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A review by ashlightgrayson
My Grandfather Would Have Shot Me: A Black Woman Discovers Her Family's Nazi Past by Nikola Sellmair, Jennifer Teege
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
medium-paced
3.5
This book is a personal exploration of the turmoil Jennifer Teege, the author, had when she discovered that her grandfather was a Nazi. Teege's overlapping identities (being both German-Nigerian and a black woman who spoke Hebrew) created a sort of mid-life crisis for her. The book mostly focuses on her struggle with depression as well as being hesistant about bringing up this discovery with friends. She had lived in Israel for 5 years and was fluent in Hebrews. While in Israel she naturally made friends, and she walks the reader through the emotional struggle she endured revealing this discovery to some of her friends from Israel. Some of them had family members that were murdered and were direct victims of Nazi Germany.
As I read through the book, I can come to understand why this was such impactful discovery for Teege. She has fond memories of her grandmother and the image she had of her was warped when she found out about Amon Goeth. Her grandfather was an unsympathetic and racist man who would have very easily killed anyone who looked like her. I think her close connections to Israel and Jewish people also contributed to her emotional state while processing all of this.
I am glad Teege shared her story with the world. It serves as a reminder that the Holocaust did not occur in a vacuum. The Nazis were still people (as wrong as they were in their ideals), with families, friendships, and relationships. Their descendants lived on. Many of them, like Jennifer Teege, have had to come to terms with the repercussions of their legacy. Teege's case is particularly interesting since she also part of a minority group that was targeted by her grandfather. I'm glad that she brings light that she is probably not the only person dealing with something like this and that the atrocities of the Holocaust still has repercussions today.
As I read through the book, I can come to understand why this was such impactful discovery for Teege. She has fond memories of her grandmother and the image she had of her was warped when she found out about Amon Goeth. Her grandfather was an unsympathetic and racist man who would have very easily killed anyone who looked like her. I think her close connections to Israel and Jewish people also contributed to her emotional state while processing all of this.
I am glad Teege shared her story with the world. It serves as a reminder that the Holocaust did not occur in a vacuum. The Nazis were still people (as wrong as they were in their ideals), with families, friendships, and relationships. Their descendants lived on. Many of them, like Jennifer Teege, have had to come to terms with the repercussions of their legacy. Teege's case is particularly interesting since she also part of a minority group that was targeted by her grandfather. I'm glad that she brings light that she is probably not the only person dealing with something like this and that the atrocities of the Holocaust still has repercussions today.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Genocide, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, and War
Depression is spoken about throughout the book as the author is discussing their mental health.