The Pact (2002 book)

The Pact narrates the lives of Rameck Hunt, Sampson Davis, and George Jenkins, three young black men that grew up in a community of violence, ignorance, and failure. The book shows their first-hand experience of racism and the low expectations for their future. Eventually the three make a promise that one day they will not only graduate from college, but that they will graduate as doctors. They later receive a scholarship to Seton Hall University, although the process proves to be a difficult one. Despite managing to overcome enough obstacles to gain a scholarship and attend college, they still run into racism, mediocrity, and failure. At one point the group debates giving up and dropping out of college, but are talked out of it by the school's guidance counselor, Carla Dickson. They then decide to face their obstacles in more adequate ways and graduate from Seton Hall. The three then study to become doctors, with Hunt and Davis deciding to attend medical school while Jenkins decides to become a dentist. The book ends with all three of them passing and earning their medical degrees at their respective schools.

Critical reception for The Pact has been positive,[5] with many schools utilizing it in their lesson plans.[6][7] Publishers Weekly praised the book, calling its urgency "undeniable".[8] AudioFile criticized the narration for the audiobook, writing that "Since they presumably wrote the book, they should be able to emphasize words to get their meanings across. Instead, they read flatly, forcing us, at times, to grapple with context and intent."[9]

In 2006 a documentary focusing on the three doctors was released through Spark Media and directed by Sylvia Holmes.[10] The Pact was shown at the Boston International Film Festival and has been positively received by critics.[11][12]

• Official documentary website
• The Three Doctors website