You gotta read this one! This book is straight from the author's heart. She shares warm memories of her family and their triumph over racism and multiracial issues. She enlightens the reader on the strength and determination of an African American family.
Wonderful memoirs with personal photographs of the author and her family. The book is short and sweet, but powerful reading. You are missing a great read if you pass this one up!
Go to the following link below to read an excerpt from Part 2 to be released this fall.
Description: Expressions of a griot into the written word
I had a dream the other day, that I was in the living of Mary Wilson, the
book's author. She served tea and Stella Dora breakfast cookies, as we sat
on her couch looking through her family picture album. I've never met
Mary's family, so I occasionally asked, "Who is this?" and "Oh, is this you
as a baby?" And with each reply, Mary reminisced on the scene in the
photo, and cheerfully told me a little bit of her family's history.
This dream occurred while reading Ms. Wilson's book, “Colorless Soul.” Told in
conversation style and sewn with pictures along the way, the
background of Mary's relatives, unfolds the remnants of her past and present. The stories
heard as a child about the grandparents she knew, and those who are a
mystery, cross stitch through the chapters. We learn how her family mended
the frayed edges of racial tension and economic status with their loving
support. She seamlessly weaves the small delicate details of the 50s
and 60s, which could have easily been taken for granted, into the tapestry
of her life. And, thoughts of snow on a warm grave embroider the finishing touch.
Mary Wilson transcribes the expressions of a griot into the written word. She should
be commended on creatively combining 80+ years of ancestors and events in
such a well organized and concise manuscript. Mary displays her black pride in the variety of family hues, from near white, and medium brown to ebony black. I recommend this book for all
born in this melting pot called America. Let’s not let our dream of appreciating diversity go to the grave. Let’s live in the present as colorless souls.
COLORLESS SOUL examines the complex issue of race relations in the North by tracing the author's family history after the Civil Rights War to the 1980s.
The author asks the question "What is White?" This is a question that cannot be easily answered. The state of whiteness is not simply appearance. In the United States, a person who has African American ancestry can never be white. To the world, he may appear to be white. However, under the doctrine of the one drop rule, he always will be African American.
The author eloquently demonstrates this point in the portrayal of her maternal grandfather Alex Bonner. Alex was raised by his white father and his family. As a young boy, Alex hated African Americans with vengeance. He wanted to have nothing to with black people.
At the age of 12, Alex is told the shocking truth about his heritage. Alex feels betrayed, because he has been living a lie. He does not want to pass for white. He is African American. He leaves his family and begins to live the rest of his life as a black man.
An equally compelling issue is the fact that men who fathered children by African American women denied the fact that their children existed.
The author's paternal grandfather was an Italian who lived in the North. He never acknowledged her father or his family. The Italian grandfather wanted to pretend that her father was never born and he did not exist.
This pretense is no better than her maternal grandfather's family who wanted her other grandfather to pass for white. What is worse? Denying your African American ancestry? Or denying that you are a father of a black child?
The author discusses the dynamics of growing up as a lighted skinned African American in a working class family. To some, she is privileged, because she has light skinned and straight hair. However, the reality is that she is African American; and she like dark skinned African American faces the ongoing struggle of racism. This is an inescapable fact.
COLORLESS SOUL is a moving and poignant novel. I would highly recommend this book.
Reviewed by Gayle Tiller
5/18/2002
COLORLESS SOUL examines the complex issue of race relations in the North by tracing the author's family history after the Civil Rights War to the 1980s. <p>
<p>
The author asks the question "What is White?" This is a question that cannot be easily answered. The state of whiteness is not simply appearance. In the United States, a person who has African American ancestry can never be white. To the world, he may appear to be white. However, under the doctrine of the one drop rule, he always will be African American. <p>
<p>
The author eloquently demonstrates this point in the portrayal of her maternal grandfather Alex Bonner. Alex was raised by his white father and his family. As a young boy, Alex hated African Americans with vengeance. He wanted to have nothing to with black people. <p>
<p>
At the age of 12, Alex is told the shocking truth about his heritage. Alex feels betrayed, because he has been living a lie. He does not want to pass for white. He is African American. He leaves his family and begins to live the rest of his life as a black man. <p>
<p>
An equally compelling issue is the fact that men who fathered children by African American women denied the fact that their children existed. <p>
<p>
The author's paternal grandfather was an Italian who lived in the North. He never acknowledged her father or his family. The Italian grandfather wanted to pretend that her father was never born and he did not exist. <p>
<p>
This pretense is no better than her maternal grandfather's family who wanted her other grandfather to pass for white. What is worse? Denying your African American ancestry? Or denying that you are a father of a black child? <p>
<p>
The author discusses the dynamics of growing up as a lighted skinned African American in a working class family. To some, she is privileged, because she has light skinned and straight hair. However, the reality is that she is African American; and she like dark skinned African American faces the ongoing struggle of racism. This is an inescapable fact. <p>
<p>
COLORLESS SOUL is a moving and poignant novel. I would highly recommend this book.
Reviewed by Mahogany Book Club
4/23/2002
5 stars! A moving family saga, through the eyes of a child. Mary takes you on a journey that pulls at the heartstrings as you meet her family struggling in the face of adversity. Written with much wit!
Along with the pain you will be laughing as she quotes her grandfather, grandmother , mother and father. She transports you back in time ( wringer washers, ice boxes, and 45 that cost .50)
A touch in the lives of a family that remains strong. Mary tells it like it is. what it was like growing up black, poor, light skinned, of mixed heritage and how society and social standard can deprive you of family and who you are because of racism. Hats off to Mary for taking notes, listening with keen curious ears as a child and putting it all together as far as she could. Her book is a piece of history, a memoir, an important diary to pass on to her legacy, who will for many generations to come be very glad she did...her story. our history. American history!
I am Willie Tee, the author of, The Winds of Destiny. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Mary's book from the beginning to the end. Mary did a superb job of documenting her family's history in such a way that it has a magnificient story line. I give Mary credit for having the courage to reveal what America has known for hundreds of years. That we are a country of people whose descendants married and intermingled with a variety of cultures. Mary has shown us that beauty has been the results of the mixing of the races and cultures. There have never been any social misfits from these mixings. I have heard white women and men of mixed marriages boast about the prettiness of their children. This tells us that there is nothing wrong with mixed unions, because regardless of color, we are still all God's childdren. I am waiting for more of Mary's masterpiece novels.
Mary, I love your book. Just can't seem to put it down. I haven't finished yet but I just had to let you know. I look forward to see what the end will bring. It was sad to see that Mr. "C" didn't want to be recognized. That your dad never really had a chance to know his dad. The way I see it though is that everything happens for a reason, we may not agree with or understand, but God knows exactly what he has done and what he is doing. May God continue to Bless you!
Reviewed by Nina Pettiford
7/4/2001
I am looking forward to more writings from this author. Her clear cut telling of a very important part of many White and Black Americans families was right on time. Keep the books coming. You have helped a lot of people face the fact that secrets about Black blood in a family is not Gods cruse on them. I feel Blacks have dealt with it all their lives behind closed doors. Thanks Mary Wilson for setting someone free, by reading your book.
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