My Mantelpiece: A Memoir of Survival and Social Justice

by Carolyn Goodman, Brad Herzog, Maya Angelou (Foreword)

Carolyn Goodman's life was punctuated by tragedy, including a brothers premature death, childhood molestation, a fathers suicide, and a sons infamous murder. But hers is foremost a tale of survival, of turning personal anguish into social conscience. When her twenty-year-old son, Andy, was one of three civil rights volunteers to disappear in Mississippi in the summer of 1964, the story galvanized the nation. A half century after the Mississippi murders, this is the first time that a victims family member has expounded about the experience and the myriad emotions--from guilt to resolve--that it spawned. More than simply a memoir, My Mantelpiece is the story of a century's seminal progressive movements seen through the lens of a remarkable woman's singular journey.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir

216 pages, Hardcover

First published April 23, 2014

Reviews

[Ivy Pittman-Outen · Rating 5 out of 5]

As the world witnesses war, poverty, and police brutality, Carolyn Goodman's story in My Mantelpiece: A Memoir of Survival and Social Justice of the pain she lived though and pulled herself out to become a national spokesperson on peace and justice is one which should be required reading for all of us. The strength she found to live in spite of living through her father's suicide, her son's murder, and the death of two husbands, is an amazing story about faith and finding hope just when you think you can't go on. Out of Carolyn's pain she became a national figure for social justice. The irony for me was realizing that I was reading her story around the same time of her passing. I highly recommend this reading to the many who believe in peace and social justice.

[Fishface · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good, quick, but in some ways an oddly unsatisfying read. This memoir skimmed over, not only the devastating loss of her son in a famous murder of the Civil Rights era, but his entire life which I would gave liked to hear more about. I learned more about Andy's dad and brothers than I did about him. I only got a glimpse of how his killing changed the author's life, though it must have. She mentions that toward the end of her life she was involved in more and more social justice causes but I'm far from sure which ones or what she did for those causes. She mentions at one point that her courses in Home Ec somehow led to a degree in education, but elsewhere she mentions being a clinical psychologist and then glances off the edge of an infant mental health program she ran without telling us more than a few words about any of that. Where did she study? Under whom? Trained where? Worked with which populations? In what settings? How did she fit her social justice work into a full-time career -- or were they the same thing? And what about Andy!?

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this for the 2021 Popsugar Challenge prompt "a book about a social justice issue". It is written in the first person as a memoir, although apparently she had some help from Brad Herzog who is listed as an additional author. Carolyn Goodman was the mother of Andy Goodman, one of the three civil rights workers killed in Philadelphia Mississippi during the summer of 1964. The book tells the story of her life and motivation to fight for social justice issues, including of course the murder of her son. She had a lot of tragedy in her life, but she also as an adult led a pretty privileged (affluent) life. I found the story interesting, but I wish there had been more about Andy Goodman himself. 3.5 stars

[Nsquared · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book, written by Brad Herzog, after spending much time with Carolyn Goodman is amazing. This is a piece of our history that was huge but to hear it from a Mothers perspective is amazing. Carolyn Goodman was a strong woman who instilled social justice in her three children. Although she would have preferred that Andy not go into Mississippi during the Freedom Train she knew she could not stop him and still be true to her own beliefs. Brad came to the Pacific Grove Library to do a reading from My Mantelpiece and to lead a discussion and answer questions. It brought Andy and Carolyn very much alive.

[Dana Sweeney · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Andy [Goodman] has retaught us an old truth: that although we live and die alone, our personal happiness and destinies are inextricably linked; that none of us is free unless all are free; that we must demand not only comfort but also justice...

"So there's a responsibility on every one of us and you can't walk out of it... The question is not whether Andrew Goodman is dead; the question is whether we are dead or whether through his life and death we come alive."

A moving memoir for a remarkable life. Carolyn Goodman gave so much to a world that took so much from her, and her reflections, memories, and tender words shared in this volume near the end of her life are hopeful and heart-expanding.

As she was eulogized in 2007:

"Tonight there are people all over the world... who might be facing difficult decisions -- perhaps choosing between what's easy and what's right. If the decision is the path that is more unpopular, perhaps more dangerous, but more just... in those moments, Carolyn Goodman lives."

