Pheby Dolores Brown is the daughter of Master Jacob and his slave, Ruth. Unable to produce an heir, Master Jacob’s wife Miss Delphina takes her anger out on Pheby. Who receives special treatment for being kin. Her late aunt Sally taught her to how read, write, and play piano amongst other things. Credentials that serve her well when she’s sold for helping her lover Essex Henry, escape the plantation. Delphina, forbidden from whipping her, has her taken while Master Jacob is delayed due to an injury on his return home. Specifically instructing she becomes a fancy girl. In response Pheby curses Delphina before boarding the wagon. Use to privileges deemed illegal for other slaves, Pheby remains hopeful that her father will track her down immediately. Keeping his promise to set her free on her 18th birthday and paying for schooling in Massachusetts. Master Jacob never comes.
In a twist of fate Pheby finds herself the yellow wife to jailer Rubin Lapier, who removed her from the auction block upon her refusal to strip naked publicly. Deciding to keep her for himself based on beauty and pedigree. Discovering she’s with child, Pheby finds herself at his mercy, knowing she must protect her baby at all costs.
Based on the true story of Mary Lumpkin, this book deals with themes of: motherhood, colorism, slavery, love, violence, betrayal, gender, loyalty and survival. The protagonist can no longer afford the luxury of planning to escape North, re-prioritizing once her child is born. Proud of her black roots, she fights to maintain her integrity as she helps run a jail that dehumanizes her people. Leaving the reader to grapple with the morality of the time period, what you would and wouldn’t be willing to do for a taste of freedom, for the safety of your kids. An amazing historical fiction. I devoured it. Definitely reading more Sadeqa Johnson books.
*Spoiler Alert*
Did the means meet the ends in the end when Pheby inherits everything? Or was Brenda right to say she was selfish and spit in her? Via: Simon & Schuster
