Dispossession

by Tayari Jones, Gabrielle Union (Narrator)

From Tayari Jones, author of the New York Times best-selling An American Marriage, and performed by Gabrielle Union, one of Time’s 100 Most Influential People of 2020, comes an unflinching story about mothers and sons that will leave listeners reeling for days.

Motherhood isn’t easy, especially when you’re a mother of a black son. Ten years ago, Cheryl jumped at the chance to send her son, Javonte, to an exclusive boarding school in New England — far away from Atlanta and the violence of the city streets. It was the American dream, or was it? Now settled in Vermont, Javonte is married and well-employed, but Cheryl hardly ever sees him, and when she does, her own son seems like someone she only used to know. So, when Javonte announces he’s coming home to Atlanta for MLK weekend, Cheryl calls off work, thinking this could be their chance to reconnect.

But a few days before the visit, Javonte cancels his trip.

After begging for the hours back at the white-glove moving company where she works, Cheryl accepts a last-minute gig in her own neighborhood, cheered by the idea of a black family moving on to bigger and better. But on her way to the job site, Cheryl learns the home’s occupants aren’t moving by choice — they’re being evicted. Over the next several hours, Cheryl must reckon with her own unresolved past, in this searing story about family, race and the lasting consequences of a choice that can’t be taken back.

Genres: Audiobook, Fiction, Short Stories, Contemporary, Novella, African American, Race

1 pages, Audible Audio

First published January 14, 2021

About the author

Tayari Jones is the author of the novels Leaving Atlanta, The Untelling, Silver Sparrow, and An American Marriage (Algonquin Books, February 2018). Her writing has appeared in Tin House, The Believer, The New York Times, and Callaloo. A member of the Fellowship of Southern Writers, she has also been a recipient of the Hurston/Wright Legacy Award, Lifetime Achievement Award in Fine Arts from the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, United States Artist Fellowship, NEA Fellowship and Radcliffe Institute Bunting Fellowship. Silver Sparrow was named a #1 Indie Next Pick by booksellers in 2011, and the NEA added it to its Big Read Library of classics in 2016. Jones is a graduate of Spelman College, University of Iowa, and Arizona State University. She is currently an Associate Professor in the MFA program at Rutgers-Newark University.

Reviews

[Barbara (I can only comment 10 times!) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars: “Dispossession” by Tayari Jones is a short story that is free on Audible Plus. I’m a fan of Jones so I took advantage of this freebee. It’s narrated by Gabrielle Union, who I also enjoy. It’s just short of an hour listen, yet I felt like I had heard a life story! It’s a powerful story of a black woman who did what she thought best for her son by sending him to a boarding school in the Northeast. She wanted to get him out of Atlanta and felt this was his best chance for a successful teenage experience. Sadly, her dreams didn’t work out like she planned. How Jones tells such a short story that feels like a full tome is amazing.

[Cheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a story of a parent’s dreams for their child, and what they are willing to do in order to see that their child’s dreams are realized. Especially this mother, whose son has been living in Vermont for ten years, far from their home in Atlanta. He was sent there to have the advantage of better schools, and thus a better future, but the distance has become more than just geographical. She feels like she hardly knows him anymore, and she worries about the man he is becoming.

This could be any child or any mother and it would be something most could relate to, but this is a Black family, and the cultural differences between Atlanta and Vermont are notable. Vermont is lovely, but the Black population is less than 2%, and her son has spent his formative years living there. She begins to question the decision they made years ago.

A story about the decisions we make that can’t be undone, a step that can’t be taken back.

[Brandice · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dispossession is the third piece of work and second short story I’ve read by Tayari Jones. Given its short length and excellent narration by Gabrielle Union, it’s worth a listen.

Cheryl is a divorced Black woman, working at a moving company with her nephew, who she and her ex-husband graciously took in years ago while her sister faced some challenges. Cheryl and her ex chose to send their own son, Javontae, to a boarding school up north. He’s now married, living in Vermont, and rarely keeps in touch. When he cancels a trip back home to Atlanta last minute, Cheryl has time to ponder their relationship during her latest shift at the moving company.

