Reviewed by Lynette Fowlston for Readers' Favorite

Dust On His Soul by Jason Blacker is a very deeply written book and, although fictional, is inspired by the life of Stephen Bilko and the African National Congress (ANC). Many African men joined what is Africa’s left wing political party. The story starts out with Stephen Bankulu imprisoned at Robben Island, a prison that is one step short of hell. Stephen's parents had both been involved in the ANC hoping to give him a better life; but now, fifteen years later, Stephen is in prison for treason for being a member of ANC. The storyline revolves around the present and the past as one takes in account the influence the ANC had, not only on Stephen's life growing up, but on the African Nation as a whole.

This is not a particularly large book, but one the reader has to read deeply. It is the story of racial tensions and of injustice, hate and cruelty that is heaped on the people. This is a powerfully written book, and some will not get through it. The language is quite coarse, and that will turn some people off. Even though fictional, this is a part of the African history. Steve Bilkom whose activism empowered many Africans, is famous for his saying, "Black is Beautiful," which he described as meaning, "Man, you are okay as you are, begin to look upon yourself as a human being.”