And Do Remember Me: A Novel

by Marita Golden

"An engaging saga of unconditional friendship, love, and foregiveness...Golden's style is modern, refreshing and accurately captures a slice of African-American life." (St. Petersburg Times)

In the exciting, yet frightening days of Freedom Summer in 1963, two very different African-American women meet, each to discover in the other an elegant completion of herself. Jessie, running from her sexually abusive father and distant mother, is a born actress. In the movement she discovers an unknown world of personal freedom that could shape her into an extraordinary talent or destroy her from within. Macon, beautiful, fearless, and brilliant, knows she is too good to settle for less than she's worth, but her activism threatens the man she loves.

In a vital time of politics and passion, dedication and distress, two women struggle to recreate themselves and their world--and learn to love the fight.

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction

208 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1992

About the author

Marita Golden (born April 28, 1950) is an award-winning novelist, nonfiction writer, distinguished teacher of writing and co-founder of the Hurston/Wright Foundation, a national organization that serves as a resource center for African-American writers.

(from Wikipedia)

Reviews

[Karah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was superb. I hate I delayed so long reading it. Jessie and Macon were Southern girls who became lifelong friends while participating in the Civil Rights Movement. Jessie fled a sexually abusive relationship with her father. Macon initiated her first romance with a man who would become her first husband. Both women had love for the men in their lives but something intrinsic drove these men away. I am grateful that Jessie made peace with her past; that hatred and anger was destroying all she held dear.

[Jennifer Fearon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely, uncomplicated read. Sensitively outlining the Civil rights movement and the lives of Black people struggling to get the vote. Golden charts the lives of Jessie and Macon, two women who become best friends, revealing their highs and lows and dealing with the taboo subject of incest, betrayal and forgiveness. I really enjoyed this book.

[Harley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel follows the lives of several people who met during the summer while protesting racism as Freedom Riders. The novel followed them at various points in their lives. I would have preferred that the novel focus on the summer of the '60s.

[Shavon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Started out slow but picked up in the middle. Great read!!!

[Shannan Harper · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story about two female complete strangers who meet and become friends during the Freedom Summer of 1963. A quick and enjoyable story.

[Donna’s Book Addiction · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first chapter “Freedom Summer” deals with incest, and civil rights movement in Mississippi. Golden does more than tell a story, she teaches a history lesson. She goes inside the minds of workers in the movement and creates a scene that duplicates the atmosphere of that historical movement. The opening chapter of this novel was compelling and my expectations where that the entire book was based on this era, but the rest of the narrative did not fulfill, instead each chapter in “And Do Remember Me” read as a separate book.

In the second Chapter “Bright Lights“, Golden deals with the New York theater scene, rape, alcoholism, and infertility.

The third Chapter “Passages” deals with academic life in Washington, breast cancer and redemption. The segment devoted to Jessie's friend Macon is unnecessarily disconnected from the narrative flow of Jessie/Pearl.

Even though each Chapter had a voice of its own, its characters were rich and unforgettable, I found the novel a good read that drew me in and the psychological breakthrough for Jessie/Pearl in the final chapter, "Requiem", left me unrepentantly satisfied.

[CKE387 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Story of abuse, forgiveness and redemption - very touching ending