Family and race are both themes in this Audible Original story and while it offers things to think about, it’s “a point in time story” rather than a plot driven one.

While I enjoyed Dispossession, I enjoyed Half Light more, and of course, An American Marriage, which is one of my all-time favorite books.

[Elyse Walters · Rating 5 out of 5]

While walking today - not feeling zippy-perky- (my nephew is pretty sick with Covid- and another cousin is in the hospital from a stroke after getting hit on the head while he was surfing)
This happy news arrived this morning.
I kinda went inward from the news....knew I wasn’t up for social connecting. ( be it phone, or online exchanges)...
So....I made myself ‘walk’.....and stayed on the trail for almost 3 hours.
The weather here in the Bay Area is gorgeous today > like a blue sky summer day ( in January )....

I also knew I didn’t want to invest into a long - juicy novel - no matter how good it might be - ( I’m working up to ‘go-for-it- LONG — novel...perhaps the 800-1000 page kind- a story to get lost into)....
But....today wasn’t that day.

I’m happy about yesterday’s impeachment news....(that’s my best ‘review’ of this year).....
But....still low....
My choices for walking ....were either silence, music, or try out the Audible freebies....( like podcasts or short stories)
I did all three:
The silence thing
The music thing,
And
THREE — short AUDIBLE ORIGINALS. .....( short & sweet)

So....this ONE REVIEW....is for all 3 books:

1- Dispossession by Tayari Jones ....
....read by Gabrielle Union. 57 minutes

GREAT ...THOUGHT PROVOKING SHORT STORY. If you like Tayari Jones....and short stories....then this is a great 57 minute choice.
A mother sends her black son to an exclusive boarding school in Vermont to remove him from the city violence in Atlantic.
I’ll say no more..... BUT I FOUND SAD!!! Really Good.....but, I went into a little mother-sadness.... ( 5 stars)


2 - Frankencrayon by Michael Hall
.....read by Robin Miles 8 minutes long
It’s cute....even adorable - with wisdom to boot....but any longer than 8 minutes would have been too long ( 3 stars)


3- Childhood, Interrupted by Sanjay Gupta MD
.....read by Sanjay 46 minutes
THIS WAS REALLY GOOD!!!! ....personal, valuable, thought provoking, ( like....parents could have long discussions together about this book), informative, great tips, loving.....
And Shhhhh.....
.....I enjoyed this short 46 minutes with Sanjay more than I did his new book about brain health, “Keep Sharp”.....
In fact I learned NEW INFORMATION ABOUT BRAIN- health-& development—(practical and tangible daily life positives), ‘for’ children and their families— that really inspired me.
Sanjay is a beautiful man...doctor, husband, father, and humanitarian...
IT SHOWS IN THIS SHORTY-FREEBIE.
Well, time spent. ( 5 stars)

Hmmm? How to post this ....for three separate books...
I guess post them individually....( reprise, reprise, reprise)

Happy News of the day:
“Ratatouille: The TikTok Musical”, has raised over 1 million for struggling actors

[Misha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gabrielle Union did a beautiful job narrating this story. I could see her facial expressions as I was listening to her.

During this short story we met a Mother who is grappling with her relationship (or lack of) with her only child. They do not seem to understand each other the way they used to.

Some of Cheryl's background is shared with us and that pieces together why she felt the need to do the things she did for her son.

This short was a great listen. It fell a bit short though because there was no real plot. Nothing was ever really resolved.

[Kerri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good short story, beautifully read by Gabrielle Union.

[Just A Girl With Spirit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dispossession: the action of depriving someone of land, property, or other possessions.

This is a story about a mother of one son, and how she wanted better for him in his life. He grows up, moves away to VT from Atlanta and starts to change. He pulls away and starts to detach himself from his old life. There are consequences to decisions that we make everyday. Sometimes it causes us to do things that later on we regret.

[Brown Girl Reading · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was ok but it felt like something that could be turned into a great book. It turns around a lot but didn't wow me at all.

