Rae Scott's Blog

Uphill is an unapologetically bold memoir from Emmy Award-winning sports journalist Jemele Hill about overcoming generational traumas and navigating a white-dominated industry.

Themes: Generational Trauma, Mother/Daughter Relationships, Drug Abuse, Mental Illness, Protecting Black Women, Surviving vs Living, Working in White/Male Dominated Spaces, Social Media

The following questions were discussed by the ,SoLoveSoul Book Club. Click the link for more information

1. What are your thoughts on the mother-daughter dynamic between Jemele's mother and grandmother? Do you think the life insurance policy was the grandmother's way of acknowledging her mistreatment?

2. What do you think about Jemele’s relationship with her mother? How does it compare to the relationship between Jemele’s mother and grandmother? Why do you think her mom was finally able to get clean after Jamele went to college?

3. In Chapter 5, Jemele talks about how writing in her diary helped her find her voice. Is it an invasion of privacy for a parent to read their child’s diary? What helped you discover your voice?4. In Chapter 11, Jemele discusses black beauty vs the entertainment industry. What has been your personal experience navigating the beauty world as a black woman? What do you believe needs to be done to improve the image of black women in regard to hair and makeup?

5. What are your overall thoughts about the book? What are some of your takeaways from Jemele’s journey?

6. How do you think Jemele’s upbringing prepared her for the hardships she faced in the workplace? How did they hinder her?

7. Jemele’s career got turned upside down because of a few tweets. Let’s discuss social media as a blessing and a curse. What are your thoughts on cancel culture and social media censorship?

Discussion Worthy Quotes: 8. “What if there is some vat of anger deep inside of me that I’d overlooked all these years?”

Why do you think the world often sees black women as angry? Do you think that it’s possible that deep down, we might be harboring some kind of anger?

9. “No romance without finance is a goddamn nuisance”

Do you agree with this statement? Should we automatically expect financial support (or gifts) in an intimate relationship?

10. “I realized how easy it was for white people to completely ignore the existence of black people” (pg81)

In many cases (especially for “inner-city youth”), it isn’t until we go off to college, enter the workforce, or leave our hometown that we begin to have intimate interactions with people from another race. What does this say about our country 60 years post-segregation? How does this degree of separation affect how we view the world?

11. “As a black woman, I had no expectation that I would be given the same treatment and grace as white folks after making a mistake.”

What are your thoughts on double standards in the workplace? Have you experienced a similar situation where you were treated differently than your white counterparts?

12. “A man should be able to provide for his woman and carry the household single-handedly.”

Do you agree? Even if a woman brings something to the table, do you think the man should still be able to carry the household single-handedly?

"One of the most dynamic and globally recognized entertainment forces of our time opens up fully about his life, in a brave and inspiring book that traces his learning curve to a place where outer success, inner happiness, and human connection are aligned. Along the way, Will tells the story in full of one of the most amazing rides through the worlds of music and film that anyone has ever had." ,Source: goodreads.com

The following questions were discussed by the ,SoLoveSoul Book Club. Click the link for more information

1. “Fear is embraced as a survival necessity. It is a widely held belief that in order to protect Black children, they must fear parental authority. The instilling of fear is viewed as an offering of love.” (9) Why do you think our community embraced corporal punishment and parental fear as a survival necessity and expression of love? Is this belief still just as prevalent in this generation of parents as in older generations? Is it an effective form of parenting or does it reinforce generational traumas?

2. "Just like I couldn't face my father. Just like I couldn't face the neighborhood bullies. I couldn't even tell someone that someone else was potentially being hurt. What was wrong with me? Why was I always so afraid...such a coward." (33) After reading about Will's life and childhood traumas do you have a better understanding of his behavior at the Oscars? Why do you think he had a sudden urge to defend his wife in such a violent way?

3. “I sensed for the first time that I wasn’t weak; in fact, I was infinitely powerful—I just had no control over it.” (65) In this chapter, Will juxtaposes his verbal strengths with Paul’s physical strengths. Is it more powerful to use verbal or physical attacks to demand respect?

4. “My girlfriend cheated on me, which was proof to my shattered mind that I was a piece of shit…she wouldn’t have cheated on me if I had been good enough. I had failed another woman.” Women often internalize being cheated on but is this a common reaction for men (specifically men of color)? What does Will's reaction to being cheated on say about his self-image issues and his constant need to please people?

