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 life experiences that defined his career and his life in the book From South Boston to Cambridge.

The Synopsis

Travel on a journey of evolution from naiveté as a child in the Jim Crow South, to self-actualization at “the Door of No Return,” on Goree Island, in Senegal, West Africa. Experience some of the travails of the lawyer as solo practitioner, the last of the Lone Rangers, a dying breed. This memoir, written in the nature of a novel, also includes a descriptive genealogical narrative of the Lee Family, one of Charlottesville, Virginia’s notable Black families. The solo practice of law in the big city, as well as in smaller towns, offers numerous learning and teachable moments. Maturing as a lawyer requires time, patience, perseverance and a sound strategy but in the solo practitioner’s case it also entails a unique occupational journey: From the apprentice lawyer to the journeymen lawyer the ritual of passage is the same regardless of race. Here, as in the military in a time of war, race is blurred by the need to learn and the will to survive and grow. Professional success requires relationships with strange bed fellows where many essential lessons are learned. The competence of the black professional is never assumed; it must be proven even to members of his own race. A curious paradox with roots buried deep in the American story. The politics of race starkly impacted the recent history of a major American city, Philadelphia-in the killing of a police officer, the incineration of a neighborhood and the election of that city’s first black mayor. Contrary to what many people may perceive, middle class black families have much in common with middle class white families. They encounter many of the same head winds except the resistance of color in American culture. As a consequence black middle class youth confront deeper issues affecting their journey toward the goal of attaining self-actualization; personal doubts, race acceptance and appreciation, skin color and complexion, obtaining a competitive education, not just an integrated education for the two are not the same; economic gamesmanship to master an unfriendly and demanding economic system, “equal opportunity” test challenging for all races but for the American of African descent all of this occurs in an unaccommodating culture, no less demanding especially the skill of converting income into wealth. From South Boston To Cambridge: The Making Of One Philadelphia Lawyer touches upon all of these themes in a tapestry of stories woven together around the life of one central character but by no means the only colorful character.

The Review

This was the author’s most personal and engaging read yet. The memoir perfectly balances the author’s life experiences with the cultural experiences of both the eras he lived through and the community he established along the way. The level of detail and precision with which the author recounted these experiences was amazing, showcasing the heightened focus and attention to detail that comes naturally as a former attorney. 

The numerous challenges the author faced throughout his life and career, and how he conquered those challenges, were inspiring. The emotional depth of the author’s experiences was also felt, as when a colleague at a Philadelphia law firm was held in contempt. The expertise he witnessed at his colleague’s treatment disillusioned the author with the recognition of true justice when his life and the lives of other people of color were not valued as much as others. The impact those experiences and realizations have on the author’s life plays out perfectly on the page.

The Verdict

Remarkable, astounding, and engaging, author Otis L Lee Jr’s “From South Boston to Cambridge” is a must-read nonfiction book and memoir. The honesty and relatability with which the author writes, as well as the plethora of experiences that helped define the author’s journey, will stay with readers as they delve further and further into the book. 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.