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A review by brooke_review
The Queen of Sugar Hill by ReShonda Tate
dark
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Hattie McDaniel, best known for her role as Mammy in the epic film of the Old South, Gone with the Wind, was the first Black woman to ever win an Academy Award. Selected as Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of the controversial Mammy, Hattie broke barriers, but I was surprised to learn through ReShonda Tate's new novel, The Queen of Sugar Hill, that Hattie herself faced extreme judgment and prejudice for her decision to play stereotypical "colored' characters.
Primarily focused on Hattie's work in Old Hollywood as a black actress, The Queen of Sugar Hill is an exhaustive, heartbreaking account of Hattie's storied life. Knowing Hattie only as Mammy before reading this novel, I was shocked to learn that Hattie faced extreme backlash from the Black community for the role, as well as racism and pigeonholing from Whites. Perhaps Hattie's oft-proclaimed defense - that she would rather "play a maid than be a maid" - speaks volumes and is a testament to a time when Black actors were relegated to bit parts that often portrayed them in a negative light. Tate's novel pays tribute to the groundwork that Black performers, such as Hattie, laid in paving the path for those who would follow in their wake. Hattie's life as an award-winning actress was by no means golden, but was instead, coated in grit and determination.
On the sidelines of this eye-opening novel is Hattie's numerous relationships and marriages, which were unfortunately, by today's standards, nothing less than toxic. Not finding love and acceptance within Hollywood, Hattie hoped to discover it in her relationships, but that was not the case. Hattie was no stranger to cheaters, swindlers, abusers, and cons. Despite Hattie giving it as good as she got, she sadly found herself falling for the wrong sort of man time and time again. Through her extensive research, Tate demonstrates how Hattie faced so much strife and heartache in both her professional and personal lives, and you can't help but feel your heart breaking for her time and time again as you pore over this richly detailed novel.
I am incredibly appreciative of the thought-provoking The Queen of Sugar Hill for bringing light to the numerous struggles that Black performers, such as Hattie, faced in the early days of Hollywood, and for teaching me so much about an incredible woman about whom I knew little. This book is highly recommended to fans of biographical fiction, and those you are intrigued by the Golden Age of Hollywood.
Primarily focused on Hattie's work in Old Hollywood as a black actress, The Queen of Sugar Hill is an exhaustive, heartbreaking account of Hattie's storied life. Knowing Hattie only as Mammy before reading this novel, I was shocked to learn that Hattie faced extreme backlash from the Black community for the role, as well as racism and pigeonholing from Whites. Perhaps Hattie's oft-proclaimed defense - that she would rather "play a maid than be a maid" - speaks volumes and is a testament to a time when Black actors were relegated to bit parts that often portrayed them in a negative light. Tate's novel pays tribute to the groundwork that Black performers, such as Hattie, laid in paving the path for those who would follow in their wake. Hattie's life as an award-winning actress was by no means golden, but was instead, coated in grit and determination.
On the sidelines of this eye-opening novel is Hattie's numerous relationships and marriages, which were unfortunately, by today's standards, nothing less than toxic. Not finding love and acceptance within Hollywood, Hattie hoped to discover it in her relationships, but that was not the case. Hattie was no stranger to cheaters, swindlers, abusers, and cons. Despite Hattie giving it as good as she got, she sadly found herself falling for the wrong sort of man time and time again. Through her extensive research, Tate demonstrates how Hattie faced so much strife and heartache in both her professional and personal lives, and you can't help but feel your heart breaking for her time and time again as you pore over this richly detailed novel.
I am incredibly appreciative of the thought-provoking The Queen of Sugar Hill for bringing light to the numerous struggles that Black performers, such as Hattie, faced in the early days of Hollywood, and for teaching me so much about an incredible woman about whom I knew little. This book is highly recommended to fans of biographical fiction, and those you are intrigued by the Golden Age of Hollywood.