5. “We’re all waiting until we have deep knowledge, wisdom, and a sense of certainty before we venture forth. But we’ve got it backward— venturing forth is how we gain the knowledge.” Are you more inclined to bet on yourself or play it safe? Talk about a time you ventured forward without having all of the knowledge and wisdom about what you were doing. Reflect on that journey and what taking a step into the unknown taught you about yourself.

6. “The thing about money, sex, and success is that when you don’t have them you can justify your misery…but once you are rich, famous, successful—and you’re still insecure and unhappy—the terrifying thought beings to lurk: maybe the problem is me.” Why do we equate money, sex, and success to happiness? Do you think people are truly happier or more content when they are successful or rich? Is this idea a universal concept or is it more common in the black community propagated by the Hip Hop image?

7. In this week’s section, we see how Will’s healing journey began as he became more mentally in tune with his feelings What do you think of his journey now that we’ve finished the book?

8. “Daddy has a picture of a family in his mind. And it’s not us?” In this section, Will states that he started “noticing feelings”. Using what we’ve read in the book and the family’s interactions in the video, what are your thoughts on their family dynamic now? Are your views/opinions different from what they were before you finished the book?

9. The book ends with the death of Daddio followed by “The Jump.” Why do you think Will chose to close his story in this way? What does the death of Daddio represent in his life? What does the jump represent in his life?

For your next book club selection, choose Yellow Wife by Sadeqa Johnson - a thrilling historical fiction that lives up to the hype! Elevate your book club discussion with the question below centered around the themes including identity, passing, and woman/motherhood!

Synopsis: Born on a plantation in Charles City, Virginia, Pheby Brown was promised her freedom on her eighteenth birthday. But when her birthday finally comes around, instead of the idyllic life she was hoping for with her true love, she finds herself thrust into the bowels of slavery at the infamous Devil’s Half-Acre, a jail where slaves are broken, tortured, and sold every day. Forced to become the mistress of the brutal man who owns the jail, Pheby faces the ultimate sacrifice to protect her heart in this powerful, thrilling story of one slave’s fight for freedom. ,Source: goodreads.com

The following questions were discussed by the ,SoLoveSoul Book Club. Click the link for more information

1. Why do you think Missus Delphina likes to take her wrath out on Pheby? Do you think Massa Jacobs intended to keep his promise to Phedy? Do you think Pheby was naive in believing that he would?2. “Mama always said the way to keep peace with white folks was to be available and invisible at the same time.” How does this resonate with modern times, and why do you think this custom traveled through the generations following slavery?3. What are your thoughts on this sequence of events between Missus Delphine, Essex, and Ruth? Why do you think Pheby made the choice she made? 4. Why did the Jailer choose Pheby as his mistress?

5. “...but what choice did we have?”(pg 118) What do you think about Pheby’s choices? Is she taking comfort in her privilege or is she merely surviving? How do you think her journey would have been different if she didn’t have Monroe?

6. Why did Pheby feel so much shameful when confronted by Brenda?

7. What do you think about Pheby’s evolution throughout the story?

8. Discuss language and speech and the role in played in the treatment of the characters. How did they shape the story and the lives of the characters? Do you think this disparity was only based on gender?

9. Discuss the treatments of Essex and Pheby (or men and women in general) and the different methods they had to explore to survive the institution of slavery.

10. What do you think about the ending? What are your thoughts on Hester, Isabel, and Joan’s decision new life?

Did your book club select Tia William's Seven Days in June for your next book club read? Check out the questions below that led the SoLoveSoul book club in our discussion on topics such as motherhood (specifically mother/daughter relationships), the media's portrayal of the black community, and the true meaning behind the term "soul mates".

SYNOPSIS:

Brooklynite Eva Mercy is a single mom and bestselling erotica writer, who is feeling pressed from all sides. Shane Hall is a reclusive, enigmatic, award-winning literary author who, to everyone's surprise, shows up in New York. When Shane and Eva meet unexpectedly at a literary event, sparks fly, raising not only their past buried traumas but the eyebrows of New York's Black literati. What no one knows is that twenty years earlier, teenage Eva and Shane spent one crazy, torrid week madly in love. Over the next seven days in the middle of a steamy Brooklyn summer, Eva and Shane reconnect...But before Shane disappears again, there are a few questions she needs answered.

