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A review by bgg616
No Ashes in the Fire: Coming of Age Black and Free in America by Darnell L. Moore
5.0
Darnell Moore grew up in Camden, N.J Camden is a city that over the decades became one of the most neglected and poor American cities. Its residents are overwhelmingly African American. I never cease to be amazed at the unrelenting decline of some cities like Detroit. and Camden. What are the causes? What are the forces at work? Moore provides some history that provides some of the reasons and recommends a book for those readers who want to understand more. His own grandmother lost her home at some point, a victim of the economic up and downs of the city. Later his grandparents provided a home that was a refuge for any family member who needed a place to live, eat or escape to.
As an adolescent, Moore realize he was attracted to his own sex. But in his family, his city, his community and his church, being gay, lesbian, bisexual or transexual was not acceptable. Despite his efforts to hide his sexual orientation, other gay classmates told him over and over that he was gay. He continued to deny it, and dated girls. When he went away to college, despite same-sex relationships, he continued to hide. He got involved in the Campus Ministry, still denying his true self.
Moore was well into his adulthood before he, at last, realized he had to love himself before he could truly love others, his Black Community, and especially other GLBT people. The book description mentions Moore's involvement in Black Lives Matter. This doesn't come up until the final chapter. However, my conclusion is that Moore couldn't truly advocate and believe that Black Lives Matter until he learned to love himself, and the LGBT community. As we see in the recent attack on Jussie Smollett, his identities as a Black man, and a gay man, created an intersectional identity, that made him much more vulnerable. It took Moore a long time to get there, but at the conclusion of his book, he is a man who loves himself, his family, his city of Camden, and the Black Community. Most important, he loves humanity.
As an adolescent, Moore realize he was attracted to his own sex. But in his family, his city, his community and his church, being gay, lesbian, bisexual or transexual was not acceptable. Despite his efforts to hide his sexual orientation, other gay classmates told him over and over that he was gay. He continued to deny it, and dated girls. When he went away to college, despite same-sex relationships, he continued to hide. He got involved in the Campus Ministry, still denying his true self.
Moore was well into his adulthood before he, at last, realized he had to love himself before he could truly love others, his Black Community, and especially other GLBT people. The book description mentions Moore's involvement in Black Lives Matter. This doesn't come up until the final chapter. However, my conclusion is that Moore couldn't truly advocate and believe that Black Lives Matter until he learned to love himself, and the LGBT community. As we see in the recent attack on Jussie Smollett, his identities as a Black man, and a gay man, created an intersectional identity, that made him much more vulnerable. It took Moore a long time to get there, but at the conclusion of his book, he is a man who loves himself, his family, his city of Camden, and the Black Community. Most important, he loves humanity.