By I have conquered this beast! It was a tremendous and emotional read, particularly the end. I fully promote reading this book, though I wish I hadn’t felt as rushed while reading it. It will be some time before another visit, but at least I know where I can focus some of my reading if I go back to this.
I love the layout of this book. It is both historical and biographical – three individuals, Ida Mae, George and Pershing all leave the South for different reasons and during different decades. All are African American and looking for freedom.
I love people who claim that slavery ended a long time ago. This book is a rude awakening for such people who hold that notion. Reading this, while “slavery” in its purist sense has died, through the 1970s it is crystal clear that there is still segregation and hate towards the African American community. (I am not arguing that it ended in the 1970s.)
The book concludes with the death of George and Pershing and Ida Mae’s aging life.
If you want to read a history book about African Americans that really brings personal accounts into the context of larger issues in the arena of social justice, this is a book for you!
I am honestly feeling so inspired that I finished this book and I may finish all 10 books after all! Happy reading =)
Overall rating: 4.5/5 the only loss is really the length– I think it would be more approachable if it wasn’t almost 700 pages.
Open Arts Spring 2023 