A few years ago I read Africa's Children: A History of Blacks in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia by Sharon Robart-Johnson. In it, there was a short newspaper clipping about the murder trial of a young, enslaved girl named Jude who was beaten to death in the early 1800s. In Jude and Diana, Robart-Johnson gives voice to … Continue reading Jude and Diana by Sharon Robart-Johnson
Since this book first came out, I have been captivated by the octopus on the cover. What is an octopus doing on the cover of a book about an escaped slave? Well, let me tell you... It starts in Barbados in 1830, when the plantation master's brother comes to visit. "Titch" asks for the "use" … Continue reading Shadow Giller: Washington Black by Esi Edugyan
I haven't read a good book about slavery in a long time. And, this is an excellent one. One of the things that makes it stand out is that it is not just about slavery; it's about what humans do to each other, the motivation behind why we do it, and how it ripples (more … Continue reading Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
Good Lord Bird - An Ivory-Billed Woodpecker, critically endangered and possibly extinct. They say a feather from a Good Lord Bird'll bring you understanding that'll last your whole life. The Good Lord Bird don't run in a flock. He flies alone. You know why? He's searching. Looking for the right tree. And when he sees … Continue reading The Good Lord Bird by James McBride
Consumed by Ink 