he began with very little. It took place in the Deep South, where being Black and being male were already considered "two strikes" against him. "It can be done" is what he said about improving his circumstances, and that is what he did.