Dr. Jessie Fields
I fell in love with the book on reading the first few pages, Revolutions of 1848, when the enslaved couple, William and Ellen Craft begin their journey for emancipation. From the very beginning the author, Ilyon Woo ties global world events to what is happening in the United States, north and south. You feel the fierce courage and determination of the Crafts. The history of the anti-slavery movement, the organizing for full emancipation and the fight for equality in American democracy is conveyed through their story. The book is intimate, moving and full of surprising historical detail, opening up new insights on the country. I have not wanted to put it down.
Dr. Jessie Fields is a physician practicing in Harlem, and a Board member at Independent Voting and Open Primaries.
Julie Leak
I appreciate the information we receive about the selected books. We learn much about the books and the authors. Even with this, I find myself slowly reading and reviewing the book jacket comments and with Master Slave Husband Wife the many photos inside. Without reading a single page of the book, I was taken back in many ways to where I was born and raised in the south.
In addition, at this time we are in the midst of an election year unlike no other. One of the candidates, Dr. Cornel West, in a recent interview said he knows folk get tired of hearing him talk about jazz but that is who he is and provides him with the ability to improvise. That really stuck with me as I thought about how the Crafts had to improvise beyond measure their entire lives.
As my mama and others in the south would say, the Crafts made a way out of no way. Ms. Woo wanted people to see the Crafts as American Heroes and they surely were.
Juliette Leak lives in Manhattan and describes herself as “an Independent finding her voice”. She is a longtime independent activist.
We’ll put, both of you. Thank you.