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A review by okiecozyreader
People of Means by Nancy Johnson
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
From the author of THE KINDEST LIE comes this multi-generational story of women, who are of college age. Beginning in Nashville in 1959, Freda attends Fisk University, following in both her parents’ footsteps. Her father also was a Meharry [Medical School] man.
“[Her father] saw higher education as their people’s true emancipation.” Ch 1
Freda instantly connects with a musician and activist Darius. Her parents want a safe life for her and set her up with medical school bound Gerald.
“Love had a funny way of splitting a woman in two, dividing her heart and loyalty at the root.” Ch 30
In the next chapter or so, we meet Freda’s daughter Tulip in the south side of Chicago in the 1990s. Tulip is also going to Fisk and similarly is drawn to world events and activism. Her parents try to guide her to a safer life, and she struggles to decide her own path.
In the author’s note, Johnson says “I keep thinking about what stops us from standing up for what we believe in and fighting for the change we want to see in the world. What holds us back from living life fully on our own terms?” We see this passing down through 3 generations of women.
This book discusses love, loss, family, coming of age and of course, civil rights activism from the 1960s (Martin Luther King Jr - I loved the info about Nat King Cole) and 1990s (Rodney King). It is well-paced and kept me turning pages through both alternating timelines (and the ending I did not see coming).
“And so began her dating life at Fisk, every man she met auditioning to be her husband without knowing it, possibly being the one.” Ch 2
“Where a lesser man might have held on to a grudge, Key opened his hand and set it free like a caged bird.” Ch 4
“This was her generation’s first real connection to a protest movement. Everything else had been hearsay—history from her parents’ era that she benefited from but would never understand for herself. A time and a struggle that didn’t belong to her.” Ch 9
“Everybody deserves to go after one big dream in life.” “Not everybody can afford to dream. Sometimes you need a plan. And you need money to make that plan real.” Ch 13
“[Her father] saw higher education as their people’s true emancipation.” Ch 1
Freda instantly connects with a musician and activist Darius. Her parents want a safe life for her and set her up with medical school bound Gerald.
“Love had a funny way of splitting a woman in two, dividing her heart and loyalty at the root.” Ch 30
In the next chapter or so, we meet Freda’s daughter Tulip in the south side of Chicago in the 1990s. Tulip is also going to Fisk and similarly is drawn to world events and activism. Her parents try to guide her to a safer life, and she struggles to decide her own path.
In the author’s note, Johnson says “I keep thinking about what stops us from standing up for what we believe in and fighting for the change we want to see in the world. What holds us back from living life fully on our own terms?” We see this passing down through 3 generations of women.
This book discusses love, loss, family, coming of age and of course, civil rights activism from the 1960s (Martin Luther King Jr - I loved the info about Nat King Cole) and 1990s (Rodney King). It is well-paced and kept me turning pages through both alternating timelines (and the ending I did not see coming).
“And so began her dating life at Fisk, every man she met auditioning to be her husband without knowing it, possibly being the one.” Ch 2
“Where a lesser man might have held on to a grudge, Key opened his hand and set it free like a caged bird.” Ch 4
“This was her generation’s first real connection to a protest movement. Everything else had been hearsay—history from her parents’ era that she benefited from but would never understand for herself. A time and a struggle that didn’t belong to her.” Ch 9
“Everybody deserves to go after one big dream in life.” “Not everybody can afford to dream. Sometimes you need a plan. And you need money to make that plan real.” Ch 13
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Violence, Police brutality, and Classism