The Boy with Stripes by Rev. Eddie Wiggins

The Boy with Stripes by Rev. Eddie Wiggins

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


The Boy with Stripes is a memoir about Eddie Wiggins who once felt unloved, unwanted, physically and verbally abused, and lack of identity. He was adopted at the tender age of two years old to Mr. and Mrs. Edward Wiggins and born in Riverside, CA during the 1950s. He never truly knows his heritage or race and when he asked his Mom, he never wanted to know since it “hurt too badly.” She was an educator and student counselor, yet abused her adopted son. She beat him so badly until blood splashed out and welts marked his body, whether wet or dry, with a razor strop used at barber shops to sharpen their razor blades. His adopted father, known as Dad, also was adopted except by a white family. He was a famous African-American surgeon and physician, but amazingly was unaware of the abuse for a number of years that was forced on his son-Eddie. When they had a son and daughter, they were not abused and his mom refused to allow Eddie to play or touch even his younger sister.



There were times that Eddie prayed to God to kill his mother before he ended up dead. He watched shows like Brady Bunch and wished his life could be like that (fantasy) but his reality was abuse. Anyone who witnessed or he told about the abuse (e.g. coach and Dad), no one was able to do anything to her. He knew as a young child that he would not follow his father’s footsteps as a doctor since he hated the sight of blood, but God had another plan for his life. He’s a conqueror and survived the years of physical abuse, verbal abuse of not feeling loved or wanted, and classified as “incorrigible” to be awarded to the mental hospital because of his mother’s evil plan to get him out of the household. He fought to get out of the mental ward but his mom refused to take him back after he passed all the tests to prove he was not incorrigible. In the midst, he met a great friend and worker that were for his best interest. He learned that he was also likable and loved, when he never felt or learned this before while living in the home with his mom.



He also shares his life experiences during childhood up to high school, and later will share his other experiences in future memoirs. He will open the reader’s eyes to other horrifying truths where you start to wonder is there any hope, faith, and love. He didn’t know God until he met Doris and her family to open his heart, but still could not see or know this Spirit of God until he discovers who he is in Christ.



Dream 4 More Reviews received a copy from the author for a review.



Dream 4 More Reviewer,

Adrienna Turner

Wooed Me Dream/Sweet Dreams, 4.5 stars



View all my reviews

Lama Milkweed Review: Electric Chair

Lama Milkweed Augustine attributes consist of letters, journal writings and testimonials, drawings, actual photos of present and older models of electric chairs, poetry, letters to Senators (and House of Representatives on the Death-Crime Bill) in Massachusetts, and other philanthropist acts to provide arts for Florida prisoners before their execution dates arrives.

With the journal entries and testimonials, Milkweed provides accurate facts and descriptions of the actual acts of the electric chair. She also gives historical, social, and political evidence to these horrific death penalties and those on death row. Death row is someone waiting to die during their prison term. She tells us of the first dated prisoner who died by the electric chair, William Kelmer, in 1890 noted in the United States in New York city. She also elaborates on other unimaginable terrors and hideous acts throughout our U.S. history such as the brutal acts forced on innocent people who were considered as outcasts, did not abide to the English or American governments, and laws, witches, and slaves. Most of this was done by their own ignorance, prejudice, selfish motives, and rulership (whoever was in power).

Moreover, Lama has a heart for the condemned, those called to die and undergoing great pain. She can related due to her own medical condition, where she also shares these dreadful testimonies. She states that we can be prisoners without the steel bars due to our own isolations from society, people, and unholiness methods.

This book is resourceful in history, social-economic, literature, and criminal justice classes.

Dream 4 More Reviews,
Adrienna Turner
5 stars: Wooed Us!

*The opinions of the reviewer does not reflect the views of Dream 4 More Literary Consulting Firm. The author has sent a book to be reviewed free of charge.