bahareads's Reviews (1.09k)

Aline Helg’s Our Rightful Share: The Afro Cuban Struggle for Equality, 1886-1916 seeks to show readers the history of Afro-Cubans that is often overlooked in modern times. Helg wants to show the unique experiences of Afro-Cubans’ fight for equality, and how all the different events during the purposed time period culminated into the massacre of 1912. Ending with the massacre of 1912, Helg shows why Afro-Cubans’ behaviours after 1912 developed the way they did, and why Afro-Cubans are still struggling for freedom in modern-day Cuba (Helg 248).

Aline Helg splits Our Rightful Share into seven chapters which divide the period into different sections of Afro-Cuban movements. One of the book’s highlights is seeing how Afro-Cubans fought for Cuban independence. Fighting for Cuba gave Afro-Cubans pride in themselves and in their African origin (Helg 63). Another thread throughout the entire book are the fear that pervaded white Cuban society when it came to Afro-Cubans. Any attempt at equality by Afro-Cubans led to the immense fear of Cuba becoming another Haiti. Helg shows how this fear reoccurs again and again in Cuban history until it culminates in the frenzy of the 1912 massacre.

Another big thread is how Afro-Cubans continually push back on white Cubans’ narrative of Afro-Cubans, fighting for their equality until 1912. After 1912, Helg shows there appears to be a split in the Afro-Cuban community. As some Afro-Cubans attempt to reach for whiteness in elite society and feed into the myth of Cuban racial equality (Helg 245). The lower-class Afro-Cubans were left to combat the myth of racial equality by themselves, as they began to be culturally recognized in the 1930s (Helg 247).

Aline Helg uses a range of sources for her research. There are government documents from Cuba, Spain, and the United States. Newspapers and Periodicals from throughout Cuba, London, and New York are used. Secondary sources such as books are used as well. There seem to be diversity among her sources and source bases. The quality of sources is reflected in the work, as Helg creates a detailed narrative that shows high-quality research went into Our Rightful Share. The carefully crafted narrative takes the reader from the beginnings of Cuban independence to the massacre of 1912.

Aline Helg does a great job with Our Rightful Share. She puts Afro-Cubans out there in Cuban historiography where there appears to be a little direct study on them. As Helg, herself, says throughout the book the myth of Cuban racial equality pervades Cuban society. I recall in class someone saying Castro declared Cuba had eliminated racism in the 1960s or 1980s. How would this historical narrative disrupt such proclamations, especially since Helg claims Afro-Cubans are still struggling for equality today.

While Helg does a fantastic job with describing foreign intervention in Cuban during her discussed period. I was curious at how American racism might have played a part in foreign interventions. Helg says U.S. officials had a general bias against Afro-Cubans, which can only be explained by racism, and how US intervention would be more “intransigent in the face of an armed black protest” (Helg 191). Yet in later chapters, all the US is mentioned doing is planting two warships in Havana harbour. I would have liked to see some more political insights into the various actions, or lack thereof, by the foreign powers in Cuba.

I’m sure Helg was limited in the sources she was able to access in Cuba since it goes against the national narrative still being portrayed in modern times. I wonder how Cuban historiography would change and grow if open access was given to all archives. However, I found Our Rightful Share to be a well-written, well-researched read that adds to the historiography of Cuba.

Daniel Hershenzon argues in The Captive Sea that “piracy, captivity, and redemption shaped the western Mediterranean as an integrated region socially, politically, and economically” (Hershenzon 4). Using commerce Hershenzon attempts to show “Mediterranean system” of captive slaves and how it created intertwined networks in the Mediterranean. Analyzing Mediterranean slavery Hershenzon tries to show it was a “forced labour system and a communication system” (Hershenzon 5, 9). The Captive Sea tries to set itself apart as a new look at Mediterranean slavery and how it brought connective unity in the Mediterranean.

Hershenzon’s writing made The Captive Sea a very easy book to read and understand. I always appreciate this aspect in books where there is historical analysis. The writing style and succinct conclusions at the end of every chapter made the book flow well. Being not very familiar with Mediterranean slavery The Captive Sea was a decent introduction to the subject. I did not agree with all Hershenzon’s strong proclamations. He does not clearly bring in the historiography which makes it hard to centre where he is in, because I was not familiar with anything of Mediterranean slavery historiography it was something I strongly desired he put in the text.

