bree’s Comments (group member since Jan 28, 2019)

bree’s comments from the Diversity & Equality Lit. group.

Discussion thread for The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot!

While reading Barracoon, I learned that slave trade was still happening far after the years it was officially banned in the US. I cannot say that I was entirely shocked by this discovery, but it made me angry and surprised nonetheless. It began to make me think of how, particularly in regards to race and citizenship, there are things in the US that parallel slavery and are completely legal, and US Americans turn their cheeks to these things or actively participate in them. Years down the line, I wonder what modern crimes against humanity someone will be writing about that our society participates in without batting an eye. Of course, I think of Kossola and his sons whose deaths at the hands of police are a frequent narrative we disgustingly know all too well - not much has changed in this sense. I also think of the prison industrial complex, which is a form of modern day slavery.

I am curious to know your thoughts on this throughout the book, and if you could think of anything else our society normalizes but is outright severely racist without reparation? Or if you could better elaborate on the short thoughts I stated above?

Before we all get underway with our discussions (I cannot wait), I think it is important to address the person that this story is about as Kossola since that is the name that is rightfully his and provided him the most agency and autonomy during his life.

Let's talk about this book. Feel free to write thoughts, reactions, questions below.

Welcome to the Diversity & Equality Lit. book club! We would like to gauge what group members want to see and gain from this new book club group. Therefore, we are open and grateful to any suggestions or recommendations of books (fiction, nonfiction, etc.), articles, short stories, or works of poetry to feature in the months to come! So hit us with your ideas and let's discuss! Thanks!