Book Review - Barracoon

[@jcoxbell]

I just read The Last Slave Ship which was published in 2022 and draws on Barracoon as a source. The author is the journalist who found the Clotilda. The book fills in a lot of the gaps you pointed out here, especially about Africatown past and present. I plan to read Barracoon next.

[@browngirlreading]

Thanks for letting me know. I have had Slavery at Sea: Terror, Sex, and Sickness in the Middle Passage by Sowande M. Mustakeem. This was published in 2016 I believe. There's video on YT of Mustakeem and Raines in conversation. Very interesting discussion. kzbin.info/www/bejne/fXrCgKuLpb6td5o

[@beautifulspirit7420]

I agree. What was strange was at the end of that discussion about plagiarism was it seemed to suggest it wasn't what he was saying that was plagiarized but the additional information about the ship and it's history, which she gave credit for and it mentions her additional information notes could have been missing. So it felt like they were undermining Zora completely unnecessarily.

[@browngirlreading]

Exactly! I still don't understand what all that underling of Hurston was all about. I'm still mad about that.

[@beautifulspirit7420]

@@browngirlreading really unnecessary. I would like to see them do that with any white male author. What did you think about Alice Walker looking for her resting place? I actually loved that BUT what was totally missing was the descendants of Africatown and the finding of the Clotilde 2 years ago!! It felt like his narrative was in a cage which the publishers were carefully circling around in case the obvious connections that could be made with his experience spilled out. "Don't ask, don't tell". Infuriating. If you're not going to do it respectfully and properly just publish the narrative and NOTHING else.

[@beautifulspirit7420]

Also that stealing and smuggling people in from Africa was a FEDERAL CRIME at the time which the captain could have been hung for. That didn't really get emphasized. That this was a CRIME scene. Never mind that it's always been a crime against humanity.

[@writebymia614]

Really great point about the publication process and the afterword. They could have done so much more to preserve and emphasize the importance of this story

[@browngirlreading]

I know right?! The after took me aback!I was shocked. I still ca't believe they followed the story by that afterword. Smh...

[@annkey4091]

Very much enjoyed your critique. I read this book also. I know that Alice Walker is the person who discovered Zora Neal Hurston's unmarked grave in Florida and put a marker on it. Hurston died in poverty. I plan to reexamine my Goodreads review. Thanks,

[@ALove4Me]

Thanks for this review! I also thought the afterward was jarring, and I was utterly confused. I felt the work was just an interview, not necessarily a full story. Today, her interview may have been an article in a magazine or a research narrative in higher ed, not presented as a full story/memoir. I really appreciated his viewpoint as its one that we rarely hear. Including the narrative around African slaves wanting to return to Africa, and not having the ability to do so. Then the afterward... I just cannot understand why they would throw in a 20 page narrative that basically discredits the entire interview. Just makes no sense. I would like to see the work published again with an afterward that further explores ideas actually discussed in the interview.

[@browngirlreading]

Yes I was really upset reading the afterword. I'm going to check a book called Dreams of Africa in Alabama which might give me the full circle I'm looking for. And no I can't understand why they did that either. Smh...

[@IntrovertedBlackGurl]

Thanks for sharing your review! I read Barracoon this past summer as well and thought it was a great telling of the life of Kossula, but I was upset that they didn't mention what happened to Africa Town (like you mention) also whatever happened to Kossula, he only had his son's wife and his grandchildren left, what happened to them??? Did Zora ever see Kossula again? Did they write? Was she ever notifies about his passing? Was he alone when he died?? who buried him? All of these questions unanswered, it's very upsetting, the story felt unfinished.

[@browngirlreading]

I felt like why did they even bother if they weren't going to do it right.

[@chardonnay5715]

I totally agree !! His story is so sad to but agree thank you for the review

[@BookNookNoggin]

I was in tears hearing about all the tragedies of this man's life.

[@lisawallace1741]

January 2024, I just watched the Netflix documentary called The Descendants. fascinating to listen to your review, after watching that

[@browngirlreading]

I'm going to have to watch The Descendants now. Thanks for letting me know Lisa!

