Review of Standing on Our Ancestors’ Shoulders: Transformations of African American Life in Rural Georgia 1930s to

[Bertha Jackson]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Standing on Our Ancestors' Shoulders: Transformations of African American Life in Rural Georgia 1930s to 1970s" by Merry Stewart.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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Can you imagine carrying water from a creek to cook a large breakfast before walking several miles to a one-room school without electricity or plumbing? Then, once you get to school, you have to help chop wood for the wood stove. When you go to church, do you attend the services and then leave, or do you stay and talk to everyone to see how they are doing? Do you know your neighbors? Merry Stewart's Standing on Our Ancestors' Shoulders: Transformations of African American Life in Rural Georgia 1930s to 1970s tells how 25 African Americans' lives changed over the years. Each participant provided history about their parents and grandparents, including their age, birth/childhood home, land ownership, employment, church, and education level, which served as a basis. Their memories and stories are told in order by their age, from the oldest storyteller to the youngest, to show how their experiences have changed.

Merry Stewart provides a brief history before the storytellers' oral reports and a summary afterward to help readers understand what was happening in the world at the time. One of my favorite aspects of this book is its applicability to everyone, regardless of race. Your ancestors may not have had to deal with racism and discrimination, but they, too, had a much harder and different lifestyle than we do today. I admire the storytellers' reliance on faith, family, and kindness towards others. Even when they were being bullied or discriminated against, they did not resort to violence like many of all races do today. We can learn much from our ancestors about overcoming differences, becoming productive citizens, improving our society, and living healthier lifestyles. I remember growing up knowing and helping my neighbors. Reading their stories made me ashamed that I do not know some of my neighbors' names today. I cannot picture children today thinking of school vacations as punishment. The African Americans' difficulties obtaining an education made them more appreciative than others who had money, transportation, and domestic workers who helped them get ready for school.

With all the positive aspects discussed above, the bibliography that supports the historical information, and the guide for younger generations to live by, I found no reason not to give this fascinating book 5 out of 5 stars. I disliked nothing about it because it was well-written and extremely well-edited, kept me intrigued throughout, and provided much insight into improving our society and showing how desegregation negatively impacted the African American identity and culture.

Anyone who believes in and lives by Christian principles and is a fan of American history will enjoy this book. Although this book is about African Americans, much of the content is valuable to all races. However, if you find the belief in God offensive, you will want to avoid this book because the storytellers' faith in God played a significant role in their lives.

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Standing on Our Ancestors' Shoulders: Transformations of African American Life in Rural Georgia 1930s to 1970s
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[Diane C Johnson]

Nice review. "Standing on Our Ancestors Shoulders: Transformations of African American Life in Rural Georgia 1930s to 1970s" by Merry Stewart seems like a well thought out book. I like how the author lays out the stories by the storytellers age to give the reader a sense of how times and therefore peoples experiences have changed. As a family history researcher, I think I would enjoy this book very much. It would also make a great addition to one’s Black History Month reading list.

[Louis Donald]

The personal stories in Standing on Our Ancestors' Shoulders sound incredibly moving, especially the resilience and strength of those who lived through such difficult times. I’m drawn to how the book connects the past to the present, showing the value of community, faith, and perseverance. I’d definitely read it to get a deeper understanding of how these experiences shaped lives and communities. Thank you for a very nice review.

[Pearl Flourish]

“Standing on Our Ancestors’ Shoulders” offers a profound glimpse into the resilience and faith of African American communities in rural Georgia, highlighting their journey through adversity with unwavering hope and unity.

[George Bastem]

The stories in this book give a moving look at the strength and faith of African Americans in rural Georgia. It shows how their lives changed through hard work and perseverance. It’s a great reminder of how history shapes us and the lessons we can learn to make our communities better today.