Review by ciecheesemeister -- From Liberty to Magnolia: ...

[ciecheesemeister]

[Following is a volunteer review of "From Liberty to Magnolia: In Search of the American Dream" by Janice S. Ellis.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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I am reviewing From Liberty to Magnolia: In Search of the American Dream, which is the autobiography of Dr. Janice S. Ellis.

Janice Faye Scott was born in 1949 to sharecroppers Mable and Stafford Ellis on a farm situated between the Mississippi towns of Liberty and Magnolia. She was the second youngest of seven children. She grew up during the early Civil Rights movement.

Segregation was commonplace during this time. Water fountains and bathrooms were still labeled for “White” or “Colored,” and there were certain places where black people were not allowed. Black people were expected to endure abuse from whites without complaint. To protest such abuse might mean assault or even death, as happened to the fathers of two of Dr. Ellis’ classmates.

Dr. Ellis was an excellent student with an inquisitive mind who aspired to be an investigative journalist. Her mother cautioned her against aiming too high. Many jobs were out of reach for both blacks and women, doubly so for someone who was both. She became aware of a caste system wherein some lighter-complexioned black people see themselves as superior to blacks with darker coloring. Her teacher in the fifth and sixth grade exemplified this attitude, singling out the darker-skinned girls as targets for verbal abuse.

Teen pregnancy was a very real problem in the rural South, in part due to ignorance about sex. Dr. Ellis took her strong Christian values about avoiding sex before marriage very seriously and managed to avoid this pitfall, although her precocious physical development drew the inappropriate attentions of a young male teacher. She refused to act on her own ill-advised attraction to the man, which could have ended in disaster.

Dr. Ellis details her journey through high school and on to college, where she met her abusive first husband, the father of her two sons. She was able to complete two degrees despite her husband’s abusive behavior and the fact that she was the primary wage-earner and caregiver for her children. She eventually obtained a divorce from her husband.

Dr. Ellis details her interesting and varied work history in journalism, politics, and the private sector. She encountered both sexism and racism often along the way. Many times, she was passed over for promotion to more prestigious, better-paying jobs in favor of less-qualified white male colleagues. Some of her male supervisors created a hostile working environment with their overt sexual overtures.

Dr. Janice Ellis is a woman who has achieved well-deserved respect and success, but it did not come to her without cost.

This is a highly recommended book for anyone interested in the Civil Rights or feminist movements, or who enjoys reading biographies and autobiographies. It is brutally honest in its assessment of both the author herself and the situations and circumstances which shaped her life.

Those who are looking for a fast-paced, light read will likely not enjoy this book. Dr. Ellis’ writing is extremely detailed, and she tackles unpleasant subject matter deftly. Her very academic style would make for a difficult reading experience for people who prefer stories that move quickly.

The thing I liked best about the book was Dr. Ellis’ honesty. She never glosses over unpleasant truths. Her in-depth writing ensures that the reader understands exactly what she endured as a black woman trying to make her way in a world where both blacks and women are viewed as second-class citizens.

The aspect of the book I liked least was the fact that it bogs down somewhat during the chapter where Dr. Ellis meets her journalistic hero, Walter Lippmann. This part of the book reads like a dissertation and will not hold the attention of anyone who is not especially interested in the history of journalism. The chapter is, nonetheless, very well-written.

I give From Liberty to Magnolia: In Search of the American Dream, four out of four stars. It is a powerful, well-constructed book. It was professionally edited. I found no spelling, grammar, or punctuation errors. The author’s forthrightness and passion resonate loud and clear throughout this substantial memoir.

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From Liberty to Magnolia: In Search of the American Dream
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[Muskan Afzal-]

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