The ability for the Mediterranean captive slaves to have the freedom to navigate their world in ways slaves in the Americas would not be able to, was by the far the most fascinating part of The Captive Sea. Obviously, Atlantic slavery and Mediterranean slavery have their differences. However, it was still shocking to see how different it was for me. I had never given it much thought before this class as to how slavery operated in different parts of the world. Hershenzon gives an example of a Christian captive slave, Jeronino de Pasamonte and his experiences as a slave. What struck me the most was the fact that on at least one occasion Pasamonte “himself proposed he be sold” (Hershenzon 18). Slave mobility in the Mediterranean gives great examples of the networks that existed in the Mediterranean.
The idea of public versus private slaves in the Mediterranean was fascinating to me. Hershenzon says “ownership and occupation often changed over time, on a daily basis, or with the season” (Hershenzon 30). I did wonder at the stigma of being a public versus private slave; what did it mean to be public? Was it working for the empire (eg. as a galley slave)? Or did the terminology imply something deeper than that? Hershenzon says only a minority of captives successfully gained their freedom which made me wonder why he doesn’t define his terminology more clearly since most captives were inevitably slaves because their captivity never ended (Hershenzon 68).

Examples abound throughout The Captive Sea. I enjoyed the example of a Aragonian captive Barbara Truiol and how her entire family was captured but only her husband and three-year-old were kept as hostages for ransom. It shows how important monetary gains were over slaves in the Mediterranean. I also marveled at the trust of the corsairs to allow some of the family to leave in order to get their money. Keeping hostages as a form of credit is not new to me but I do wonder at the conditions the hostages are left with, especially since Hershenzon says husbands left their wives as hostages more often than not (Hershenzon 80). The Captive Sea shows “maritime violence in the form of piracy, human trafficking, and plunder” pervaded the Mediterranean and created an interconnected space.

Racial Migrations by Jesse Hoffnung-Garskof is a great addition to Cuban history. Hoffnung-Garskof wrote Racial Migrations as a historical narrative which I found to be the case. I enjoyed the writing and the narrative did flow decently well. A major problem with his approach to historical narrative is he does not situation the readers in the history timeline well. Following around ten different figures throughout Racial Migrations made it extremely difficult to remember who was who and what was going on at times because Hoffnung-Garskof failed to set the book up well. He is not a historian so I'll let him slide a bit. However, his main points can get lost in the narrative, as it feels he himself got lost with what he was trying to get across to the reader at some points.

Hoffnung-Garskof shows how the Revolutionary Politics of Cuba were driven by Afro-Cubans and Afro-Puerians. He shows how these black men AND women had to navigate spaces in the Caribbean and in America. I found the duality of being black (and not being African American) and speaking Spanish in America to be one of the most fascinating parts of Racial Migrations. I appreciated how the author goes out of his way to try and include women in his narrative with the limited sources that were available for him. I do think there is a lot of information in Racial Migrations, and if you aren't familiar with Cuban or Spanish Caribbean history already the narrative can be difficult to follow.

Tannenbaum's essay is classic in the field of comparative slavery. Personally, I enjoyed Tannenbaum's essay, even though some of Tannenbaum's thinking is archaic there are subjects he touches where he anticipates historical trends. Some of the historical trends he anticipates are slave raids and the study of the middle passage, illegal slave trade, and acquiring whiteness. Slave and Citizen is a great jumping-off point if you want to situate yourself in the historiography of combative slavery.

