The Song Of Solomon (and Lake Ontario)
The novel, Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison focuses on the main character Milkman. Throughout the book he is struggling with his black identity and searches for his place in the world. The book shows the great distinction between black and white people in the past (also seen by choices of holiday homes by the lake) and also shows that this gap for example concerning wealth is getting bigger and bigger everyday.
River of No Return
“The River of No Return” by Cleveland Sellers retells Sellers amazing story of how he became a founding member of one the most important Civil Rights organizations, SNCC. It tells of the many sacrifices that many members had to make and the divide it created. A divide not just between races but within the organization itself. Sellers tells of many injustices that the African American community had to endure. Sellers ultimately explains to us the downfall of SNCC.
The Evidence of Things Not Seen
The Evidence of Things Not Seen is a memoir by famed writer and Civil Rights activist James Baldwin examines a string of child murders in Atlanta between 1979 and 1980. As well as examining these serial killings, he also examines the ways in which race and racism exist, or has its existence denied, in Atlanta which has been called “a city too busy to hate.” Baldwin’s memoir examines the ways in which violence against black bodies, from Emmett Till to the Atlanta child murders, continues still in America’s rivers.
Kindred
“Kindred” by Octavia Butler is a timeless story, considering the race issue that still exists in America. In the summer of 1976, Dana is celebrating her 26th Birthday with her white husband, Kevin Franklin in southern California. While unpacking, Dana suddenly gets lightheaded and faints. She doesn’t wake up to Kevin, however. Dana wakes up to a chaotic scene as she sees a young, red headed white boy drowning.
The Color of Water
White Mother is the autobiographical story of James McBride’s life and is a memoir/ tribute to his mother. McBride depicts the conflicting emotions and struggles that he and his mother had to go through in order for McBride to understand that he and his mother’s identities are still connected beyond the color of their skin because like God their bond is the color of water.