This is an extensive, deeply powerful, and personal exploration of generational and societal cause and effect. Hawkins offers so much more than a family portrait; instead, he presents an impactful reminder of the importance of knowing where one comes from to better understand where they stand today. He lays bare the ways that legacy is woven not only into Black pride and culture but also into the deep roots of enslavement and destruction that have, for so long, worked to manipulate and minimize the lineage and worth of the Black body, spirit, and family.

This book is a journey of healing and processing—an acknowledgment that one cannot heal a wound without knowing its depth or cause. I truly appreciated and enjoyed this compilation of historical and personal accounts. It’s hard to imagine anyone reading this and not feeling inspired to look more intentionally into their own family’s history.

This book feels timely, especially as Black history faces erasure and diminishment. Now more than ever, it is our duty to learn and share the lives, stories, suffering, and triumphs of our ancestors. I Am Nobody’s Slave is a testament to that responsibility and a crucial reminder of the work still left to do.

Thank you to Netgalley & Amistad for this e-galley.

This is a very heartfelt memoir that could mirror any childhood of any African American child growing up post Jim Crow. Lee Hawkins recounts a deeply personal. somewhat scarred upbringing as he explores his family's history. Many of his experiences (parent-child or parent-parent relationships) were so relatable. One example is the ice-cream incident which I am positive has played out in many households over the past century and even today. Hawkins also addresses some hard topics such as racism, generational trauma and slavery. This was an enjoyable read that was insightful and moving. I Am Nobody’s Slave is a powerful reflection on the African American struggle and a peoples resilience for the want of a better life.