Describe your new book. Oddfellow's Orphanage is a series of stories/vignettes that tell the tale of the newest arrival to a curious orphanage, a...
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I learned about this book in our class "Power and Social Change" at St. Catherine College. I always love hearing a story through the eyes, ears and voice of the author's life. Frederick Douglas did the same thing in his book about slavery in the South. For myself, a story like the one written by Mr. Cheek is absolutely heartbreaking, and I end up crying through much of the story. I don't like the South anyway, and stories like the one written by Mr. Cheek only help to reinforce my dislike for that part of the country. When I read the story I have feelings of extreme sadness and hurt, but I also have feelings of intense dislike (hate) and anger toward that culture. I see that culture as extremely ignorant, emotional weak (although they think they're strong), and full of a false sense of superiority and arrogance. The prejudice and discrimination has no basis in logic or rational thinking, and the whole premise of discrimination in the South is centered around stupidity. The decision by the courts in the 50's and 60's doesn't surprise me b/c of what I have stated above. The justices were no exception in many cases notwithstanding their education. I can fully appreciate it taking years for Mr. Cheek to come to terms with his past meanwhile harboring feelings of anger, frustration and hate, most of which comes from underlying feelings of overwhelming sadness and loss. It is a beautifully written book that brings out so much feeling in oneself, which emanates from the author's story.
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The Color of Love: A Mother's Choice in the Jim Crow South
janiceduke, September 9, 2006
I learned about this book in our class "Power and Social Change" at St. Catherine College. I always love hearing a story through the eyes, ears and voice of the author's life. Frederick Douglas did the same thing in his book about slavery in the South. For myself, a story like the one written by Mr. Cheek is absolutely heartbreaking, and I end up crying through much of the story. I don't like the South anyway, and stories like the one written by Mr. Cheek only help to reinforce my dislike for that part of the country. When I read the story I have feelings of extreme sadness and hurt, but I also have feelings of intense dislike (hate) and anger toward that culture. I see that culture as extremely ignorant, emotional weak (although they think they're strong), and full of a false sense of superiority and arrogance. The prejudice and discrimination has no basis in logic or rational thinking, and the whole premise of discrimination in the South is centered around stupidity. The decision by the courts in the 50's and 60's doesn't surprise me b/c of what I have stated above. The justices were no exception in many cases notwithstanding their education. I can fully appreciate it taking years for Mr. Cheek to come to terms with his past meanwhile harboring feelings of anger, frustration and hate, most of which comes from underlying feelings of overwhelming sadness and loss. It is a beautifully written book that brings out so much feeling in oneself, which emanates from the author's story.(10 of 23 readers found this comment helpful)