My Jim by Nancy Rawles

I remember Jim from Huck Finn so well. I never thought a book would come along with the background of his life. Of course, Jim was a slave. So, Nancy Rawles book is mostly about that period in American History. Nancy Rawles doesn't mince words. The Slaves led very hard lives. Some slaves never knew when brutality would come there way. Even emotional abuse is traumativzing. Sadie, Jim's wife, knows how to use herbs, powder from leaves to cure the sick and dying. One time she is called to Mas' Stevens, a cruel owner of slaves. He needs her to cure a life threatening wound. He is bleeding badly from a stab wound. While Sadie works hard to keep him alive, he curses her over and over again. Too afraid to stop trying to save him, Sadie keeps working to keep him alive.

This is not the only pain Saide bares while a slave. She has two children, Lizabeth and Jonnie. Both of whom experience humiliating lives while without freedom. As a mother and grandmother, my heart broke again and again while reading the book. Throughout her life, Sadie would see loved ones torn from her side including a best friend named Gwen. Also, Jim leaves her because he doesn't want to be sold down river.

Nancy Rawles mentions "Moses" in My Jim. Moses is the name given to Harriet Tubman because she goes back and forth down South to rescue other people from slavery. She wanted others to feel the wonder of freedom. Nancy Rawles also took me through the days of Pre Civil War, then, the Civil War and Reconstruction.

"My Jim" is a powerful book. All of the characters seem very, very real. Nancy Rawles also used symblos throughout the book to clarify the characters personal experiences. There is a bowl, a hat, a knife, a button. Last but not least there is the quilt. Slaves sewed there memories in quilts. Slaves also sung mourning sons as they worked. Each word having lasting spiritual and practical meaning. I truly enjoyed every page of this book, "My Jim."

This book proves Diversity Rocks with every chapter in the book. First of all, we can see diversity so clearly by the author telling the story of Huck Finn's special friend during a very trying time. I also could see Diversity Rocks by realizing how much society missed with one part of humankind bound in chains. Setting people free from slavery only led to the enrichment of all our endeavors in America.