[@SummerShine4488]

Thanks for sharing the photo - I listened to the audiobook and didn't get to see the photo but enjoyed the part of the book where he went inside to get ready and wanted a copy. The afterward you spoke of was how the audiobook from Scribd started, which I really didn't care for or find appropriate - it really set up the book in a strange way and felt like it was trying to change how I interacted or felt about the story. (Followed your review link from GoodReads.)

[@browngirlreading]

No I was not at all happy with the ending

[@jackg7538]

This was wonderful, thank you so much! I’m not sure if you’re an English professor... but you should be.

[@tosodo]

The book has generated conversation,to a large extent this stories have not been documented adequately enough to generate debate and raise curiosity.

[@browngirlreading]

I think the curiosity is there but the way this book is done is incomplete in my opinion. It also contains passages that I deem unnecessary. There's another book out there that talks about his people that I'd like to read.

[@bruceleesh4064]

Yes!!!!! I feel I was left with more questions than answers. I read 3 pages of the afterword and it upset me. The foreword telling us how genuine her story is then to try to rip that away right at the end after getting so consumed into his story?... I explained to my mom I wouldn't be finishing the afterword and she thought it was disrespectful but I just wasn't into it..... Its been 4 weeks since ive read it and I care enough to look it up on KZbin lol!!!!! I feel seen.

[@browngirlreading]

Totally agree! I just didn't get it. It pissed me off the afterword.

[@josmith5992]

It makes me sad that a book I think many people were excited about has been tainted in this way but I still intend to read it as it sounds a vital and fascinating story and perhaps I’ll skip the afterword.

[@BookNookNoggin]

I really liked this book, but felt it was too short. I understand that he was very old at the time of his interview, and he could recollect what he could. Being that he was a very young man at the time of his abduction...it would have been better hearing more about Africa, and what it was like as a slave in the deep South. I know most of the story focused on his life after slavery, as it was more recent. Still a great read to document this time period.

[@BookswithBrandieShanae]

I read this book and I also had questions on why are they now bringing this book out to the world. I have a history degree and once I heard that this book was being published I had to get my hands on it. I recently just started my channel and this book is going to be in one of my videos as well. This book is very interesting.

[@browngirlreading]

Interested in what you have to say. I feel they missed the mark.

[@shaylasrobinson]

Great Review Didi!! I agree with you completely about the Afterword. Hearing Kossula’s story was beyond amazing. I live in Alabama and have never heard of Africa Town. I will do some research on it. Keep up the good work, and thanks for your great feedback!

[@Kiyonce.Kartier]

Thanks for the review. It’s worth noting this book was finished was 1931 and most of his children died which is probably why there wasn’t any follow up with his ancestors. I had to put this book down a couple times to take a deep breath; it was a bit overwhelming at times.

[@browngirlreading]

Well apparently theres a book called Dreams of Africa in Alabama: The Slave Ship Clotilda and the Story of the Last Africans Brought to America that goes into more detail on the part that I feel was missing.

[@Comfycozyup]

It's on my TBR, but I am going to wait until fall to read it. Interesting review!

[@browngirlreading]

Thank you!

[@luwakw01]

My issue with this book is not that it may have been plagiarized, but that it was fictionalized and is now being sold as a true story. Why did the publisher not mention this now, when they admitted to this back in the 1930s?

[@browngirlreading]

That's not the issue I have with it either. I didn't like that fact that the publisher tacked on a 20 page afterword insinuating that it might have been plagiarized. Where did you learn that the story was fictionalized?

