Black and White by Ben Burgess Jr. begins with an emergency situation and introduces a conflict that escalates pretty quickly: “Sergeant, be advised: I'm now being told by various callers that this is a 10-13; officers need immediate assistance. Callers are stating that two cops and two unidentified males have been shot. Are there units to back the sergeant and confirm?” A notable law firm has tumbled on two serious cases: a rape involving a white NBA star player and a black hooker, and a murder case involving a black rapper and a gay couple. Bill O'Neil and Ben Turner take on the cases and thus begins a legal ride that will test everything they learned at law school and their core fundamental values and beliefs. This is urban fiction at its best and it’s a ride, a very fast and thrilling one.

The first element of this novel that captivated me was the enormous conflict which involves racism, indicated through the novel by the great dialogues. Here is an invective that captures racism in one of the interesting conversations: “Shut up, you ugly Black monkey, before I tell Uncle Curtis not to give your bum ass family any food.” The reader will have a keen interest in the balance that comes through between character, plot, and setting. One has the impression they are reading a well-calculated and beautifully executed drama. The writing is great and it features exciting conversations that help to deepen plot and character. This is a story that succinctly displays the reality of racism in the US. Ben Burgess Jr. has a gift for plot and character and Black and White handles one of the controversial themes in today’s American debate; a really satisfying read.

Two criminal cases. Two attorneys. One law firm. In Ben Burgess's Black and White, four people are dead - two cops and two gay men. Since Reggie (aka Co-Kayne) was seen threatening the homosexuals and his fingerprint was found on the gun, the famous rapper stands accused. But Ben, a black pedigreed attorney with the Wayne, Rothstein and Lincoln law firm, will work tirelessly to defend Reggie, even though Ben is not the kind of tough lawyer Reggie believes will win his case. Furthermore, Bill, a white attorney, also works for the firm. His client, Johnny Alfieri, is an NBA superstar accused of raping Sophia, a stripper who refuses to take quick cash and disappear. But the real question in Bill's "he said/she said" case is not whether Alfieri committed a felony, but whether the prosecution can prove it. So how will these two attorneys' lives interconnect to create a fast-paced, complex story filled with lies, family, sex and racial tension?

Black and White is not just a crime story but a coming-of-age novel. The cases mirror modern events. Chapters revealing the in-depth histories of the characters added another dimension. Ben Burgess did an excellent job with dialogue that was real and laced with sexually explicit content. I identified with Ben and his issue with not being "black enough." I loved the flashbacks to the old neighborhoods, the true depiction of complex family ties, and the unique issues of interracial relationships. Black and White is highly recommended.