Source: Goodreads.com

1.“The force of teen-girl passion could power nations’…We’re taught that men are all animal impulses. But girls get there first.' 'And then society stomps it out.'” (page 9). What do you think about this quote? Why do you think society stifles girls' passion at a young age but is more likely to accept and even nourish the instinctive impulses in young boys?

2. What is the significance behind the author juxtaposing the mother/daughter relationships between Eva + Audra and Genevieve + Lizette? What does it mean when Lizette tells Genevieve “You’re too clever to be prey"? (page 30)

3. “Publishing companies have a hard time processing Black characters unless we’re suffering?” (page 51). What are your thoughts on this? Why do you think society is more comfortable consuming content where the black characters are struggling or dealing with trauma/oppression rather than portraying them as humans with normal/happy lifestyles? What are some other examples of this in other forms of media (tv/movies)?

4. At the Black Author event, a journalist confronted Shane for writing exclusively from a female’s perspective and asked “Do you feel qualified to speak from a feminist place?” (page 59) What are your thoughts about the way male authors approach the female experience? Do you think that male authors can write authentically about the female's experience and vice versa?

5. What are your overall thoughts about Shane & Eva’s interactions? The awkward lunch? The throwback scene at the mansion? The Dream House Rendezvous? Are they true soul mates or are they just reliving their teenage infatuations? Do you think trauma bonds can lead to a healthy loving relationship?

6. In this section, Audre expresses that she feels stifled and while she loves her mom unconditionally she calls Eva “perfect” & “a robot” but says that Lizette is”a true American success story” & “a feminist icon”. Do you think Audre’s discontent & anxiety are just regular teenage woes or does it stem from the lies that Eva told her about her family’s history? What does this say about Eva’s self-love and self-acceptance?

7. While Shane has built a successful writing career, sobered up, and became a mentor, Eva is still heavily reliant on pain meds (due to her illness), has to compromise her integrity to further her career, and perpetuates a false narrative about her past to Audre. What do you think about Eva’s journey? Do you think Shane abandoning Eva in the past hindered her ability to fully heal all these years later?

8. In the beginning, Lizette tells Genevieve “You’re too clever to be prey” (pg 30) but when Genevieve confronts her about what happened that night with Shane, Lizette responds, “That boy preyed on you” (pg 232) to justify sending him to jail. Why did Lizette change her tone? Do you think Lizette was jealous of Genevieve? What are your thoughts about jealousy and resentment in terms of mother/daughter relationships?

9. “High School relationships aren’t supposed to be meaningful?” (Pg 198)

Do you agree with this quote? What defines when a relationship is "meaningful"? How do our early experiences with relationships shape how we move in our relationships as adults?

10. As we continue to read further into the book, have your opinions changed on whether Eva + Shane and Eva + Audre have a healthy or toxic relationship? If you have changed, what evidence from the book led you there? Do you think these dynamics will lead to a healthy family structure or is this the making of a troubling situation?

11. Which character do you connect with the most? Which ones did you dislike? What do you think about their growth throughout the book?

12. What are your thoughts on the book ending? Did you think it was really over for Shane and Eva? Did you like how they came back together?

13. What are some emotions that you felt while reading this book? What are some of your takeaways/ reflections about the common themes: relationships, mother/daughter dynamics, trauma bonds, etc.

14. Will Packer secured film rights to Seven Days in June and unlike Dani, we know he will cast some great black actors/actresses. Who do you think should be cast for Shane and Eva? Audre? Lizette?

