Review by Su3jectivity -- From Liberty to Magnolia: In S...
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Review by Su3jectivity -- From Liberty to Magnolia: In S...
[Following is a volunteer review of "From Liberty to Magnolia: In Search of the American Dream" by Janice S. Ellis.]
4 out of 4 stars
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From Liberty to Magnolia: In Search of the American Dream by Janice S. Ellis is the author's account, a quest towards the betterment of other people as well as herself, a black woman during periods of racial segregation and the women's movement.
The towns from the author's childhood, Liberty and Magnolia, despite their beautiful names, were rife with racism. The two words represent Ellis' dream of freedom for the oppressed from social stigmas and prejudice. She believes in a world where the pigment of a person's skin doesn't stop them from pursuing their dreams.
Ellis was born in the 1950s, a century after the Emancipation Proclamation, in Mississipi where race discrimination was still widespread and blatant. It was common practice to segregate by race schools and even drinking fountains. During her teenage years, she soon understood that her family had been fortunate because, unlike most black people, her father owned a piece of land. As a result, her family could do subsistence farming and became independent of other people concerning food. Ellis also knew she could thrive in a big city using her intelligence and resilience. However, she first had to deal with the ugly social issue of racism where merit almost always came second to whiteness. This issue was especially prevalent in high schools and universities, which at the time consisted of mainly white students. Adding to the hardships was her marriage in which she became pregnant with two children for an abusive husband. At one point, she took on two jobs while studying Ph.D. and taking care of her new family. Having no one's footsteps to follow, she had no choice but to pave her path.
The book analyzes in-depth about a philosophy that inspired her study. Her Ph.D. dissertation was the result of her admiration towards Eric Sevareid and Walter Lippmann, who both were political commentators at the time. These two inspired Ellis to utilize the power of words for the good of society and to become a political columnist. She eventually wrote columns for several years for the Milwaukee Business Journal, the Kansas City Star, and the radio station WISN. She went on to obtain high positions in the local government, then in the private sector and non-profit organizations. Still, rosebuds didn't always appear on her path to success. Instances of sexism and sexual harassment forced her to navigate the corporate waters with caution.
Ellis' writing style allows her to lay bare her feelings and thoughts behind her struggles and successes. Through her lens, the readers can see her unshakable faith in the goodness in the future of America. However, that faith sometimes resulted in her naivety, which the readers may feel angry both for and at Ellis. And yet that faith, instilled by her parents, was the only constant in the recess of her mind where she could safely fall back on throughout the tumultuous times of her life.
Her ability to recount in detail positive memories and adverse conditions allows the readers to immerse in the life of a black girl and woman during the 60s. The heart-warming family moments, the violent domestic abuse, the highs and lows in her different professions, and the issues of racism and sexism all add to the various shades and colors of her life.
I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. I only found one grammatical error. Nonetheless, the book is well-edited. I believe many aspects of the book are still relevant in today's society. I'd recommend this book to anyone who wishes to understand the shifting perspective of a black woman in America.
******
From Liberty to Magnolia: In Search of the American Dream
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes
4 out of 4 stars
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From Liberty to Magnolia: In Search of the American Dream by Janice S. Ellis is the author's account, a quest towards the betterment of other people as well as herself, a black woman during periods of racial segregation and the women's movement.
The towns from the author's childhood, Liberty and Magnolia, despite their beautiful names, were rife with racism. The two words represent Ellis' dream of freedom for the oppressed from social stigmas and prejudice. She believes in a world where the pigment of a person's skin doesn't stop them from pursuing their dreams.
Ellis was born in the 1950s, a century after the Emancipation Proclamation, in Mississipi where race discrimination was still widespread and blatant. It was common practice to segregate by race schools and even drinking fountains. During her teenage years, she soon understood that her family had been fortunate because, unlike most black people, her father owned a piece of land. As a result, her family could do subsistence farming and became independent of other people concerning food. Ellis also knew she could thrive in a big city using her intelligence and resilience. However, she first had to deal with the ugly social issue of racism where merit almost always came second to whiteness. This issue was especially prevalent in high schools and universities, which at the time consisted of mainly white students. Adding to the hardships was her marriage in which she became pregnant with two children for an abusive husband. At one point, she took on two jobs while studying Ph.D. and taking care of her new family. Having no one's footsteps to follow, she had no choice but to pave her path.
The book analyzes in-depth about a philosophy that inspired her study. Her Ph.D. dissertation was the result of her admiration towards Eric Sevareid and Walter Lippmann, who both were political commentators at the time. These two inspired Ellis to utilize the power of words for the good of society and to become a political columnist. She eventually wrote columns for several years for the Milwaukee Business Journal, the Kansas City Star, and the radio station WISN. She went on to obtain high positions in the local government, then in the private sector and non-profit organizations. Still, rosebuds didn't always appear on her path to success. Instances of sexism and sexual harassment forced her to navigate the corporate waters with caution.
Ellis' writing style allows her to lay bare her feelings and thoughts behind her struggles and successes. Through her lens, the readers can see her unshakable faith in the goodness in the future of America. However, that faith sometimes resulted in her naivety, which the readers may feel angry both for and at Ellis. And yet that faith, instilled by her parents, was the only constant in the recess of her mind where she could safely fall back on throughout the tumultuous times of her life.
Her ability to recount in detail positive memories and adverse conditions allows the readers to immerse in the life of a black girl and woman during the 60s. The heart-warming family moments, the violent domestic abuse, the highs and lows in her different professions, and the issues of racism and sexism all add to the various shades and colors of her life.
I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. I only found one grammatical error. Nonetheless, the book is well-edited. I believe many aspects of the book are still relevant in today's society. I'd recommend this book to anyone who wishes to understand the shifting perspective of a black woman in America.
******
From Liberty to Magnolia: In Search of the American Dream
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes
Latest Review: Three loves and other stories by Lata Gullapalli
