"Blonde Roots" by Bernardine Evaristo

[virgilgal]

I read like I breathe for most of my life; for entertainment and escapism. Sometimes a book stays with me and this is one of them. "Blonde Roots" re-imagines the concept of slavery with Black Slavers from Africa who capture "Whytes" from Europe and sell them into slavery with Black landholders and wealthy families. After the first 20 pages you kind of have the plot method down and could almost write it yourself. It never effects the impact of the words and concepts as they unfold. It is a real mind bender over and over again as you hear the impressions of the wealthy slave owners who find the lifestyles and beliefs of the "Whytes" to be so different from their own that they can easily consign them to having mentalities equivalent to animals. The main character is a woman whose family was share-croppers in England where they grew and were sustained by cabbage and hard work. She is captured at age 10 and held in slavery for many years. In the end, it is the repeated horror in her thoughts that just makes your sensibilities scream as you re-imagine the idea of slavery. It has remained in my head all week so I thought I would share it. It was published by Riverhead Books (Penguin) in 2009. I highly recommend it for the experience of making such an intense mental shift! The writing is okay but the experience is amazing!

[dgriffin]

Sort of like Ayla in Clan of The Cave Bear, as she lives with the Flatheads. A beautiful blonde, blue eyed girl who is thought to be ugly by her captors (who are evidently Neanderthals and look like the main characters from Planet of The Apes) and so disgusting to them when she smiles that she often has to cover her face. But not that often, since they make life a living hell for her.

I'm surprised the device in Blonde Roots doesn't get old, but if written well as you say it can go well. And this is sarcastic, but if the heroine could share crop for Englishmen, she could live with anyone.

[virgilgal]

Yes; Ayla is a good comparison for that same response "What? That couldn't possibly happen to her! I really loved Clan of The Cave Bear because the research and information in it about using plants for food and medicine, and the descriptions of living off the land were all impeccably true. Some friends and I who were learning and using a lot of that type of information at the time read it numerous times. Unfortunately the sequels dumped the good info to become solid romance novels.
Blonde Roots is very compelling because the "device" (perfect word) is so shocking, even though expected, that it was a real mind bender for me. She does describe the hard life of the share croppers but it was her family who did that together and the lifestyle was known and understood. Other characters in the novel were wealthy politicians and such who were also captured as slaves; much like some of the Africans or any group that was used as slaves. I don't know why but it's just sticking with me.

[Clipper]

I just came from the library, and the librarian was going to have the book "Blonde Roots" brought in from the Kinsport branch for me to pick up next Tuesday.

Can't wait to get into it. I also picked up a book about Melungeon history. There is going to be a speaker tonight at the local middle school that will speak on the subject of the origins and myths about Melungeon people. Some of the myths told to children are that Melungeons have 2 thumbs or extra digits on each hand, and that they kidnap kids from city streets and keep them in caves in the mountains outside of town. Extra digits HAVE been documented as having occurred in Melungeon populations in SW Virginia as late as the 50's, but the Melungeons are simply a mixed race group to the best of my knowledge. Should be an interesting evening. I love history of any kind, and live speakers really peak my interest.

[dgriffin]

Good summary of meluneons here:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melungeon

[Clipper]

It was an interesting evening. It was not exactly what I thought it might be, but it was informative. There were Melungeons from around this area, a few of whom stood and testified as to their own personal lineage, and roots, and two people from Kentucky who claim to be Native American, Portugese, and Turkish. One man claimed that his lineage traced back to freed black slaves, Cherokee Indians, and caucasian slave owners in NE N Carolina. There was a few "white people" there to simply learn, as I was, but there was mainly Melungeons who are part of a group campaigning for recognition as a designated race. I left when the historical information was replaced by simply trying to figure out who was related to who in the audience, and when it turned toward Melungeons sharing geneology and personal information with other Melungeons in order to further their cause. I am surprised that they advertised it as open to the public, as it was mainly a session tailored to researching their roots and ancestry among themselves.

