Lois 's Reviews > Black in Blues: How a Color Tells the Story of My People

The narrator of this audiobook is the author, Imani Perry. Her voice is soft, genteel, and cultured. It's an advantage to hear the author read her own words. Most especially in this book, which is almost laid out like poetry but broken up by historical essays.

This is somewhat a history of Black Americans and the Diaspora, as seen through our connection to the color blue. My favorite colors are Black & purple. However, I'm well aware that blue is the most common favorite color alongside green.

Blue is special to Black Americans who created a musical genre, literally called 'the blues'. It also holds significance in African Traditional Religions (ATR) in the Americas. All over the South are 'haint' blue porches. Haint blue is my favorite shade of blue. It's not widely available in Detroit, where I grew up.

This also covers the history of Indigo and its ties to the Transatlantic Slave Trade. I don't really know how to describe this. A love letter to Black folks works. This is beautifully done and not to be missed. In fact, I pre-ordered this on audiobook because I can already tell this will be a top reread of mine during the shenanigans of the coming 4 years. This is like chicken soup for the Black Soul. I think readers across the Diaspora will appreciate this. It's simple, historically accurate, and weirdly comforting. Something I don't often say about nonfiction that deals directly with chattel slavery and the Middle Passage.

For those interested in the spiritual meaning and representation of blue, I offer Grandma Baby Apothecary's: Grandma Baby's 52 Blues playing cards. They are round and gorgeous, my Ancestors love them. If you don't understand this reference, no worries🥰 This is primarily for folks interested in ATR's.
https://grandmababyapothecary.com/pro...

Thank you to Imani Perry, HarperAudio Adult, and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. All opinions and viewpoints expressed in this review are my own.