Singing The Blues

About the Book

Singing the Blues is a story of undying courage and hope. It tells of the ultimate redemption of African-Americans, a people displaced from their homes and cultures, yet connected to their broader family through an indomitable spirit. Intended for collective, creative psychotherapy, it illustrates the courage to look inward and confront hidden terrors, while seeking honest answers to questions on the complexity of race, identity, gender, slavery, oppression, justice and, ultimately, redemption. The collective spirit of African-Americans--their history and spirituality, education and miseducation, art and activism, innovation and invention, culture and beauty--is rolled into one spell-binding story. Our protagonist, Jemima Player, an African-American woman who found her authentic self, walks a winding journey toward her best self. Having grown up poor and without a father, Jemima had a friend in her sickly, adoring mother, Jena, enjoyed companionship and loyalty with friends and mentors, and found a loving, passionate relationship with her husband. As her wondrous life unfolds, would this be enough to fulfill her dream of a great America?

About the Author

REVIEW BY EMILLE BRYANT Dr. Gladys Akunna adds her powerful voice to the unfolding story of the displaced and despised people now called African-Americans. She shares the story of a wonderful young woman, gifted with talent beyond her birthplace. Because she recognizes her talent as a way out of the neighborhood and condition that surrounded her youth, she navigates life with eyes both open and closed. Her journey takes her through the history, challenges and triumphs of Black people in America, a nation who reveres their art yet hates their presence. Looking back at a life that pushed her to an emotional breaking point before she became a legendary performer, Jemima’s childhood memories challenged her faith and became the genesis of many conflicts throughout her youth. In college, she became an activist, leading rallies that recalled America’s tumultuous civil rights era, where she began learning about her roots: Africa, the Middle Passage, and the hate and hope borne of slavery. Jemima’s story winds into a romance offering her a renewed faith and restore both her soul and that of her turbulent, beloved nation. Emille Bryant Author of Start With A Sparkle President, go:IKIGAI LLC