[Kameel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I must’ve missed something....this was a very lack luster short story. The narration was absolutely wonderful....but, the story missed something or perhaps I did.

[Tania · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another enjoyable free audible original. I absolutely adored An American Marriage, so wanted to listen to something else by this author and this was a good choice, as it reminded me why I like her writing style. She has such a way with words, sharing sad moments but phrasing it so you smile even as your heart breaks. I also like that her characters are always complex, no goodies or baddies, just humans. Gabrielle Union was the perfect narrator for this story about the difficulty in raising boys, especially African American boys.

[Nima Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Too short.

[Ana Lelis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked Tayari's writing style. It was captivating, simple, but beautiful. I wish this was longer though. It could have been something a bit deeper if it showed more of her real relationship with her son. I thought that was what the book was about. It followed more her life, but I still enjoyed it. And the narrator did a beautiful job too.

[Lorraine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dispossession, Tayari Jones narrated by Gabrielle Union.

Audible. Under an hour. A fantastic listen while waiting for bread to bake.

Sometimes what we think our children need is not the best for them in the long run. The decisions we make for them on their behalf...such a gamble...

Parenting is a hard job and mothers are judged the harshest.

Black.kids in schools in a sea of whiteness...eish

Perfect narration from Gabrielle. Impactful diction. Paced just right.

A punchy and impactful story. Will leave you with more questions than answers.

[Jaclyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dispossession, as Tayari Jones tells us during the course of the story, is the technical term for eviction. But at the same time, this short story is a powerful tale of dispossession of family, of racial and cultural identity, and of belonging. Dispossession is the leave-going from home that results in never feeling at home again where one once had roots. This short story explores the difficult choice one woman makes in sending her only son to an out of state school, and the repercussions that stem from that decision, both within her home and society. At once melancholic and deep, this story is raw and vulnerable, and essential listening.👂

This is a solid short story, and as my first work by Tayari Jones it is a good taste of what her writing is like. I listened to this on audible, and Gabrielle Union is a phenomenal narrator as always.

lots of themes to unpack here in under an hour, and Jones writing easily allows readers to slip into the narrative. A poignant discussion on intersectionality, residential/educational segregation

[Nia Forrester · Rating 5 out of 5]

So ... this was some depressing stuff. A mother makes choices to better the life of her son, only to find that those choices "dispossess" her of him so that now he is grown, they are virtual strangers. The other dispossession in this short refers to the displacement of Black people from the urban spaces that used to be their homes; and to the literal dispossession from a home (eviction) that the main character Cheryl finds herself participating in as part of her weekend gig at a moving company. This is the best kind of short story -- telling volumes more than the word count would suggest. This is the kind of material from this author that I most enjoy. Recommended.

['Nathan Burgoine · Rating 5 out of 5]

That was incredible, gutting, and I need to sit with it a bit before I put some thoughts together.

Okay, thoughts:

I'm not capable of isolating my own life as a kid who was kicked-to-the-curb while reading this, so while I absolutely fell right into the voice of the story (the mother) there was a part of me holding back the way it always is when I read or listen to stories about parents and estranged kids: I default to distrust of the parent character. That Tayari Jones made her so completely engrossing and got my emotional investment regardless of those very personal (and I'm totally willing to say irrational) issues of my own? Huge. I was on board for this woman, I wanted her to have a glimmer of love and respect from her kid. That I got there as a reader? It felt astounding.

Ultimately, this story is a character piece of the strongest kind, with a framework light on narrative but every tiny shred of forward motion is just so entangled with the past, relationships, and emotionality of the main character I was in awe. So freaking well done. And the last few moments of the story, the very last lines? Wow.

So, yeah. I loved this. I didn't expect to, I went into it almost unwilling given my history, in fact, but it was incredible.

[Dawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

It didn’t seem to go anywhere substantial. Her writing style is a hit or miss for me, and unfortunately it wasn’t as much of a hit as I’d hoped. I think having more time to tell the background story would’ve helped to enrich it, but all but the main character seemed one-dimensional. I would’ve liked it for a prologue but I struggled with this story being a standalone. 3 stars.