Subtle, intricate, brave, and instructive.

[Kat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not sure if it's fair to rate a book only 3 stars because it wasn't what i expected it to be, but that 's my reasoning. I had anticipated that I would learn more about the cause that her son championed and resulted in him ultimately sacrificing his life. I did learn some details of his mission and ultimate demise, however I learned considerably more details about how noble Carolyn Goodman was. Had this been written in third person rather than first person point of view I think I would be less critical. I get it. She was affluent and knew important people. She had Leonard Bernstein over for dinner...

After a rather interesting first few chapters, the book became a sort of flat narrative that I found to be a bit mundane...not an overly compelling read.

[Koren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every now and then I read a memoir where I wish I could have known the author personally. Carolyn Goodman is one of those people. She overcame the suicide of her father, the murder of her son, who was an equal rights activist in the 60's and was killed in Mississippi, and the natural death of her husband, to become an activist herself and a mentor to young activists who advocated for human rights for all people. She was even arrested at a protest when she was 83 years old. I loved what her son said when told his mother had been arrested. He said "That happens from time to time." She passed on before the book was published. She planned her own funeral and famous people delivered eulogies. A short book. I didnt get much done that day because I couldn't put it down.

[David A Opfer Jr · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book to read! Very well documented and told!

I would recommend this book to anyone going through A hard time in life! The author paints a picture of her struggles and triumphs with class!

[L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Carolyn Goodman was raised by emotionally distant parents, and endured many tragedies, but ultimately, this is a story of personal growth and survival. When she was a child, her older brother died, and her parents never thought to speak with her about the incident. Basically, no one spoke of anything in her house. it took until half way through the book before I realized that she had two younger siblings! For all the ways that her parents did not support her when she was growing up, she tried to do the opposite of that when she had her three children, always encouraging them in whatever they wanted to do. She felt that encouragement allowed her 3 boys to grow up to be men with their own ideas. Her middle son always fought for what was right and because that was the type of person he was, she couldn't tell him not to go down to Mississippi in 1964 to help register Black voters. He was killed there and she learned to move forward despite her heartache. The book showed her love for her husband; the pages interspersed with poems he wrote to her and their children.
Very good.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is nothing about the Civil Rights Movement that can't make me cry: even the uplifting inspirational speeches and triumphs make me cry since part of me is and always will be horrified at how humans hate one another. And then act on it. Carolyn Goodman's son Andy was one of the three civil rights workers that were brutally killed at the beginning of the Freedom Summer in 1964, and Andy had been in Mississippi for less than 2 days. I think this woman's life was far more fascinating than this shortish memoir had time for, and it is another book in a queue of activist memoirs/histories I have been reading. It is always fascinating to read how heroes and heroines are made or where they come from and how, and while short, this memoir has impact and strength.

[Lindsay Forness · Rating 4 out of 5]

The memoir of a Mother of a slain Civil Rights worker and written by a family friend, Brad Herzog, it is a moving tribute to a person and a movement. I learned more about the US civil rights scene of the 60s and much, much more about the dedication of not only the three slain young men, but also the work that Carolyn Goodman and her husband did their whole adult lives. This book makes you take stock of your life. Fairly quick read.

[Susan Follett · Rating 5 out of 5]

MY MANTELPIECE is a powerful testament to the power of story-based resources in teaching history. Carolyn Goodman, mother of civil rights worker Andrew Goodman slain in Mississippi during Freedom Summer 1964, reveals her life of heartbreaks and joys, challenges and gifts with stunning candor and insight.

[Theresa Malloy Lemickson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is an autobiography about the activist Carolyn Goodman whose son Andrew Goodmand was one of the white men killed in the Freedom Summer by the KKK for trying to help. Carolyn recently passed away, so the book is put together by another writer. If anything, I wish there was more about her life and struggles. A remarkable woman and very quick read.

[Michele Hohlfeld · Rating 5 out of 5]

While I did not find the book particularly well-written, this memoir is an important story. Carolyn's son was murdered by Klansman during the civil rights movement in the 60's and she continued his work throughout her life. Highly recommend this one.

[Harolyn Legg · Rating 1 out of 5]

I thought this was going to focus on her son who was killed in Mississippi in the Civil Rights movement - more about her and how miserable she was w/her life.