A review by drnaynay
The Yellow Wife by Sadeqa Johnson

dark emotional tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

SPOILER ALERT: A woman conceived by rape of her mom by the slave master, was sold into another form of slavery, and because she was “yellow” was chosen/forced to be the wife of her new master who ran a horrifically brutal jail for runaway slaves. If forced institutionalization, rape, and horrific details of slave torture is your thing, you will love this book 😵‍💫 I was completely disturbed through this whole book. I had mixed feelings between whether this is just another sensationalization/fetishization of Black women/Black people’s trauma or if there is really some value in the examination of this story through a historical lens. It was really gruesome and hard for me to read. I think you can guess where I landed. 


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