[@luwakw01]

Brown Girl Reading sorry for the late response. I know because I'm familiar with the culture he describes, which is TOTALLY DIFFERENT from the culture in the area he claims to come from (which I'm also familiar with). Even down to the "African" language he spoke (which they thought no one would understand...but I did). Imagine if you read a hypothetical true story about an Englishman named Paul who was kidnapped from England, but in his account, he's speaking Russian and talking about Matryoshka dolls and the Kremlin. That would be a bit ridiculous, no? No one would say, "well they're all white people. it's all European. British, Russian, same difference!" That's basically what the account of Africa did in barraccoon. so off base was the description of Africa, it was on the level of Wakanda, and I'm not exaggerating. I would find it entertaining if it wasn't so defamatory. i typed a detailed response to this book in another post, and I'll paste it under here once i find it (if you're interested -- it's kinda long lol)

[@luwakw01]

Brown Girl Reading also, look on ZNH's Wikipedia's page. she was known not only for plagiarizing work, but fudging true stories, in order to promote her personal ideas of race and race relations. the amount of nonsense that we (me and other Nigerians....or "Africans" lol) caught in this story was crazy. I'm glad that back in the day, black people were down for the cause, and African American authors were united in denouncing her work.

[@Fillingim251]

Great review! This has been on my list for awhile to read. I finally ordered it and cant wait for it to arrive. AfricaTown does still exist but is being taken over by the industrial trades. I am from that area and have stories of where the clotilda is sunk and am glad they finally found it. A museum for their story is now going up later this year in AfricaTown.

[@browngirlreading]

Wow! That's really cool!

[@JoshsBookishVoyage]

Loved this review. I just started it, and I'll be keeping your comments in mind while I read it.

[@Robert.Sheard]

I've loved Their Eyes Were Watching God forever, but I don't know the publishing history of Barracoon. Was it lost and only recently discovered? Why was it published now? Who wrote the afterword?

[@browngirlreading]

I don't think it was lost. I have no idea why they decided to publish it now. I'd love to know. The editor's note and the afterword were both writen by Deborah G. Plant. She's a scholar of African-A studiesmerican, writer, editor, etc.

[@Robert.Sheard]

The decades delay is curious. How do you feel this novella stacks up with TEWWG?

[@browngirlreading]

It doesn't. And yes why so late for Barracoon and why in that form? Strange.

[@mayasbooksnthings5188]

Great review. A lot of what you said, I totally felt the same way. I really would like to know what made them publish the book like that.

[@browngirlreading]

Thanks Maya! I was wondering if I was a little too sensitive concerning this book.

[@mayasbooksnthings5188]

I don't think you were too sensitive. I'm just glad someone felt the same way I did. I was reading all these 5 star reviews and I could not figure out how people could rate the book a 5. Hurston's name sold this book at least for me it did. Thank you for an honest review

[@andrewr.melillo3815]

Love this book. Uniquely American....good critique, but history is always unfinished. You have to research and write to help contribute to the public record and history of Kossula. When a writer is perceived as mistaken...write accordingly! Love the other perspective of history, with which many of us do not know. Write.Write.Write.

[@itsonpage4712]

I am super late to this video but I agree on a lot of what you said. I read it very shortly after it came out and I am still just sitting with it and hinking about it. I think the stuff about Zora possibly plagerizing was unnessecary and took away from the book. My personal feeling is that anyone who would pick this book up probably knows about Zora and either knows about the plagerizim allegations or will find out. I did

[@browngirlreading]

Exactly! I'm still trying to figure out what Amastad had in mind when deciding to publish this book. Confusing....

[@FreeFormLady]

The whole talk about plagiarism annoyed me too! If this was indeed an issue why bother by publishing. I saw your comment on my IG post. You should definitely check out Dreams of Africa in Alabama. The detail in that book will fill in the gaps. The main thing I loved about Barracoon was the emotion I could feel when Cudjo would talk about Africa. The longing in his words was really touching. He was 19 years old when he was taken so his memory of his home land really stuck with him all those years later.

[@browngirlreading]

Agreed. I felt the same way about reading about his life. Heartbreaking and tragic. Will definitely try to get my hands onDreams of Africa in Alabama.

[@deidreperry6493]

I’m just starting the book. I’m on chapter 5. Thanks for giving me the heads up on the end of the book. What I am finished I plan on commenting more. Glad I found your page

[@browngirlreading]

Please come back a,d let me know what you think about it.

[@indialavoyce95]

This is on my TBR. I’m a little hesitant to read works published posthumously for obvious reasons, but I feel like this is a must.

