I listened to All the Beauty in the World on my work commute. Time after time it took my breath away. An authentic exploration of grief. We are discussing in a few weeks as part of my local NPR book club!
Working my way through "Somewhere toward freedom : Sherman's march and the story of America's largest emancipation", 2025, by historian Bennett Parten. This is Sherman's Civll War military campaign from Atlanta to Savannah as seen from the perspective of some 20,000 formerly enslaved who took it upon themselves -- men, women, and children -- to escape slave labor camps along the way, intent on FREEDOM. This was not for the faint of heart as the military had no formal responsibility for their food, shelter, or security. Parten estimates that 2,000 were recaptured and sent back to their former plantations by rebel cavalry that killed many others. Stories of the escapees' hard times on the march filtered out to Union newspapers, which published them and likely influenced Sherman's Special Field Order No. 15 that offered reparations -- 40 acres and a mule -- to the formerly enslaved.to help them achieve economic independence. The federal government of Lincoln's successor Andrew Johnson reneged on reparations although Congress subsequently funded the Freedman's Bureau to provide some short-term relief, security, and education.
I thought BEING HEUMANN was a fantastic memoir. Judith Heumann didn't make me feel stupid as a reader for being so ignorant of the disabilities movement, but how could I have not known about her and the history of the movement? So incredibly humble, she tells quite an inspiring story.
I listened to All the Beauty in the World on my work commute. Time after time it took my breath away. An authentic exploration of grief. We are discussing in a few weeks as part of my local NPR book club!
Working my way through "Somewhere toward freedom : Sherman's march and the story of America's largest emancipation", 2025, by historian Bennett Parten. This is Sherman's Civll War military campaign from Atlanta to Savannah as seen from the perspective of some 20,000 formerly enslaved who took it upon themselves -- men, women, and children -- to escape slave labor camps along the way, intent on FREEDOM. This was not for the faint of heart as the military had no formal responsibility for their food, shelter, or security. Parten estimates that 2,000 were recaptured and sent back to their former plantations by rebel cavalry that killed many others. Stories of the escapees' hard times on the march filtered out to Union newspapers, which published them and likely influenced Sherman's Special Field Order No. 15 that offered reparations -- 40 acres and a mule -- to the formerly enslaved.to help them achieve economic independence. The federal government of Lincoln's successor Andrew Johnson reneged on reparations although Congress subsequently funded the Freedman's Bureau to provide some short-term relief, security, and education.
I thought BEING HEUMANN was a fantastic memoir. Judith Heumann didn't make me feel stupid as a reader for being so ignorant of the disabilities movement, but how could I have not known about her and the history of the movement? So incredibly humble, she tells quite an inspiring story.