Discussion Worthy Quotes:

“The force of teen girl passion could power nations." (9)

“When you’re drowning you’ll do anything to get air.” (92)

“Teenage girls can’t wait to be ruined” (178)

“I stayed alive for you, but you killed me anyway.” (226)

“Daughter always blame moms for the mess they make.” (232)

“Deceased plants are good luck. When a houseplant dies, it’s because it’s absorbed bad energy and juju. Bad juju meant for you. They’re protection.” (231)

“If you listen hard enough, you can tell what a person needs from you. And if you give them what they need, you’ve got a friend for life.” (261)

“Adulthood is a lie, we're all toddlers”. (263)

“Love isn’t safe and obvious. Love is risky.” (283)

It is so difficult to scale all the great books in the world down to a top ten list. I believe black women writing books that redefine American history is a revolutionary act because we come from a community that has historically suffered high illiteracy rates, and has been widely excluded from the national narrative. This compiled list of books highlights the history, experiences, strength, and resilience of black women. I selected each of these books (all written by black women) because their radical and groundbreaking impact makes them a must-read for the entire diaspora. With each book, you will gain a new takeaway each time you read them. Check out my list below:The Warmth of Other Suns x Isabel Wilkerson

History is often written to make us feel like it happens so far in the past, that we don't recognize how much of it were the lived experiences of our parents and grandparents. This epic story of The Great Migration is a must-read as it helps to develop a deeper understanding of how the massive exodus of African Americans from the Jim Crow South helped to shape our modern nation.

,Buy Warmth of Other Suns on Bookshop

Women, Race & Class x Angela Davis

In this book, Davis explains the history of the feminist movement in America and highlights the ways it has fallen short in supporting women from marginalized communities. Black women should read this book because it breaks down intersectionality in a way that is both revolutionary and comprehensive from one of our most important scholars and civil rights activists.

,Buy Women, Race & Class on Bookshop

Honorable Mention: ,"Ain't I A Woman by bell hooks.

Self-Care for Black Women: 150 Ways to Radically Accept & Prioritize Your Mind, Body, & Soul

This book offers 150 exercises specifically designed to improve mental health and encourage self-care. It is essential for learning to prioritize yourself and understand your boundaries by leading the reader to look inward and do the work on themselves. Simply a must-read.

,Buy Self-Care for Black Women on Bookshop

The 1619 Project x Nikole Hannah-Jones

The 1619 Project is the new origin story of America. It adds the contributions of African Americans to the national narrative by rightfully centering American history around the institution of slavery and the aftermath. Not only is this book groundbreaking in the retelling of American history, but it has also accosted extreme efforts made by conservatives to be banned from curriculums across the country.

,Buy The 1619 Project on Bookshop

Set Boundaries, Find Peace: A Guide to Reclaiming Yourself x Nedra Glover Tawwab

In this book, a licensed counselor and relationship expert pen the importance of healthy boundaries to encourage readers to seek the feeling of truly being themselves. This book is a must-read for black women because it teaches us how to identify and express our needs using some of the best practices in cognitive behavioral therapy.

,Buy Set Boundaries, Find Peace: A Guide to Reclaiming Yourself on Bookshop

I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings x Maya Angelou

This poetic and powerful story of Marguerite Annie Johnson is one of the most beloved American classics. Maya Angelou expanded the genre of autobiographies by adding fictional elements to the telling of her own life experiences in a way that makes it a quintessential classic of American literature and a must-read for black women.

,Buy I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings on Bookshop

Assata x Assata Shakur

Assata Shakur was the first woman added to the FBI's most wanted list during the Black Panther/Cointelpro Era. She has been living in exile in Cuba since 1984. This book is a must-read because it is Assata's experience in her own words about what she describes as government persecution. The book Assata (name meaning "she who struggles") is the story of a black woman, who struggled, resisted, escaped, and survived and that is a story worth reading.

,Buy Assata on Bookshop

Barracoon: The Story of the Last Black Cargo x Zora Neale Hurston

Barracoon tells the story of Cudjo Lewis, the last survivor of the Middle Passage, based on interviews by Hurston from 1927. Although written in the 1930s it failed to get published (until 2018 - almost 60 years after Hurston's death) because she refused to compromise the integrity of her work by changing the vernacular of the language in which it was written as requested by publishers. This book is significant to the entire diaspora because it teaches us the importance of preserving our history, defending its accuracy, and advocating for its authenticity.

,Buy Barracoon: The Story of the Last Black Cargo ,on Bookshop

Medical Bondage x Deirdre Cooper Owens

To say everything relates back to slavery is an understatement. Medical Bondage gives enslaved women their rightful place in history as the mothers of maternal medicine by exposing the origins of American gynecology. This book should be required reading for anyone working in the medical field because it puts things into perspective when we wonder why the maternal healthcare system neglects the needs and concerns of women of color.