[@browngirlreading]

Yeah I was a little hesitant as well but I was very curious about it. Come back and let me know what you think if you finally get to it.

[@hattibailey9478]

Think you.

[@indialavoyce95]

Ok I sure will! Thanks!

[@tortoisedreams6369]

I really appreciated Barracoon, such an important contribution. ZNH did a wonderful job telling the story. I suppose Amistad could've done a better job, but I really came for the story of Kossola, which was brilliantly told. A necessary book.

[@kudjoeadkins-battle2502]

For the record he was the last enslaved African we know of. The way the American Africans treated the Africans probably was typical. I mean we treated them like that when I was young.

[@chardonnay5715]

There are also documentaries about Africa town in today society on KZbin also if you want to find out more about that’s what I ended up having to do

[@browngirlreading]

Thanks for the info!

[@LEFTONREAD]

Wow I so respect this perspective. When I read your comment on my review I was like how could someone be torn, but this really makes sense. The afterward was completely unnecessary I agree. The Forward was so amazing (brilliant I agree). The afterward didn’t make me as upset, but I think it’s because I dismissed it as a disclaimer. I loved that you touched on the Dahomey women warriors because those were my thoughts too! Like I think it also has to do with two sides to everything. On one side I love the fact that these women were warriors and notorious, but also warriors ARE ruthless 😕. I enjoyed this review so much and am so glad I found your channel. Loved your perspective!

[@browngirlreading]

Thanks for understanding my point of view. Barracoon is a bit of a controversial one in my opinion.

[@LEFTONREAD]

Brown Girl Reading more than understood, really appreciated it. Husband just watched to and had a whole convo about Africa Town. That really would have been such an amazing afterward.

[@Mitzi1221]

She wrote that. They're still disrespecting her. And exploiting it. Someone's published it for some reason. They've not been honest and done her justice, or the man himself. ❤

[@MistahReadWrites]

I can’t wait to read this one

[@kjkr59]

Thank you for this review. I am a resident of Mobile, Alabama, and looking for peoples' impressions and opinions of the book. Your observations and comments are insightful and well noted- thank you. I'm reading and hearing so many statements from others that are wildly inaccurate! I'm wondering if this may be in part due to not reading all of what has been buried in the footnotes, or missing information that has been excluded altogether. Please take what appears in accounts by Hurston, as well as the writings of Walker, Plant, and others without a more extensive knowledge of what goes on here, with a grain of salt. There are things about this place and the people here, including Cudjoe Lewis, which continue to be, for whatever reasons, either excluded entirely from publication, or heavily edited such that the story reads from a very biased or limited perspective. I'm in the process of trying to write and publish the stories of the women in my family, with an account of our history here that is as complete and free from inaccuracies or mischaracterization as is possible. The women of my family here- beginning with my great, great, great grandmothers, were growers, grocers, and herbalists, living and trading in a network of medicine women of the various cultures along the waterfront of Mobile Bay, from AfricaTown/Plateau down to Mon Louis Island, and even beyond- from New Orleans to Pensacola. There was much going on, and of a complex and extensive nature, between people of different cultures and status on the Coast- be they of African, African American, Slave/Free, French or Spanish Creole, Maroon/Caribbean, Irish/Italian/German immigrant, remnants of Native American tribes, British, Catholic/Protestant/Pagan... and oh, yes, throw in the hurricanes and yellow fever epidemics, the economic devastation and exploitation... the rapid industrialization of the waterfront here. And my grandmother's waterfront property and home that once stood less than 4 miles from Cudjoe Lewis's property, that she fought and worked so long and hard for? Gone. Unlike Cudjoe Lewis, she chose to see the handwriting on the wall, sell it all to L&N Railroad, take her family and get the heck out of there.

[@browngirlreading]

Well I believe if they would have also been some attention to those that are left of his lineage the book would have felt complete for me. However that wasn't the case. I was just a little disappointed with the way this book was published and I question why it was done that way and why was it published now. Glad to her you'll be publishing something on the women. Let me know when it comes out.

