Summary: Jacqueline Woodson's autobiography is
about her life as an African-American girl. Born in 1963 in Ohio as the youngest of three children, her
parents divorced when she was only one, and her mother moved the children to
Greenville, South Carolina where they lived with her grandparents during much
of her early childhood. She had a
loving family and wonderful memories of that period, but also witnessed intense
discrimination of the South, including vivid memories of sitting at the back of
the bus. Her mother was involved
in the civil rights movement, and moved to New York City, eventually relocating
her children there after the birth of the fourth sibling. The children were
raised in the strict Jehovah's Witness religion, often spending five days a
week at bible study or going door-to-door to spread the word. Her sister Odella
was brilliant, and brother Hope had singing and artist talents, but Jacqueline
struggled in school until she was recognized for her amazing memory and
language skills. The book deals with racial discrimination, religion, education
and family bonds. She concludes the book with her beliefs in God, goodness,
family, friends, nonviolence, and Black and White people coming together.
Commentary: The writing style is unique in it's
free-style verse, so is like reading a collection of poems. It has historical
references to the 1960's and 1970's, particularly regarding the Civil Rights
Era. It is enlightening to
understand how our society has dealt with race issues over the last fifty
years, and the message is still relevant today in the evolving racial
discrimination concerns. There is humor in the book as it addresses very
serious issues. It is a good book for teachers and parents to start
conversations about the differences and similarities in each of us regardless
of race, and is also a good introduction into poetry for middle school and high
school students.
Connection:
Separate is Never Equal: Sylvia
Mendez and Her Family's Fight for Desegregation by Duncan Tonatiuh
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