![]() ![]() These experiences, however, make a compelling story in how the people who endured these tragedies fought for resilience in insurmountable circumstances for themselves or those who would come later.Īiley is the main character of the book, and it is through her perspective most of the modern action is seen. Nonetheless, this is an honest portrayal of the realities that this fictional family - and countless actual families - endured. This is not a comfortable read by any streth of the imagination. Jeffers addresses drug addiction, pedophilia, and sexual abuse. ![]() The excerpts set the stage for flashbacks and more modern points of the story, and his principles and actions factor in frequently.Īlthough not at all shocking given the topic of Love Songs, there are some parts that may be triggering for some readers. I found this particularly salient given the references to education of Blacks, arguments around classism, and how those two ideas play out in the former tenant-farming family. Each section features an excerpt of Du Bois’ from several of his works, and he is a peripheral character in the story, even if only second-hand. ![]() Jeffers’ approach obviously centers the enslavement of Black members of the Pinchard family, but in doing so, she also examines the complicated relationships that included indigenous people - the Creek who predated plantations - and the white families that established plantations.Īs the title alludes to, the scholarship of W.E.B. Jeffers addresses a wide range of topics related to slavery in the U.S., and by centering the small town she’s able to dig into topics like racism, segregation, and colorism. Throughout the book, Jeffers pulls the reader forward and backward through centuries, giving snapshots of the family’s experiences in and around the rural town of Chicasetta, Georgia.Ĭlocking in at just over 800 pages, Love Songs is a substantive read, not only in length but also in breadth. It recounts the history of the Pinchard family through the juxtaposition of modern-day experiences of its protagonist, Ailey Garfield, and flashbacks to the lives of her ancestors as far back as Africa during the trans-Atlantic slave trade. Du Bois is an early contender for my favorite read of 2022. ![]()
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