[@UKLeonie]

I've decided to wait the end of the school term to read my copy. I brought on the day of release as a paperback.

[@browngirlreading]

Be sure to come back and let me know what you think.

[@MorganGayle]

I enjoyed your review Didi. I haven’t read it yet but I’m sad to hear about the afterword. Publishing companies do what they want at the end of the day and I’m sure if Toni Morrison or Alice Walker knew about that they would’ve said something but those in charge still have the last say. Not only is it just inappropriate to put that at the end of any book on slavey but it makes the reader question the validity of a very important story.

[@browngirlreading]

Thank you for understanding my point of view. I'm now leery of books published by Amistad. Yes you are right publishing companies do what they want and sadly they aren't getting it right a lot of the time. Anxious to hear what you have to say about it Morgan when you finish.

[@1book1review]

Haven't heard of it, but it would be interesting to find out why they published it in this way, you are right.

[@browngirlreading]

Agreed! You should check it out.

[@luwakw01]

1book1review i don't know about plagiarism, but i definitely think people should look into the "facts" presented in the story. For example, Cudjo claims to be Bante, located near today's Benin-Togo border, and claims to be of a Yoruba subgroup. But nothing he said reflected that. All accounts of his culture, even down to the language, were from the Efik-Ibibio people, located hundreds of miles away.

[@BlatantlyBookish]

I just started listening to this one on audiobook! I was rather confused because so far it doesn't seem to be Zora Neale Hurston's or Cudjo's words, and the whole book is only three and a half hours long. I was worried that I had an abridged version, or some sort of sample only. This review gives me hope that I'll get to Cudjo's story eventually. Your critiques are fascinating. "Why was this book published now, and why was it published like this?" are questions that I will remain with me as I continue listening!

[@browngirlreading]

Thanks for understanding my point of view. Let me know how you feel about it once it's gone.

[@BookNookNoggin]

Yeah, I thought this book started out weird. and I was disappointed with the way it was started. I couldn't wait for the part to hear from Cudjo.

[@nayafitzgerald]

still haven't read it ! ugh need to get it !!

[@BookishIntrovert63]

I'm reading the book now and I'll add my comments once I'm finished.

[@browngirlreading]

I look forward to it.

[@BookishIntrovert63]

I finished "Barracoon" and was left a little disappointed. In agreement with your review I would had liked to read more about Africatown. With all the forward, afterword and index sections there didn't seem much of Cudjo's life story..a seventy five page book at best.

[@Kiyonce.Kartier]

I REALLY enjoyed this book by the way.

[@obridget01]

Thought about getting the book. I generally just scan over afterwards anyway, but I definitely know to just scan this one too. Gotta get through some others books first though. Got Mules and Men, hoping to have read by the end of the year. We'll see.

[@browngirlreading]

Well when you get to it Bridget let me know what you think. I could just be over-senistive.

[@obridget01]

Just now seeing this. I don't get notifications when people respond (as I notice some others don't get notifications either)...I guess if I get to it, I will see. From what you describe, I might need to go into it expecting nonsense..as I have been reading a bunch of nonsense this year too it seems. I've been in my feelings a lot lately so I will need to be careful with this one too or this one could turn into "book against wall" syndrome lol

[@tsg336]

Yes Didi glad to see a review on this book.

[@browngirlreading]

Thanks for watching!

[@BaskinginBooks]

Wonderful review, Didi! I really enjoyed hearing Cudjo’s story. When I first read it, I didn’t see the problems with the overall text (afterword), but watching your review and time has made me realize that the afterword really took away from Cudjo’s story. Even in reviewing it, I felt like I needed to mention the points in the afterword. It’s telling of my own taught biases that I didn’t realize why that was unnecessary. Plus, I don’t know that another great classicist would have been treated with that type of questioning. I liked what you had to say about Barracoon moving away from that separation narrative. Really great thoughts, Didi!

[@browngirlreading]

Thanks for commenting! This book is just too damn short and missing things that would make it truly 5 stars. Sadly it isn't. I hope to check out Dreams of Africa in Alabama which I think might give me the full circle I didn't get with Baracoon.

