I read many books as often as possible. I have been a devout bibliophile since I was a child. My mother read to me and my siblings often and as a shy person growing up books were always a safe place for me. Some books were good, some really great, and some I could barely put down. “We Are All the Same” by Jim Wooten is one that had me in it’s grips from the first few pages. It is the true story of how one little boy and his “adopted” mom were one of the main forces that caused the world to stand up and notice the epidemic of AIDS in Africa. The boy Xolani Nkosi, later given the name Nkosi Johnson, was born in South Africa of Zulu descent. He was born the second child of a strong, hard working, loving mother, Daphne, and he was born with the AIDS virus and into rural poverty. The story is told by Jim Wooten, a journalist. Nkosi died just after his 12th birthday.
More than just telling his story it includes a great background on the AIDS virus and how it transformed a whole continent. This was a period of rampant racism and violence between white and black. Apartheid was still the terrorizing government in charge, Nelson Mandela was still in prison and AIDS was just a “gay” disease. Nkosi’s story is unusual because Daphne had the gumption to take him to an AIDS hospice for white men. Luckily he was allowed to stay and given treatment. Unsatisfied with her own life, Gail, took Nkosi to her home when the hospice closed down for lack of funding. There was a shared unofficial custody between his mother and her family and his new white family. Doctors predicted he would not live more than a few years, but he amazingly lived long enough to make a real impact and to understand how much good he was giving the world.
In closing all I can say is READ THIS BOOK and then pass it on.
What books have made an impact in your life?
If you read this book, what was your favorite part?
Individual Empowerment 