Review by dhwanis -- From Liberty to Magnolia: In Search...
3 posts
[Following is a volunteer review of "From Liberty to Magnolia: In Search of the American Dream" by Janice S. Ellis.]
[rbc=4]id260560-125[/rbc]
Janice was born on a small farm on the border of Louisiana and Mississippi at a time when racism was openly flaunted. She mentions that she was glad her parents had the foresight to invest in a property, as life for African-Americans who did not own their own property was worse off as they had to make ends meet by working for extremely low wages. It was also interesting how she describes the single road between the two cities, Louisiana and Mississippi, changes from the wobbly dirt-filled one that was in front of the 'black' area, and the nice paved one where the 'whites' lived. I found this an interesting way to show the differences in the lifestyles of both communities. She then goes on to mention various instances of subtle racism that she faced and how she countered them.
We are also made aware of the kind of opportunities that were available for the blacks in the region, which were limited to farming or other menial jobs. The jobs available for women were even less. So, when Janice mentions to her mother that she wishes to be a news correspondent, her mother quickly tells her not to dream the impossible. This statement made the maximum impact as it made the rest of her journey, from getting a PHD to working in corporate America and trying her hand at Politics more inspiring.
I did feel that some elements of the books could have been cut short like the parts where a brief synopsis of many of the authors' writing was included. As a reader, I felt that adding one or two major articles would have been enough if any needed to be added at all, as I felt that it was a deviation from the narrative of the story.
So, I give this book a 4 out of 4 stars. Both the writing and editing of the book was excellent. The author has penned an interesting and enlightening memoir of surviving all odds and coming out a winner. I really enjoyed reading it. If you are interested in learning about the time when civil rights and feminism was gaining momentum, and how it impacted the daily lives of the people, this is the book for you.
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From Liberty to Magnolia: In Search of the American Dream
View: on Bookshelves |
Janice was born on a small farm on the border of Louisiana and Mississippi at a time when racism was openly flaunted. She mentions that she was glad her parents had the foresight to invest in a property, as life for African-Americans who did not own their own property was worse off as they had to make ends meet by working for extremely low wages. It was also interesting how she describes the single road between the two cities, Louisiana and Mississippi, changes from the wobbly dirt-filled one that was in front of the 'black' area, and the nice paved one where the 'whites' lived. I found this an interesting way to show the differences in the lifestyles of both communities. She then goes on to mention various instances of subtle racism that she faced and how she countered them.
We are also made aware of the kind of opportunities that were available for the blacks in the region, which were limited to farming or other menial jobs. The jobs available for women were even less. So, when Janice mentions to her mother that she wishes to be a news correspondent, her mother quickly tells her not to dream the impossible. This statement made the maximum impact as it made the rest of her journey, from getting a PHD to working in corporate America and trying her hand at Politics more inspiring.
I did feel that some elements of the books could have been cut short like the parts where a brief synopsis of many of the authors' writing was included. As a reader, I felt that adding one or two major articles would have been enough if any needed to be added at all, as I felt that it was a deviation from the narrative of the story.
So, I give this book a 4 out of 4 stars. Both the writing and editing of the book was excellent. The author has penned an interesting and enlightening memoir of surviving all odds and coming out a winner. I really enjoyed reading it. If you are interested in learning about the time when civil rights and feminism was gaining momentum, and how it impacted the daily lives of the people, this is the book for you.
******
From Liberty to Magnolia: In Search of the American Dream
View: on Bookshelves |
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