Sana KCN Watts did the dang thing with Fragile and Flourishing. I was kept hooked from beginning to end. Watts writes a beautiful, raw memoir/poetry/theology/mental health work.
" my mental illness made the mundane meaningful
Straightening the sheets
Brushing my teeth
Toasting my waffles
Warming my son's bottle
Cleaning my home
Charging my phone
Are a declaration to death that I choose life
That there is abundance here more than strife
That I am certain that I will see the Lord's goodness in the
land of the living
And I see His goodness in all things
See, nothing is mundane to me anymore
Because everything is active faith"

I shed tears throughout Fragile and Flourishing. It's such a powerful story. Watt's vulnerability does a lot for the Christian community. She advocates for mental health awareness in the Christian community. Trigger warnings for anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation. The flow of the book from poems, journal entries, symbols, and narratives helped the flow. As a reader, you won't get tired of reading Fragile and Flourishing. As a reader, you can feel that Watts has a beautiful spirit who is doing wonderful work for God's glory. It touched me to be more open and honest with my beliefs and struggles. I would love to read more from Watts in the future. She has Caribbean heritage, which she mentions briefly and that excited me even more. I would have loved to read more about her experiences in the church as a Black woman (especially after reading Carved in Ebony: Lessons from the Black Women Who Shape Us. ).

Thanks to the author for sharing her story with me, and allowing me to share it with yall!

Okay so Carved in Ebony wasn't exactly the book I thought it was going to be. What do I mean by that? Well, I thought Holmes was going to be giving brief biographies about each of these women. That is what I entered into this book expecting. I was surprised when I started but it wasn't a bad surprise. I KNEW this was being published by Bethany House but I thought it was going to be less Christian-y. HOWEVER, even though my expectations versus the reality was different it was a good reality.

"It is from this perspective that I seek to tell you the story of 10 incredible Black women. I tell you about their struggles and their triumph not to elevate their blackness, but to elevate God's grace in creating that brown skin in his image. When I tell you the story about dignified Black womanhood, I do so to combat the opposite narrative, yes, but I also do it to point to be inherent dignity and the worth of women, whom God created in his image and for his glory.
God's image carved in ebony."

" I want to make a statement, the one that is not up for debate: Black women are made in the image of God. They are that image carved in ebony cues, wrought with a purpose, for His glory."

"As I read each of their names, I see a testimony of God's loving-kindness, of his triumph, of the beautiful diversity he has invested into American history a diversity that is so often overlooked."

These are all quotes from Jasmine Holmes in the introduction. As a black woman in America, she makes the statement time and time again on how this project is near and dear to her heart. Holmes has each chapter dedicated to a particular Black Woman in the faith whom she wanted to highlight. Using their lives as a narrative to push a particular lesson or trait Holmes shows how these women have inspired and encouraged her, in her own life. Jasmine Holmes sincerity and personal narrative touched me. I kept tearing up in reading Carved in Ebony. I think reminders are needed for Black people in the church, especially Black women that God loves and desires us.

I wish there was more biography in Carved in Ebony. I know Holmes had limited sources for some of the women so there was a limited narrative of their lives. Another review on GR has called Carved in Ebony a historio-memoir (how history has influenced the memoirist) and while I wouldn't necessarily call Carved in Ebony Holmes memoir I would say the amount of personal experience and feeling in this book does show Carved in Ebony is a labour of love. As the chapters went on I felt Holmes was getting repetitive in her sentiments. I enjoyed learning about the women in each chapter though. I believe Carved in Ebony is worth a read.

The more I read Danticat, the more I declare her a literary treasure!! My favourite stories in Krik? Krak! were
Children of the Sea
Night Women
Between the Pool and the Gardenias
New York Day Women
Children of the Sea hit me extremely hard (as I type this I'm tearing up). Why? Well besides the tragedy of the story Danticat dragged the fuck out of The Bahamas (as she should though).
"Someone has a transistor and sometimes we listen to radio from the Bahamas. They treat Haitians like dogs in the Bahamas, a woman says. To them, we are not human. Even though their music sounds like ours. Their people look like ours. Even though we have the same African fathers who probably crossed these same seas together."
I couldn't help but reflect on the Xenophobia that continues to pervade our nation as The Bahamas was mentioned in other stories as well. Ignorance is not realizing how much immigrants have helped to build this nation (The Bahamas). To the Haitian community, I see you.

Back to the book - Danticat writes such impactful stories. I teared up for most of them. Weaving together the subtle threads of connection in each of the stories had me gasping when I realized that the characters were connected! I enjoyed that ALOT, it shows Danticat's literary prowess. I could rave and rave but I'll just say this: read the book. Danticat is too good of a writer for you to not be reading her.

