The Best of Enemies

Race and Redemption in the New South

By: Osha Gray Davidson

Narrated by: Keith Sellon-Wright

C. P. Ellis grew up in the poor white section of Durham, North Carolina, and as a young man joined the Ku Klux Klan. Ann Atwater, a single mother from the poor black part of town, quit her job as a household domestic to join the civil rights fight.

During the 1960s, as the country struggled with the explosive issue of race, Atwater and Ellis met on opposite sides of the public school integration issue. Their encounters were charged with hatred and suspicion. In an amazing set of transformations, however, each of them came to see how the other had been exploited by the South's rigid power structure, and they forged a friendship that flourished against a backdrop of unrelenting bigotry.

Rich with details about the rhythms of daily life in the mid-20th-century South, The Best of Enemies offers a vivid portrait of a relationship that defied all odds. By placing this very personal story into broader context, Osha Gray Davidson demonstrates that race is intimately tied to issues of class and that cooperation is possible - even in the most divisive situations - when people begin to listen to one another.

©2017 Blackstone Audio, Inc. (P)2017 Osha Gray Davidson

Whatta story!

I watched the film which holds the same title as this biography and felt like it didn’t give the whole story. This audiobook, however, provides all the necessary backstory and details a person needs to understand Ellis and Atwater’s complicated relationship.

Surprisingly, the last two chapters seem to be what the motion picture was based on which beautifully wraps up how and why Ellis changed to become a better man.

It’s definitely worth the listen.

Lots of History Here

I have not seen the movie yet, but there was way too much information in this book to be able to put on the big screen. Loved the detailed background of how these different personalities emerged throughout the years.

80% history and 20% C.P. Ellis and Ann Atwater

I selected this book because I thought it was the novelization of the movie "The Best of Enemies" staring Taraji P. Henson and Sam Rockwell. I wanted to read the book first before watching the movie. The book cover is misleading. The book is at least 80% on the history of Durham, North Carolina and about 20% on the story of C.P. Ellis and Ann Atwater. You have to listen for HOURS before the book even gets into mentioning Ellis and Atwater, then it goes back to more history and in last couple of hours, it goes back to Ellis and Atwater. I normally love history but I was really interested in the story of the frenemies. I wanted to know HOW was it possible that a Klansman and a black woman worked together? How did they not kill each other?! The conflict from opposing sides just added to the drama and tension between the two individuals. In the beginning, I was getting impatient with the non-stop history, like where is this book going? It was interesting to peer inside the head of a Klansman and learn why someone would join the KKK. I would say it was absolutely worth it to listen to the end because the spiritual transformation of C.P. Ellis was incredibly moving. I loved and admired Ann's spiritual strength. She is a powerhouse. They both realized how much they had in common. Blacks and whites should not be enemies. The enemy is poverty and all the evil that grows from it. They were successful because each one loved their communities more than they hated each other. Their hearts were changed from their interaction. The intensity of feelings between the black and white communities reminds me of what is happening in our country right now. If only we could see how the rich and powerful control everything and keep poor people in poverty for generations on purpose. Our country has the resources to feed, house and educate every single person BUT greedy rich people won't let it happen.

NOTE: I just watched the movie and I am glad I read the book first. There were some scenes in the movie that I don't remember in the book. Some scenes in the movie were very understated compared to the book. I recommend reading the book and watching the movie because each gives the other context. I felt the focus of the movie was more on C.P., while the book presented Ann equally with C.P. At the end of the movie, there are clips of the real C.P. Ellis and Ann Atwater in an interview. You could see the warmth of their friendship of 30 years.

One of the most important books you will ever read

In this divisive time, the lesson of this book that all people have an inherent dignity, should be trumpeted in every corner of the planet.

i found it to be very educational.

I learned from the author a very balanced picture of the proceedings. Watch the movie too.

Lots of background information

This book provides a lot of historical information and events that influenced the story of CP and Anne. I didn’t expect this. I expected more of the personal stories.

really interesting

So this book was pretty eye opening. enjoyed the story and learning about the people

If you have seen the movie this is better by far!

I’ve seen the movie several times as I find the story moving and up lifting. I believe in this story even more today than when it happened. We are all the same when you get right down to it! This just proves it! I now have both the book and the movie and watching the two main characters with each other shows how true we are all the same!

Compassion

A history lesson to be sure. A constant struggle of how the rich marginalize the poor.

Reminds me of Nelson Mandela

It is too bad we don’t find more people like this in our society, and in our world.