What I'm Reading: Barracoon, by Zora Neale Hurston

[@luwakw01]

Considering that this book was promoted as the work of an anthropologist, it was difficult to look past the depiction of a man supposedly from western Benin, and the tribal warfare of the "uncivilized, savage, heathen Africans" in that region. It was brazenly inauthentic, not only with the conflation of Yoruba, Efik, and Sahelian cultures, but also with the characterization of inter-tribal conflicts. West africa is so big that the broad brush used to describe the area just seemed careless. The account was so inauthentic, that I couldn't help but question the true intention of this body of work. Also, I found it a bit odd that although this book was the meant to be the account of an enslaved African, it spent no more than a few pages on the actual experience of slavery. I don't know, I almost felt that the author characterized slavery as better than life in Africa. Also, there was a lot of time spent illustrating this divide between Africans and African Americans. Perhaps this is why African American authors, who were held in high regards in the society, were all united behind denouncing this book for fear of it being used by whites to sow discord at a time when blacks were treated horribly. Cudjo's story had been told to various other authors and I'm keen to read those depictions. Maybe in attempting to make his story more dramatic Hurston added these contradictions that undermines a potentially important piece of history.

[@antwanthompson8589]

One of the best reads ever

[@patricejones8799]

I listened on audio and enjoyed it. Whether there are contradictions or not, I am glad that it was released. I think the book will go down in history as more positive than negative.

[@bookswithb2684]

I’ve been excited about reading this, but have to admit the reviews have me a little hesitant. I’ll still pick it up, but I also plan to read, “Dreams if Africa in Alabama: The Slave Ship Clotilda and the Story of the Last Africans Brought to America.” It will be interesting to see how they compare.

[@bookswithb2684]

@@auntiesocial808 still on my tbr. Maybe I'll get to them in the new year.

[@NewPossibilities]

Good review. I’m interested in reading that book. Our book just read a book about Zora and Langston Hughes.

[@lisavitale8410]

I am 75% into the audio version of this book and am enjoying this important piece of work. I do like the quote you shared from this book as it reminds me about how it’s those in charge that usually write history… so with that said it is extremely wonderful that Zora Neale Hurston didn’t cave into writing the sanitized version of Barracoon.

[@maryleary3308]

Just finished the book and was amazed! Great story, and of course very profound literature.

[@RaisingEquity]

I appreciate all the thoughtful questions and challenges. I also read that Hurston plagiarized some of the text, but I wasn’t aware of the contradictions with language and his origins. I agree his story has merit in its own right but it is hard to reconcile pieces.

[@JcMain]

Thank you

[@jackpea7102]

Oh course he remembers. Huh? What make him do unique is someone wrote it down.

[@michaelniemeyer5116]

Does anyone know who the viking editor was who denied and erased Zora Neale Hurston's original manuscript?

[@albers1]

He was taken from his home, by who exactly?

[@JloveLamar]

You should listen to Zora Neale Hurston's recount of photographing a real life Zombie. It's here on KZbin. She was a fascinating woman ;)

[@JediNiyte]

This is the only subject that matters. Science, current events, the threat of nuclear war - none of these things are as REMOTELY important as long-dead slaves.

[@sijisiji8100]

Time to connect to the root - Yoruba land and Africa as a whole.

[@lakeshagadson357]

the eyes are watcthing is the one i know by her.

[@antoniovaldez9450]

Why aren’t u speaking on who put him into slavery? It was other African black tribes that stole him.

[@obongg]

has anyone done any research on the veracity of this story. it has a lot of big holes in it

[@isesise2658]

What are some of the holes you see in the story?

[@obongg]

Êυê Nazaretetɔ it’s something most readers wouldn’t notice but I actually speak the language and I’m from the culture cudjo describes in the book. And that language and the culture is from the Efik which is some 600 miles from where he claims to be. It’s impossible for him to speak Efik and be Yoruba. The fattening house, nsibidi, burial in homes and so forth are cultures among the Efik. Go ahead and google it. It’s not Yoruba. She also refers to him as Nigerian but he’s Bante, a subgroup of Yoruba from present day Benin republic, not nigeria. I had to look into whether he lied to Zora or she made things up regarding the story. Turns out the original of the book was deemed heavily plagiarized by Zora and she added a lot of dramatic and fictionalized elements to avoid that charge. Him speaking Efik is as out of wack as an Italian kidnapped from a village in Italy speaking Lithuanian or something. Or someone from the Philippines speaking Tibetan. If you personally know any Africans that speak Yoruba or Efik ask them. They’ll point out what I just stated. There’re more issues with it but I’ve written enough

[@isesise2658]

I read that Cudjo was from the Isha tribe, which is said to be a subgroup from the Yoruba. I ran that info by a brother I know who has a great understanding of the history, and he said it would be more accurate to say the Isha tribe is a subgroup of the Egba, and the Egba is a subgroup of the Yoruba, and the Isha, as you touched on, are/were in Benin. He also said there are Yorubas that go by other names like Anago.

[@obongg]

Êυê Nazaretetɔ Egba are from Abeokuta in present day Ogun state in nigeria. He said he’s from a town called Bante on the Benin Togo border and he’s Isha. Those are Yoruba groups. If he’s Yoruba him speaking Efik undermines his story. How is he speaking Efik yet he’s Yoruba. Efik people live on the nigeria Cameroon border. Hundreds of miles away.

[@isesise2658]

I see what you are saying. Is it possible that the Efik and Isha are related in some way? for example, I ran across a video where the Yoruba Cheif reached out to the Ga Chief, and it is said that the Ga are originally from Ile Ife, but migrated to Ghana, and they, the Ga of Ghana and the Yoruba, though they are "distant family," speak different languages. (Here is that video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pKjSpaalaLGgaZI ) So yea could the Efik and Isha be related in some way? I ask because here is the full message the brother I know sent me when I myself was seeking to confirm the things said in Barracoon: "Yoruba are stretched all the way from southwestern Nigeria to Togo to Sierra Leone. They go by other names other than Yoruba like Anago etc."

[@sexyblack5474]

Who are getting money off this lady book

[@debrariffe692]

I really wanted to hear your review but I couldn't get past the irritating music.