Day II : Haunting Novel of Racism : Sing Unburied Sing.

    Difficult topics are easier to explore though fiction than through everyday conversations.  There is a delicate balance that  must be established and maintained between the character's actions and emotions and the readers' reaction.  Go too far on a tangent with an idea that leaves the reader alienated or upset, the story is then ruined.   That is what makes great writers genius' at their craft is that the find the balance of respecting their characters and respecting their readers at the same time.  Which lends to the opportunity for the reader  to intently "listen" to a voice that is strong with reason,  emotions and undeniable truth, even when the truth is not a pretty picture.  Jesmyn Ward is a recipient of two National Book Awards.  Her. story,  Sing Unburied, Sing is sprinkled with the ugly and uneasy truth about racism in America.   Yet, the words that are woven together in this story are so powerful,  the reader will swear they hear a sad melody as they turn the pages.  It is truly a hauntingly, beautiful melody and one that can not be forgotten. 

    The Deep South seems to always be the part of America that receives the most blame for racism.  Whether it is justified or not, history places the blame at their door and Southerns are often painted with the brush of bigotry and hatred.  Ward explores the themes of generational poverty mixed in with folk magic of the south, drug addiction  and the violence that has haunted America since the nation's birth.  The violence that still is an underling current ready to spark today.  These are all heavy topics to handle in one story but Ward does it well and with grace.   Readers are captivated from the very first page. 

    The story swirls around Jojo, a child of a white Father Michael and black mother Leonie,  neither one of them would win parent of the year.   Michael is in prison,  Mississippi's Parchamn Farms and Leonie for all her desires to be a great mom, just can't do it because of her addiction to drugs.  Who is left to raise Jojo?  His grandparents. which is the reality for most boys in this family situation.   Leonie has decided to bring her children with her as their father is being released from prison.  This is the dangerous journey they take together as a family and in the process learn more about themselves, their families and the ugliness of racism.  

    This story is a page turner from the get go.  Readers will not want to put it down and when they finally do, they will more than likely want to read for another book another book that deals with racism, America and its sad consequence.  This book will be review in the next must read title during Black History Month,  I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings.