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A review by zig_zaggie
All That She Carried: The Journey of Ashley's Sack, a Black Family Keepsake by Tiya Miles
4.0
This book made history as a field of study, the telling of history, the complexity of telling history, and an overview of Black women's experiences being enslaved in the US very accessible! The framework (taking one historical artifact as a jumping off point for many themes of Black women's experiences with slavery) was excellent. The emphasis on motherhood and enslaved Black mothers' connections with their children was especially moving. Much of the history shared here was new for me - but I think the book would still be enjoyable for you if you are already quite knowledgeable, thanks to the way the book works (taking one historical artifact and exploring the many themes it envokes, from textiles/embroidery as resistance + as important historical objects especially for studies of slavery, to the spiritual power of locks of hair).
I also really appreciated the book's many insights on the process of being a historian of slavery, and how complex doing this work is. In a good way, this angle reminded me of the graphic novel "Wake." Because I read this, I feel more confident and interested in picking up another book from a historian - and I think this book also gives lay readers like me a better foundation to appreciate the massive challenges of curating history exhibits about anything and, especially, about the lives of unfree people (and this was a new term for me, too!).
I sometimes (rarely) felt like the extrapolation/exploration of the many rabbit holes the artifact offered got a bit windy/long for me (e.g., the chapter on pecans), but this may just be my own attention span/a personal failing in me as an audiobook listener. I also wasn't always sure about language like "surely, this must have meant..." in parts that were taking seperate accounts and trying to attach those findings to the stories of other people. But, I appreciate that this is much of the work of historians.
Listened to this on audiobook; good narration!
I also really appreciated the book's many insights on the process of being a historian of slavery, and how complex doing this work is. In a good way, this angle reminded me of the graphic novel "Wake." Because I read this, I feel more confident and interested in picking up another book from a historian - and I think this book also gives lay readers like me a better foundation to appreciate the massive challenges of curating history exhibits about anything and, especially, about the lives of unfree people (and this was a new term for me, too!).
I sometimes (rarely) felt like the extrapolation/exploration of the many rabbit holes the artifact offered got a bit windy/long for me (e.g., the chapter on pecans), but this may just be my own attention span/a personal failing in me as an audiobook listener. I also wasn't always sure about language like "surely, this must have meant..." in parts that were taking seperate accounts and trying to attach those findings to the stories of other people. But, I appreciate that this is much of the work of historians.
Listened to this on audiobook; good narration!