A moving coming to age story. Dealing with the conflicted feelings of growing youth, and complex relationships with parents are the main themes of Annie John . While I cannot relate to Annie I enjoyed the narrative. Kincaid has a great writing style with prose that flows well. I think this book could be perfect for younger girls who would be struggling with the same feelings and emotions as Annie is in this book.

The subtle theme of colonialism can be seen throughout Annie John . All around Annie is an English influence which is subtly contrasted with Annie John's mother cultural beliefs- like Obeah. The narrative spans years which I don't think was pushed well enough in the narrative because it still feels like Annie is the same age at the beginning of the book that she is at the end. Jamaica Kincaid tells a quaint story of life in colonial Antigua which should be considered a classic.

Iron Widow is that shit!! I literally could not put it down. A revenge story that turns a sh*t show society on its head. From the very beginning, I was sucked into the story. I did not want to stop reading it. I would have read it all the way through if I didn't have to do other things. The world-building unfolded pretty well. I was confused at times, as to how everything worked. I think Zhao did a decent job at the end of wrapping it up. I do wish there had been more, Zetian's POV was not enough at times for explanation. Xiran Jay Zhao does a great job with her writing. She makes you care about the characters and the world. (also she's hilarious af on Twitter).

The mix of mecca-historical-sci fi themes in this world is a great mesh. The idea of energy driving the Chrysalises is an interesting one. I hope Zhao expands on it in the next book. In a male-dominated society keeping the female population down is what keeps the patriarchy running. Female empowerment was the biggest theme in the book (it's the main plot of the book). I really wanted to run around screaming fuck the patriarchy after reading this. The subjugation and abuse of women are seen quite clearly throughout the novel. I wish there were more background female characters! There was very few women in this book, aside from the main character and those who served the plot purpose.

The narrative is AMAZING. I love Wu Zetian because she's such a badass character. She reminded me of Arya Stark in a way. I do love an unbridled rageful woman. The romance in here was cute! It was interesting to see a poly romance. It was my first time reading about one ever. I do think the addition of Li Shimin was quick, and the romantic development of it wasn't done well. Gao Yizhi could have been fleshed out a bit more. I think he was a background character who shifted too quickly to the frontline. While there were issues with Iron Widow I enjoyed it so much that issues did not matter to me as much. One of my favourite reads in 2021.

In David Blight’s Race and Reunion: The Civil War in American Memory, Blight examines the period of 50 years after the American Civil War. Using the two themes of race and reunion, Blight looks at how public memory clashes with private memory. He decides to look at the three significant visions that emerged during this period after the civil war. The three visions are the reconciliationist vision, the white supremacist vision, and the emancipationist vision. Examining these three visions and how they fit into the American memory is what Blight does with Race and Reunion. As one reviewer puts it, Race and Reunion “should be read by anyone who has ever considered what different society we might have become if white supremacy had not defeated the promise of re-construction race relations… and if a memory of the Civil War that celebrated equality between white and black Americans could have prevailed.”

Finding meaning in the death and destruction of war is nothing new from a historical viewpoint. David Blight does a great job of exploring how the romanticism of the Civil War helped shift its spot in history. Defining the Civil War and the memories surrounding it is something the American public did and is still doing today. On the one hand, the African American memory of the Civil War is one of oppression and freedom that emerged from the war. While on the other hand, there is the Civil War memory unblemished by cruelties that presents the war as a fight between two brothers. Trying to find meaning in either of these visions have been to no avail. The Reconciliation vision has not been accepted by the majority of the population enough to thrive. America is still trying to find meaning in the death and destructure of the Civil War.

I enjoyed reading Race and Reunion. With all the current issues of race going on in the media today, I found this book helpful in terms of why reconciliation has not happened for the United States. The observation of romanticization of historical memory shows that it can be dangerous in a historical context. A reviewer of the Journal of American History put it like this “He [Blight] has addressed some hopelessly difficult issues, and the result is a moving and eloquent book that should force Americans to think afresh about the troubled legacies of their Civil War.” Another reviewer said sweet memories bring healing while bitter memories bring salvation. There is perhaps hope for the future with this new look David Blight has provided for Civil War. With a lot of information Race and Reunion is a book that needs to be read again and again to digest all the arguments.