William Morrow & Company
People of Means
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One of People magazine's most anticipated books!
"A powerful, thought-provoking saga." --Woman's World
"An evocative story of love and sacrifice."--People
From the acclaimed author of The Kindest Lie, a heartrending novel about a mother and daughter each seeking justice and following their dreams in 1960s Nashville and 1990s Chicago.
Two women. Two pivotal moments. One dream for justice and equality.
In the fall of 1959, Freda Gilroy arrives on the campus of Fisk University full of hope, carrying a suitcase and the voice of her father telling her she's part of a family legacy of Black excellence. Soon, the ugliness of the Jim Crow South intrudes, and Freda, reluctant to get involved, is torn between a soon-to-be doctor and an audacious young activist. Freda must decide how much she's willing to risk in the name of justice.
In 1992 Chicago, Freda's daughter, Tulip, is an ambitious PR professional on track for an exciting career, if workplace politics and racial microaggressions don't get in her way. But with the ruling in the Rodney King trial weighing heavily on her, Tulip feels called to action and must choose, just like her mother had three decades prior, what her role will be in the story of America's quest for equality.
Insightful, evocative, and richly imagined with historical details, People of Means is an emotional tour de force about the lasting legacy of family bonds and the far-reaching ways the past shapes our present.
"People of Means left me breathless! A beautifully crafted story...profound and sharp."--Sadeqa Johnson New York Times bestselling author of The House of Eve
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Book Details
ISBN:
9780063157514
EAN:
9780063157514
Binding:
Hardcover
Pages:
368
Authors:
Nancy Johnson
Publisher:
William Morrow & Company
Wow, thank you for bringing this story to life. I picked it up at a Juneteenth book swap and it’s been a wonderful summer read! The themes are timeless from romance to class and race. Highly recommend!
A five star book enjoyed it from the moment I picked it up until the very end. Well told about Civil Rights moments in the 60's and the students involvement at Fisk University. A parallel story about mother and daughter experience protesting in 60's and 90's. Ms. Johnson take you on a great ride with this book in Middle TN, (Nashville), West TN, (Brownsville) and Chicago - I highly recommend this book it speaks to us about the past, today and future protest and racism.Thanks for your amazing knowlege as a true writer/author -Ms. Johnson,Sincerely C.Joy
I thoroughly enjoyed this book from start to finish and couldn't stop listening and reading it -- yes, I would sometimes read along with it while I listened to the audio or I would go back and read a section I had heard previously. The narrator(s) in the audio version brought this book to life and did an exceptional job conveying the emotions, thoughts and feelings of each character. The author masterfully wove the stories of the two main characters together, even though their lives were a generation apart (nearly 30 plus years). Ms. Johnson showed that civil and human rights matters are timeless and remain relevant.As I read the book, I couldn't help but ponder on how Freda's and Tulip's life experiences were interconnected to one another and us -- another 33 years later since 1992, when the story ended. As a people, we continue to see progress and setbacks, but we press forward. I can't say enough good about this book, and I learned some history that I didn't know too.I'm grateful to staff at my alma mater Fisk University, who introduced me and others to this work and author. Thank you, Ms. Johnson, for sharing just a bit of the Fisk story in People of Means. And, because of this book, I've now started listening to The Kindest Lie, Ms. Johnson's first book. Again, if you're looking for a wonderful novel, take a moment to read or listen to People of Means, a masterpiece.
Excellent depiction of the ‘60s and civil rights and how African-American college students lived during the turmoil.
Very well written and engaging from the beginning. It gives insight into civil rights struggles in two different decades while keeping you involved in the lives of a mother and daughter developing through young adulthood. As a Fisk University alumnus myself I particularly enjoyed the accuracy of the depiction of its campus life. Highly recommended!
