WILLINGBORO, N.J., January 8, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- J. Oscar Bass knows that even in the face of the most senseless tragedies, there are lessons to be learned. Without Vengeance: The Autobiography of Joseph O. Bass (now available through 1stBooks) is an intriguing story and an account of his pilgrimage from the depths of the segregation era Mississippi cotton fields through the Midwest Bible Belt.
An author, clergyman, social scientist, world traveler and lecturer, Bass details his life growing up as a Black man during a time of intense racism to achieve more than anyone ever imagined. Without Vengeance tells how he was able to rise up from Depression era rural Mississippi beginnings to meetings with kings and queens. He believes that God called him to service when he was very young. At the age of 5, Bass witnessed his uncle being tarred, feathered and burned alive by a racist mob for allegedly sending a note to a white woman, despite the fact that the man couldn't read or write. Later, when he was 12, he was driven from his home for allegedly failing to call a white man "mister," sending him out into the world on his own.
The book details how a young boy arrives scared, alone, hungry and destitute in St. Louis. However, he not only survives, but graduates high school, becomes the youngest president of a national labor union at 16 and earns six degrees, including a doctorate. His journeys carry him to Southeast Asia as an industrial missionary, to Europe as a leader and speaker and to meetings with kings, queens and leaders on four continents. Throughout his travels, he details how God walked beside him in faith and helped him through all of his trials and tribulations. Lies were told against him, enemies plotted to harm him and friends deserted him, but he stood taller, assured that God and truth would prevail.
From the beginning to the end of Without Vengeance, Bass supports and demonstrates that "truth crushed to the earth will always rise again because there is a God who is forever keeping watch over his own so they can live to fight another day."
Bass looks back over his life thoroughly without malice and with great passion. Without Vengeance is a celebration of life, faith, sorrow and joy.
Other books by Bass include Christian Ethics and Let Me Be What I Can Be (both available through 1stBooks).
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