I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own. 

Author Otis L Lee Jr shares the story of the town of Palmares, a settlement established in the mountains of Brazil for Africans who escaped enslavement in the 17th century to form their own Afrocentric community and hold onto their freedom in the book “I Was Born in the Forest.”

The Synopsis

I Was Born in the Forest encapsulates the freedom struggle of Africans brought to the Americas in the bowels of slave ships from Congo, Angola, and other parts of Central Africa. In the seventeenth century, many defied the odds by escaping and establishing Afrocentric communities in the mountains in Brazil. Palmares, the most notable among them, existed from 1605 to 1694.

Palmares was the forerunner of Black towns in America, and its mesmerizing leader, Zumbi, belongs among the pantheon of heroic African-descended leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr., Francois Dominique Toussaint Louverture, and many others. He and his people rose from nothing in a hostile, foreign land to create an enduring Black republic in colonial Brazil.

Palmares and Zumbi have become transcendent icons of hope, perseverance, and the tenacity of African-descended people and all colonialized peoples who strive for and refuse to accept anything but unfettered freedom. Through a mix of travelogue and history, their story comes alive.

The Review

This was such an insightful and engaging read. The author was able to both entertain and educate readers on a subject that is so very rarely discussed, honing in on the African communities established in other countries such as Brazil during a time when so many were taken and enslaved in what would become the United States. The level of detail the author provides gives such a clear picture of the impact slavery had on everyone, especially in South American countries like Brazil, including elements such as the impact religion had on both those brought in as slave labor and the slavers themselves. 

What stood out to me was something the author touched upon early on in the book, which was the assertion that African slave labor brought into the Americas was all docile and compliant to their captors, when in reality, that was not the case. The fight and actions of the community of Palmares, especially their final leader Zumbi, were not only inspiring to an entire community of people, but the author also explored in depth how these actions created myths and legends that would help inspire future battles for freedom and independence. 

The Verdict

Powerful, educational, and insightful, author Otis L Lee Jr’s “I Was Born in the Forest” was a must-read nonfiction history book. The reality is this information isn’t the kind of education taught widely in schools, especially in our modern world, where education regarding this subject matter is being heavily censored, and the wealth of information and guidance this bit of history can provide the rest of the world is more important than ever before. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today.

Rating: 10/10

About the Author

Otis L. Lee, Jr., a remarkable African-American individual, defied the barriers imposed by segregation and Jim Crow laws to achieve remarkable personal and professional accomplishments. Mr. Lee made significant contributions as a co-author in a 1980 project by the Howard University School of Business, which involved revising and editing the U.S. Department of Commerce manual titled “Local Economic Development Corporation, Legal and Financial Guidelines.”

He was a member of both the Pennsylvania and Virginia Bar Associations. He also contributed his expertise to several universities in the Midwest and along the East Coast. Otis’s distinguished professional journey included significant roles, such as serving as a Trust New Business Solicitor at the Harris Trust and Savings Bank in Chicago, Illinois, as well as consulting the Mid-Atlantic Region Advanced Underwriting for the New York Life Insurance Company. Furthermore, Lee was the Associate Director of the Center For Small Business and served as a Panel Executive for the Panel on Product Liability for the US Chamber of Commerce in Washington, D.C.

A retired attorney, he has now transitioned into an author who uses his powerful insights and experiences to inspire others. Through his writings, captivating video shorts, and engaging speaking engagements, Otis Lee, Jr. enlightens audiences with his unique perspective on resilience and triumph over adversity.

Lee’s 2013 debut memoir, “From South Boston to Cambridge: the Making of One Philadelphia Lawyer”, intricately weaves together a captivating narrative that chronicles his relentless pursuit of success, overcoming one obstacle after another. Within its pages, readers traverse alongside Lee, sharing in his profound emotions and experiences.

Published in 2019’s “The Last Train From Djibouti”, the story begins from an unassuming, yet metaphorical, location: a train voyage originating in Charlottesville, Virginia, bound for New York City’s Penn Station. For Otis, this journey recalls another train’s journey from distant times in a location many miles from home. Drawing inspiration from the accounts of Dr. Michelle Palmer Lee and her mentor, Dr. Harriett F. Karuhije, “The Last Train From Djibouti” brings us alongside these two women on a transformative odyssey, each embarking independently to the Motherland, spurred by a resolute desire to connect with Africa and self discovery. By artfully expositing passages from Michelle’s journal and Harriett’s recounting, Otis portrays a microcosm of the African-American struggle to unearth roots within a culture that underwent upheaval, crossed oceans and emerged anew.

Coming in 2024, Otis Lee’s latest title “Black Spartacus, I Was Born in the Forest: A Traveler’s Guide to Quilombo, Maroon Societies in Brazil” embodies the struggle for liberty by Africans who were transported to the Americas aboard slave ships, hailing from regions like Congo, Angola, and other parts of Central Africa.

https://otislee.com/