Boss of Black Brooklyn is a story of hope. Howell sheds light on the Freudian conflicts that have wreaked havoc on black families over the course of the black presence in the American hemisphere. Bertram Baker is a contradictory model for how to live and how not to live. Dead over three decades, Baker’s story shows us we can achieve great things despite our weaknesses. We can claim to be righteous and bold, but we must learn that compromise is one of life’s most valuable skills.