Son of a Preacherman

Marlene Banks, author of Son of a Preacherman
 (June 2012, Lift Every Voice Imprint, Moody Publishers).

 

 

About the Book

A historical romance novel set in the 1920s in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Son of a Preacherman depicts the highly segregated life of African Americans in the Greenwood District, in Northern Tulsa and the tensions leading up to the Tulsa Race Riots.

 

Billy Ray Matthias is the handsome younger son of the church’s new pastor.  Benny is the daughter of the oil rich Freeman family.  Billy Ray is convinced that Benny is the woman God would have him settle down with. Benny, on the other hand, recently had her heart broken. She is not the least bit interested in getting involved anytime soon. As Billy’s pursuit of Benny intensifies, so does the political and social climate in the prosperous African American neighborhood known as the Greenwood District..

 

Racial tensions in Tulsa escalate when Dick Rowland, a black man, is accused by a local newspaper of raping Sarah Page, a white woman, on an elevator.  Ethan Freeman (Benny’s brother) and Maynard Vaughn (a radical white attorney and Ethan’s mentor) despite continuous threats put their weight and energy behind helping Dick. While the White Glove Society, a racist group seeks to destroy not only Dick but all the African Americans in this successful black owned community.

 

As tensions come to a head and violence breaks out, Billy and Benny are caught up in the heat of chaos.  He vows to keep her safe but will Benny let him?

 

Will faith in God be enough to sustain the people of the community as their lives are changed forever by deadly acts of hatred.

About the Author

Marlene Banks is a Philadelphia, PA native.  She attended Westminster College in New Wilmington, PA and has an Associate’s Degree in Theology from the Rhema Bible Institute in Keysville, VA.  She is the director of ministry at Lifeline Mission of the Gospel.  Through her writing ministry, Marlene’s desire is to promote the gospel and serve the needs of her community. Visit her online at http://www.marlenebanks.com/