Honorable Mention: ,Medical Apartheid: The Dark History of Medical Experimentation on Black Americans from Colonial Times to the Present

,Buy Medical Bondage on Bookshop

The Bluest Eye x Toni Morrison

Toni Morrison is the epitome of classic African American literature so choosing which book from her catalog belongs on the list this list is strictly a personal preference. The Bluest Eye just happened to be my first book by Morrison and is such a beautiful introduction to Morrison's bold storytelling and rich language. Read it and thank me later.

,Buy The Bluest Eye on Bookshop

** All bookshop links support Red Emma's Bookstore and Coffeehouse in Baltimore, Maryland.

Do you have a book club or want to start a book club, but are not sure how to get the conversation going? Are you having trouble keeping your book club discussions from rearing off-topic and away from the book? For the past year, I've collaborated with the SOULpreneur community as book club coordinator which means I have been tasked with assisting with book selection, creating our weekly pacing guide, and writing 12-15 questions for our weekly discussions. For some books, this was an easy, natural process. When you have a juicy plot, interesting characters, or some controversial commentary on a social issue, it's easy to come up with exciting things to talk about. But if your group chose a book that turn out to be not so intriguing or introspective, how do you keep the conversation from seeming flat or monotonous? How do you discuss a memoir without being overly judgemental about someone else's life journey?As book club coordinators, it’s our job to keep the conversation from going stale or from veering off the topic of the book, so I created this blog not just to celebrate book clubs that are dedicated to promoting African American and Latinx literature, but also to share some book-specific questions to encourage critical understanding and thought-provoking conversations. The Black Book Club Hub will provide an opportunity for other book clubs to share their book selections and the questions that led their conversations. If you are a book club coordinator and would like to submit your book-specific questions for your recent book club reads click ,here.

For this first blog post, I wanted to give share some tips that have helped me develop some thought-provoking questions to discuss and analyze the book of the month:

Steer clear of generic discussion questions!

A few times in my first year as book club coordinator, I googled discussion questions just to get ideas for topics to discuss. I almost always encountered the most generic questions that weren’t "book-specific" and could apply to any book. If you really want to keep your book club discussion from veering off-topic, you must have discussion questions that refer to specific details about that book's plot or characters. Questions like “What did you think of the writing style?” or “Did this book remind you of any other books?” are great questions but they shift the conversation away from the contents of the book your group is reading, which is fine if that’s what you want. But if you want to encourage deeper engagement with the story, I would recommend using less generic questions and more questions that are book-specific.

Annotate, Annotate, Annotate!

Annotating is essential for the book club coordinator because how else are you going to keep your thoughts organized? Annotating helps to isolate important themes, identify key concepts and formulate your thoughts for a deeper understanding. Not to mention, it is aesthetically appealing if you use colorful book tabs! As you’re reading, use the tabs to mark quotes, controversial topics, or interesting themes then build discussion questions around them! Use sticky notes, or keep a reading journal to record things that come to mind while you’re reading. Then formulate those concepts into thought-provoking questions.

Consider your audience, or in this case the demographics of your group, and ask about personal experiences!

Conversations usually flow effortlessly when the discussion is centered around shared experiences. If your group is mostly women or women of color or members of the LGBTQIA+ community, find a theme in the book that provides commentary or even a simple observation about that community, and build a discussion question about that topic. There may be some people who can relate to that topic and others who can not, which will only deepen the conversation and allow your group members to get to know each other more without rearing off the topic.

When in doubt, quote it out!

Quotes are a great way to summarize a thought or idea. People tend to remember quotes, especially those that are impactful one-liners that make a statement. The biggest cheap code that I discovered when I struggled to come up with discussion questions was to find a good quote, perhaps one that could be viewed as controversial or provocative, and simply ask “What are your thoughts on this quote? Do you agree? Let's discuss.” This will allow the conversation to flow as it will permit people to share their personal interpretations of said quote. People may have differing interpretations but that's okay! Reading is an art form and art is meant to be open to interpretation so we must understand that we will not always agree on certain topics. A thriving book club environment is to make room for differing opinions. It's important that your book club members feel that their opinions matter, and will be respected. Besides, if we all agree on everything, then what’s there to discuss?