My impression with the limited number for folks I was privileged to see, is that the folks from Kentucky looked like Italians or Greeks with high cheekbones that might indicate native American blood, straight dark hair, brown eyes and olive complexion. The group from around here and from North Carolina looked more like native American, white, and mulatto. The families that attended from there had hair similar to African Americans, high cheekbones such as a Cherokee Indian and skin color that was that of a light skinned mulatto as described in the Wiki link.

I have heard and read about the Melungeons ever since moving here. Our friends have spoken of Melungeon groups that live near them in Lee County Va. There is also a group that lives near Tazwell and Cumberland Gap in Tennessee. It is an interesting history and story, and I will enjoy reading the book much more now that I have attended the lecture and gathering tonight. It is rather confusing that they profess openly to have evolved from multiple racial backgrounds, yet want to be recognized as a separate race.

Note: None of those attending, looked like the photo Dave. The older boy in that photo looks like black face makeup for a minstrel show. lol. Where did you copy that picture from? A book about Melungeons?

[dgriffin]

I just Googled "melungeons" for images and picked an interesting shot. To tell the truth, the older boy looks more like a white kid in blackface in a low budget movie.

BTW, the meeting probably had to be open to the public to take place in a school.
And I certainly hope you stood up and announced that as a taxpayer you'd be proud to support one more Special Group Who Wants Money for their ancestors' troubles.

[virgilgal]

I had never heard of the Melungeons and did a little bit of reading last night. I wonder how many other groups there are of people who (like the Cajuns too, I guess) kind of created a distinct blend of traits. I have read a lot of history about the Northeast and have found many references to Scottish immigrants and former slaves finding great connection and empathy with each other. It always intrigued me because we are of Scottish ancestry on our father's side and they were from Pa. and downstate, areas I have read of and picked this out.
Clipper, I would have just sent you the book . I'm interested to hear what you think of it.

[Clipper]

I appreciate the thought VG, but it is much easier for me to simply have the library get it for me. I will have it by the middle of next week and I won't be finished with the Melungeon book much before then anyway, haha.

I need to spend some time this weekend catching up on some reading. I am 3/4 of the way through a Nora Roberts murder mystery, and have started the Melungeon story. It is a memoir by an author named Lisa Alther, called "Kinfolks, falling off the family tree." It is humorous, yet informative. Well written, and holds your interest from page to page, chapter to chapter.

The book has me hooked. Much of it references landmarks and places right around here that I am familiar with, many of which are in the Kingsport area, about 20 miles from here.

I also like books of local lore. When I lived up there, I read everything I could find about Adirondack life and lore. Now I seek out fiction and non-fiction about SW Virginia and NE Tennessee. Appalachian and Smokey Mountain lore and history is abundant, entertaining and interesting.

[Clipper]

Just an update for Virgilgal. I DID read Blonde Roots VG. It was a well written book and held my interest from cover to cover. Thanks for posting about it on here.

I have since gone on to read several more novels by James Patterson, and Patricia Cornwell, and I am now reading "The Wayward Bus" by John Steinbeck. It caught my eye while browsing the stacks at the local library. It is a well worn edition, published the same month that I was born, February 1947. I had read it in high school, but all of Steinbeck's works are worth reading more than once in a lifetime.

Thank for the tip about Blonde Roots VG. I enjoyed it very much.

[virgilgal]

Glad you enjoyed it Clipper. It has stuck with me a bit and not many books do that. Steinbeck would be another good journey to revisit; glad you mentioned it. In my grieving mode I have found myself reading a lot to escape. I just finished another interesting novel that was based on historic hints. Alice I Have Been, by Melanie Benjamin explores the life of Alice Liddell and Charles Dodgson; AKA Alice in Wonderland and Lewis Carroll. Very interesting as it explores how/why a little girl and full grown male were able to share such a close relationship.