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tayari Jones is so so good, and this is a beautifully written short story about motherhood and race and poverty. I wanted more.

Gabrielle Union does a masterful job with the narration.

[Queen Rosalind · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book left me wanting more

[Lisette · Rating 3 out of 5]

This short story was an ok read. I did not connect really to any part of it or the characters. I think I'm more disappointed because I had such high expectations. I love both Gabrielle Union and Tayari Jones, but this just wasn't really entertaining for me. I actually finished it feeling very unfulfilled because I don't understand the purpose of the story and if anything was resolved.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stunning. What a complex and thought provoking short

[Shelby (catching up on 2025 reviews) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 5: #ReadingBlackout for Feb.

⭐ Rating: 4 stars

📖 Format: Audio novella

[Lizzie S · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am amazed by how much Tayari Jones managed to pack into such a short listen. Dispossession tells the story of a black mother, Cheryl, and her decision to send her son, Javonte, away to a boarding school in New England in order to try to give him a better life than she anticipated for him in their hometown of Atlanta.

Years later, Javonte is supposed to come home to visit his mother over MLK weekend but cancels, claiming a work conflict. Cheryl ends up spending the day working a shift at a moving company with her nephew, during which she reflects on the trauma of the evictions she experienced as a child while working to empty a home that has been repossessed.

Dispossession is a searing look at race, poverty, class, and motherhood. Well-worth the hour of your life!

[Lois · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one hit me right in the feels.
My daughter is 27 and we're close, still this resonated deeply with me.
Parenting is full of choices and you never see until far too late when a wrong parenting choice was made.
Also classism in the Black Community.
Something we deeply avoid dealing with as a community.
Well done

[Tamyka · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read two of Tayari Jones’s short stories for free in Audible, “Half Light” and “Dispossession”. Both were really good but really different types of stories. I think that’s one of her most interesting things. For me, all of her stories and books are good, they are written in similar styles and voices but none of them are really alike, but you can see and feel her throughout. Anyways, I liked this book about a woman’s reflection of how she raised her Black son and the impact it has on their current relationship once he is an adult. It’s performed by Gabby Union, and I mostly believed her.

[Barb Hogan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loved An American Marriage, so I had high hopes for this short story by Tayari Jones. Sadly, this very short story fell flat with me. I believe it definitely had the potential to be a great book, but both the story line and the characters, although interesting, just weren't developed enough. I wish we could have learned a whole lot more about the relationship between the protagonist and her son. Instead, it was more like "well I did my best and he left me". The story ended and I was like "that's all we get?"

[Lala · Rating 4 out of 5]

Strong start and it held my interest then there was a slight shift of focus after Javonte informed his mom that he would not be coming for the holidays. During that time I felt as if Cheryl was coming to terms with her past by dealing with someone else's present life.

[Adrian · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
I suppose I am really getting to like Tayari Jones's books. This was another Audible short story, so it went super-fast. I guess I did not enjoy this story as much as the other ones I have listened to, but it was still good. The timeline wasn’t very linear, and I may have gotten a little confused on who Big P was. I also feel like some of the story wasn’t resolved (what I am saying is that I wanted more). But she did a great job of detailing and explaining the poor life in SW Atlanta and what it is like to be evicted.

Audiobook narrator Gabrielle Union rating: 4 stars
I was surprised at how good Gabrielle Union was at reading this book and I really enjoyed it. There maybe could have been a little more voice variation but otherwise, I think if she keeps doing this, she will be great at it!

[Chandra Claypool (WhereTheReaderGrows) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gabrielle Union does a fantastic job narrating. I was left a bit wanting as this is really more about the characters over any plot and with that I would’ve loved some expansion to really get to know them better. A heartfelt story that felt like an intro to a larger one, which I would absolutely read.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A power-packed short story about a mother, son, and nephew, and about choices made. I don’t always love short stories because I want to become immersed in something with greater depth, but Jones does an excellent job giving this piece history and intensity in just an hour. From the author of _An American Marriage_, which was also excellent.