Crusader: A Memoir on Growing Up Catholic and African-American in Rural Northeast Louisiana

Faith, family, and resilience are the themes in this powerful book by a talented intersectional voice, offering a breath of fresh air to the Black southern memoir space.

In the era of Jim Crow and the beginnings of desegregation, the rural South held stories of resilience, growth, coming of age in an environment of complex philosophical intersections. This memoir tells the truth story of an African-American man growing up Catholic in the Protestant-heavy Northeast Louisiana region.

Crusader follows Chester A. Robinson's journey to adulthood, shaped by the steadfast support of his hardworking family, his faith, and the priests and nuns dedicated to serving his community. Readers of this book will earn a vivid perspective on the history and culture of the region-and how the values, struggles, and conversations found within Black Catholic culture in Northeast Louisiana shaped the lives of clergy and laypeople there.

For Robinson, and for many readers who fit his intersectional history-and many who have experienced the challenges of intersecting identities of all kinds-this book is a love letter to the younger self. To the child in us all, Robinson would offer assurances that the confusion and uncertainty, the monotony of routines, and the lessons learned along the way will bear much fruit in a fulfilling life ahead-and all of our struggles make for valuable stories to tell.

This memoir is a testament to Black resilience, the beauty of holding on to what we believe even when we're surrounded by people who don't understand it, and that history is made by ordinary people who make a difference.