Ten Generations of Bondage

Book excerpt: Ten Generations of Bondage is the True Story of an African American Family. The saga begins pre-slavery in 1740 and ends in 2016 with the election of Donald Trump. The reader is captivated as the family navigates through the horrors of slavery, the challenges of emancipation, the degradation of Jim Crow, the achievements of the Civil Rights movements and demoralization of modern day racism. Ten Generations of Bondage skillfully allows the reader to learn African American History by incorporating major events found in most history textbooks and incorporating additional events unique to the author's family. Johari's style of writing brings history to life as she takes the reader on a journey with her real-life family. Inspired by her family history, Johari combines the oral history from her elders with the "stories" contained in historical documents. Each chapter is a stunning reveal of African American life within the confines of each particular generation. The result is this factual opus that can be enjoyed by all.