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Charlotte Amalie
Friday, March 29, 2024
HomeNewsArchivesA Book for Black History Month and for All Time

A Book for Black History Month and for All Time

Dear Source:
I could not let Black History Month and all the wonderful encouragement for reading to pass by without recommending the following book to our adult readers. Available at amazon.com, this beautifully written first novel by E. Scott Tapscott, titled "Brushed by the Butterfly's Wings," traces both sides of southern families from the post-Civil War era into the 1920s, as seen through the eyes of the families' grandson. This is a moving and powerful book written by a lovely senior woman who has given us a wonderful gift: insight into race relations and family relationships.
To quote from "About the Book":
"During a 1982 memorial service for his wife Emmaline, Jacob Edenton enters an altered state and his mind returns to 1904–the year that he was eleven–thus reviving a roster of colorful characters who contribute not only to his search for truth but to his pursuit of a more just and honorable world as well. His prophetic Grampa Jake is one such character. So, too, are the gentle and talented ex-slave, Strawberry, and Minnie Blankenship, a teacher who has no qualms about admitting a black child to her all-white classroom . . .Set in the southern-most foothills of the Appalachians, "Brushed by the Butterfly's Wings" presents the first three decades of the 20th century as a complex period in which a visionary few are beginning to see the errantcy of an antiquated society and its retentive belief systems. A story of human courage, which pits family member against family member, it is also a universal account of effects wrought at any time by those more comfortable with conformity than with new realities and the changing paradigms that accompany them."
I met the author, Scotty Tapscott, when visiting a cousin in Yorkstown, Va. My cousin left the book in my room and I reluctantly started it, assuming it would not be all that good. I couldn't put it down! Later that week, Scotty invited us over for a lovely visit, and I bought the book and have given it to many friends since then. This is a must read. Enjoy!
Dena Langdon
St. Thomas

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