[@BaskinginBooks]

Brown Girl Reading Im going to add Dreams of Africa in Alabama to my TBR too. When you get to it let us know what you think!

[@hailvincent]

I’ve been waiting for someone to review this! Do you think the afterword tainted your experience of the book itself? If the publisher had just stuck with Hurston’s text, would you have had a different reaction? I do want to read this, but I’ll probably skip the afterword due to your review.

[@browngirlreading]

Not so sure because I do feel there is something missing. It's very short, however the story itself is very interesting. Amsted messed up, in my opinion.

[@josryder7841]

I have to finish Barracoon but from what I've read I agree with your take....I loved the fact that it is written in his dialect. Made it more personal. The longing for his home really was just heartbreaking, and at times taxing on my spirit. Probably why I put it down lol. I'm curious now to finish up and read that afterword (eye roll) Publishing Co. antics...smh

[@browngirlreading]

Thanks for the support! Come back and let me know what you think.

[@MonicaLatimer]

I haven't read this one yet and I am disappointed that it sounds as if the afterward almost discredits or questions the merit of the story. Is that right? Thanks for your insight into this one!

[@browngirlreading]

Correct. Although the story was very interesting.

[@MerinaRey]

Thank you for this 💜! This is on my TBR(I have high expectations).... I’m still going in between reading it soon or post poning it for awhile.

[@browngirlreading]

You're very welcome. Come back and let me know what you think.

[@lesliereese3176]

Enjoyed this review! I am confused about this book being called a "novel" - which I always assume is fiction. Did Zora Neale Hurston write a fiction based on her anthropological interview(s) and research - or does the book recount her interview with the actual man. Are there any of Zora Neale Hurston's notes about the kind of book she wanted this to be?

[@browngirlreading]

It definitely isn't a novel not even with the stuff they added. The book is a lot of her recount of the interview with the actual man. The notes that are included are not ZNH notes they are notes from the editor Deborah G. Plant.

[@Leah-zl3sz]

Thank you for your wonderful and thoughtful review of this book. I purchased this book on the day of its release and read it immediately. Alice Walker’s Foreward is fabulous. The book touched me deeply. His longing to return home and for his lost loved ones broke my heart. I am not a fan of the editor’s note at the end of the book at all.

[@browngirlreading]

YEs Baracoon is becoming quite the hit. Not much commentary on it though from the book influencers.

[@bookswithb2684]

Have been excited about this one...but after checking some reviews, I’m on the fence-ish. Still plan to read it though. TFS.

[@browngirlreading]

Let me know what you think.

[@bookswithb2684]

Brown Girl Reading I will

[@TowelTroi]

Great and informative review as always. I plan on grabbing this one after finally fulfilling my interest in Jonah's Gourd Vine. But mannnnn, going by your thoughts on the afterword you got me curious.

[@browngirlreading]

Great to hear you'll be trying this one out but no that afterword was a big no ma'am for me.

[@ERose15]

I am so glad you prepared me for the afterword. I am listening to the audio book and sounds like it was the introduction. I was highly offended and disgusted by this lengthy account of this so-called plagiarism that has nothing to do with the novella entitled Barracoon.

[@browngirlreading]

Let me know what you think when you're done King.

[@ManikaTheStrangerWhoReads]

First of, I love the headscarf! I just love it! Then, I saw The Barracoon here and there ( I think the Guardian's awaited releases for this year) and it's been on my radar this then. Your review just add to my curiosity but I'm still not sure if I'll get it this year. Still superb review Didi ☀

[@browngirlreading]

Thank you Manika! Hope you're well. Yes curiosity killed this cat. Smh... When you get to it let me know what you think.

[@awodeee]

Thanks for this honest review, Didi! I'm still waiting for mine in the mail. Will def re-watch this video when I'm done so we discuss :)

[@browngirlreading]

Thanks! Just trying to work it out. I'm still looking for info. Found this book on Free Form Lady's Instagram which I might have to get to help complete full closure of this book for me. The book is called Dreams of Africa in Alabama.

