Tell Us a Story: An African American Family in the Heartland

Rating:
Summary: Touching family stories
Review: I read this book in a day and found myself drawn in by the absorbing stories of family life and story telling. Not an autobiography in the traditional sense, Portwood instead uses the mechanism of story telling -- practiced over her family for generations -- to tell about her own life and her family in rural Illinois. Her account is touching, often humorous, sometimes sorrowful, and overall inspirational. Although Portwood explicitly addresses the issue of segregation and racial discrimination (as well as black resistance to oppression), her stories will also resonate with anyone interested in everyday life in rural communities in the 20th century. This book would also be appropriate for readers in junior high and high school.

Rating:
Summary: Touching family stories
Review: Precious! Poignant! Absolutely wonderful book. I was struck by the great writing style. I could hear Portwood telling the stories, with such thoughtfulness, sensitivity and humor. There are lovely portraits of family members, told with a gentle, wry smile. It is definitely a special treasure.

I could see similarities to my childhood in southern Wisconsin: the sense of community and extended family, the frugality of Depression generation parents, a mother who was more critical than nurturing, the need to grow up fast and take on adult responsibilities with younger siblings, the joy of spending time with story-telling elders. And the strong emphasis on education--I must have been at least 10 before I realized that not everyone went to the University of Wisconsin and that some didn't go to college at all!

I didn't deal with the pervasive racism which Portwood faced and our community was a particularly prosperous farming community, with little poverty. Still, much of her story resonates with me. This is a wonderful story of a resiliant and strong family. I loved it.

Rating:
Summary: History brought to life
Review: Precious! Poignant! Absolutely wonderful book. I was struck by the great writing style. I could hear Portwood telling the stories, with such thoughtfulness, sensitivity and humor. There are lovely portraits of family members, told with a gentle, wry smile. It is definitely a special treasure.

I could see similarities to my childhood in southern Wisconsin: the sense of community and extended family, the frugality of Depression generation parents, a mother who was more critical than nurturing, the need to grow up fast and take on adult responsibilities with younger siblings, the joy of spending time with story-telling elders. And the strong emphasis on education--I must have been at least 10 before I realized that not everyone went to the University of Wisconsin and that some didn't go to college at all!

I didn't deal with the pervasive racism which Portwood faced and our community was a particularly prosperous farming community, with little poverty. Still, much of her story resonates with me. This is a wonderful story of a resiliant and strong family. I loved it.