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From the historic scourge of slavery and the abuses of the Jim Crow era, to the current specter of white nationalist evangelism, African Americans and other people of color in the United States have continued to survive and thrive despite the heavy toll of racist ideology in its many forms. This title is a thought-provoking biographical narrative set against the shocking yet inspiring backdrop of Black US history. Portis deftly walks the reader through the facts, figures, and the big and small-picture details of Black progress in the volume's twenty themed chapters, interspersed with biographical details of her personal life. From her Southern upbringing through the years of her long career, Portis has a remarkable record of public service devoted to uplifting people.
Though the book is not strictly an academic source with citations and footnotes, it is a critical work that is of significance to academia, written by a Black woman with a long career in education, music, and as a chaplain and Christian counselor. The volume strives to explore the resilience of a maligned people in a society that embraces lofty egalitarian ideals yet is plagued by systemic racism. Always slow to manifest change, US society is showing signs of regression at this perilous juncture in national history, and there are many lessons to be learned from past experiences. Portis has been active herself in the endeavor to eliminate the roadblocks that stand in the way of equal housing, education, employment, healthcare, and the elimination of disparities in law enforcement and the justice system, and to address many other social necessities denied at times to all people of color. She writes, "I have firsthand experience of life under authoritarian rule…. Some of us remember life in America before the Civil Rights Act of 1964. We acknowledge that this nation is imperceptible and needs more progress… America belongs to us too. It is therefore our responsibility to preserve it."
The narrative feels repetitive in some sections, but realistically, this may be necessary, as the topic and history discussed have a persistent, repetitive nature. Portis discusses the many people who have contributed to the historic and ongoing civil rights movement, and the book features many photo portraits to honor these pioneers and their outstanding contributions. There are a plethora of people who have contributed to the long effort to rise above the past abuses of Black communities and the more recent forms of systemic racism. Many people featured in this narrative have names and histories that are familiar to most Americans, and Portis pays homage to many more humanitarian figures whose names and contributions aren't as well known.
The author's passionate embrace of history, sociology, and spiritual transformation is evident in this narrative, a testament to her ability to rise above the forces that seek to reduce her humanity and to extend a hand to others despite the challenges. This is a book that contributes greatly to the discussion of the history and endurance of Black communities in America, and of the diversity that makes this society stronger and more unique.
RECOMMENDED by the US Review