Oof, this book is a gut punch. Whitehead's narrative races forwards, gaining momentum with each chapter, almost as though it's pumped along like one oOof, this book is a gut punch. Whitehead's narrative races forwards, gaining momentum with each chapter, almost as though it's pumped along like one of the underground locomotives in his quasi-fantastical underground railroad - where the rails are no longer a metaphor for escaping slaves who ride a true series of underground trains.
The story centers around young Cora, born into slavery in the American south. The pain, torture, and inhumanity of slavery seep from the first few chapters. Yet, the horrors only grow as Cora moves north. On the run, with the help of the underground railroad, Cora's fleeting freedom is constantly ripped from her grasps - reminding readers that no matter how free she gets, some aspect of the country was always there to rip her back, be it through forced sterilization, slave catchers, or simply the commons.
The most terrifying part of the book is Cora's constant brushes with slave catchers. Who hunt her down and capture her as if she were prey, or, property-to-be-returned. Terrifyingly, I finish this book only to end up watching body camera videos of police chasing down a car full of young black men, whose only crime was not returning the rental on time. They are dragged out of the vehicle, shackled, and sat, shoeless, on the scorching hot pavement for hours - begging to be released, and insisting that they had done nothing wrong and have no contraband on them (an assertion that, despite the officers' insistent searches) is verified over the course of hours. To compare a vehicle stop to slavery misses the mark, I understand. But, the painful mirroring of human beings hunting another, and doing so on no more than the basis of the color of their skin, is an ugly and brutal reality that is no less real now than it was for Cora - if only undertaken in a different form.
This is perhaps the true power of Whiteheads tale. That is draws a story from history that thoughtfully weaves the atrocities of slavery through the lining of the entire county, both historically, and right up through the present. A powerful and worthwhile read....more
My second Patricia Polacco book after being alerted to her by my younger brother. I greatly enjoyed the underlying message of friendship, camaraderie My second Patricia Polacco book after being alerted to her by my younger brother. I greatly enjoyed the underlying message of friendship, camaraderie and mutual assistance set forth in this book.
The story of Pink and Say is a touching tale of a friendship that transcends color lines in a time when such differences divided a nation. It is unquestionably sad yet heart warming at the same time as it is supposedly a true story, passed down through generations of Ms. Polacco's family. ...more