beverleefernandez's review against another edition
5.0
Life is indeed a short walk from beginning to end, especially when one spends the majority of their time fighting for love, for what should be basic civil rights, for a life wanted. The story's protagonist, Cora, is a womanist. She isn't as much concerned with climbing social ladders or passing as she is of living the life she desires. Her life begins as a love child between a black mother & a white father. As Cora grows up, she sees racial and gender expectations in all aspects of life; for example at the age of five while attending a minstrel shows, she witnesses a riot when the performers go against the grain to include a song that alludes to being treated as equal to white people. Later in life, when Cora's father passes away, she is expected to return to the island with her mother simply because she is unmarried. Cora's reaction--marry Kojie Anderson, a man she does not love. This act is the beginning of Cora's search for love on her terms. Her true love Cecil, is in and out of her life, though they are parents to a daughter. Ms. Childress does an excellent job of interspersing historical events into the story; such as Cora's travel to Harlem (Great Migration), rise & fall of Marcus Garvey & the UNIA (Harlem Renaissance), the Great Depression ( relief programs, labor strikes), WWII ( Delta wanting to be a WAC). However, Cora's personal history is significant. She wears many hats as most women do, but she performed and managed a vaudeville tour. Cora didn't accept whatever circumstances life life threw at her, she found a way to not only survive, but thrive. I think Cora fulfilled her determination by living life on her terms, not ones determined by society.
More...