A Book A Week

In the tumultuous year of 2020, marked by tension and uncertainty due to a global pandemic and police brutality, Americans found themselves grappling with the profound reality of racial injustice deeply rooted in the country's history. The interruption of our daily routines provided a unique opportunity for introspection, prompting many to reflect on their roles in perpetuating systemic racism. I scrutinized my life, paying specific attention to the books I was reading and the authors I supported and resolving to diversify the narratives I consumed. This commitment added a profound layer of fulfillment to my reading life. Tayari Jones's acclaimed 2018 novel, An American Marriage, is the latest stop on this essential literary undertaking.

Celebrating their newfound marital bliss, Celestial and Roy embark on the early stages of their life together as a married couple. With Roy securing a well-paying job and Celestial gaining recognition for her art, their careers flourish, and the prospect of acquiring a larger home materializes. On the surface, they appear to be living the quintessential American dream. However, being a Black couple in the United States, Celestial and Roy are on the verge of realizing that their dream is susceptible to the influence of external forces and systems beyond their control.

Roy's benevolent gesture to aid a stranger takes a nightmarish turn when he faces a damning accusation that shatters his entire life. Despite Celestial's unwavering testimony that Roy was by her side throughout the alleged incident, his plea falls on deaf ears, leading to a twelve-year sentence for a crime he did not commit. The couple initially maintains their connection through regular letters, expressing their enduring commitment and determination to navigate this new reality. As the years pass, though, their lives undergo significant transformations. Can their marriage withstand the weight of this tragedy, or is it yet another instance of a dream shattered by a system indifferent to the personal toll of its inequity?

In An American Marriage, Tayari Jones crafts a poignant portrayal of a couple contending with injustice, delivering a devastating yet essential narrative. Her prose is unfiltered, allowing readers to immerse themselves in the genuine emotions of the protagonists and emphasizing the profound toll of a wrongful conviction on those ensnared by it. Jones delves into how time and distance can reshape and challenge a relationship. Celestial and Roy find themselves intricately connected to the past while navigating toward an uncertain future. The result is a novel brimming with genuine emotion, empathy, and insight. Much like life itself, the story takes an unexpected turn at its conclusion, solidifying the impact of this profound character study. It's a narrative that lingers, prompting reflection on one's position in the world and the relationships surrounding us.

For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads. 

(2024, 12)

At the start of this year, I resolved to diversify my reading. 2020 was a historic year for many reasons, but the call to action around the racial inequities that have plagued our country from the very beginning really moved me. I felt called to do more, share more, and learn more. An act as simple as seeking out work by a more diverse set of authors seemed like the least I could do. In the ensuing months, I've read so many incredible works that have challenged me, educated me, and moved me, each providing a perspective that I would not have normally been exposed to. When Grand Central Publishing sent me Say Their Names, a collection of essays chronicling the history and impact of the Black Lives Matter movement, I jumped at the opportunity to read it and share it here. 

The book opens with Curtis Bunn's essay Why Black Lives Matter Matters. Bunn sets straight the misinformation surrounding the movement. You see, for a lot of white Americans, the Black Lives Matter movement began when officer Derek Chauvin murdered George Floyd. The horrific abuse of power was filmed and shared across traditional and social media, rousing many Americans to call for justice. Likewise, for many of those same Americans, the entire matter was put to rest with cities and states issuing sweeping memorandums and reforms for their police departments and Chauvin being found guilty for murdering Floyd. If only it was that easy! Bunn traces the origins of BLM back to 2014 when young Travon Martin was killed by George Zimmerman. The roots of the movement, though, run deeply intertwined with the civil rights movement of the 1960s. More importantly, the continued injustice in policing, wealth, education, and so much more has continued to plague the Black community far beyond the tragedy with George Floyd. 

I was particularly moved by another essay by Bunn titled Black Women Stand Tall. It highlights the importance that Black women have held in recent developments within the cause, especially considering that the movement has historically been headed by men, specifically religious leaders. Bunn points to women like Stacy Abrams who turned her personal political loss in Georgia, into a stirring resolve to register voters, educate them, and help them to elect leaders who would truly fight for them. All of this, of course, resulted in the state voting in two Democrats in their Senate election, an upset for the status quo that in a large part caused Abrams to be defeated in the first place. With the likes of Kamala Harris elected to the second-highest office in the land, and countless mayors leading their cities to reform long-held, racist policies, Bunn recognized the importance of women helping to lead the cause forward. 

Whether you are just beginning to read more about the Black Lives Matter movement or are looking for a way to expand your knowledge on the subject, Say Their Names is well worth the read. I found the collection to not only contain a ton of history and context but also provide a more rounded perspective from the authors and the people featured in their writing. The authors do a fair job touting the successes of the movement while equalling calling for changes in areas that they see as lacking. For example, by having a movement with no central leader, there is sometimes the need for more transparency in how money is being collected and who is deciding how to fund things. The authors also point out the need for more diversification within the movement itself, particularly the need for more women and LGBTQ+ representation. Say Their Names is a fantastic overview of the history, people, and actions taken and needed within the movement for racial justice. I'm thankful that books like this continue to be published and read, and I hope that we all continue to do our part to make a more equitable world. 

For more information visit Amazon and Goodreads. 

(2021, 44)