[@bettyreads222]

Interesting to hear your thoughts on this book that has been so highly discussed in literary circles. That afterword does sound super jarring and not okay. I was thinking of picking it up after hearing some reviews because I'm still not sure about my thoughts on how this was done by this publishing company as a whole.

[@browngirlreading]

Please do and when you finish it come back and tell me what you think.

[@luwakw01]

did anyone take issue with the obvious holes in the story?

[@kristab8042]

I did. I spoke to my friends about some of the things he "said" that didn't add up to me.

[@ReadRemark]

What a strange afterward to include. Sounds almost like it should be a stand-alone piece.

[@browngirlreading]

The afterword shouldn't have been included.

[@tzefirayah_700travelmore.]

Excellent commentary. I've read it and still question why it took so many years for this particular book to be published. I found the book to be, " A little too short and too late", just my opinion. Interesting read.

[@browngirlreading]

Agreed!

[@tlwilliams6004]

Great review.

[@browngirlreading]

Thank you!

[@LadyintheGarden1]

Here, Here DiDi, I thought it was me. I agree with you totally. I was left like ... good read; but Hmmm? Thanks, now I don’t feel like a goof ball. Always enjoy your reviews📚📖📚. Sylvia 🌻

[@browngirlreading]

Thanks Sylvia!

[@TheLiteraryParlour]

I always enjoy your reviews, most times I feel like there are so many stories aren’t told with regards to the dark American history of slavery. I would say the same thing and feel as you do about the afterword. I feel like there is a motive for the publishing yet appreciate your review ( wish it wasn’t there (afterword) that sucks). Enjoy your day and, I’m excited about your July 1st read along of @colsonehitehead #sagharbor. Love the earring ... 💞👍🏾 Thumbs up

[@browngirlreading]

Thank you for understanding! Can't wait for the readalong! It should be a lot of fun. :)

[@hattibailey9478]

I would love to read this book if someone will send the book to me .please I would love to read this book?

[@browngirlreading]

Check it out from your local library.

[@julmar5857]

Additional thoughts, even though Steve holds agreeable wisdom. Possibly, some writings do not warrant review because it is a story written from the Authors lived, learned and learning experience. In that instance just to speak on the book is worthy. Such as, Michael Bennett ~ a Super Bowl Champion, a three-time Pro Bowl defensive end, a fearless activist, a feminist, a grassroots philanthropist, an organizer, and a change maker. Best selling book: "Things That Make White People Uncomfortable" a social justice conversation for sure. Maybe, this is the writing / stories of the time. How would a Reviewer speak on 'The Diary of Anne Frank'? These writings are 'Their Story'. Interview with Michael Bennett www.democracynow.org

[@browngirlreading]

Yes and that's why that afterword is whack. I fell upon this searching for info on Deborah G. Plant. kzbin.info/www/bejne/aaCYpYSHeLSmb8k Hmm...

[@julmar5857]

The 'Interviewers' and the 'Interviewee'! My mind looks and wonders why, why, why? I know why! Even McDonald's is a 1st. for some folks and if it makes them happy, let it be, let it be. I deleted this 'interview' from my watch list to avoid carrying the energy. I'll donate the book to my local library on tomorrow.

[@StephsRomanceBookTalk]

Wow this review really makes me want to read this story. I have so many issues with books about slavery but your points about how the main character was captured at the end of slavery vs. the slaves that had been in America for awhile is very interesting. Do you think the author(s) was trying to compare or relate this slave's experience to the things that are going on in America right now? So many black Americans are split on the race issues. Some are very into learning about Africa and the heritage while others are understanding of the struggles from slavery, the civil rights movement, and the inhumanities that blacks have endured but wish to move forward instead of live in the past. Much love for the very honest and interesting review.

[@browngirlreading]

No the problem is that the book is in separate pieces. ZNH wrote about Kossoula from interviewing him. But there is an afterword after the story that doesn't work at all, in my opinion.Reading about his experiences is the best thing about the book.