Proud Shoes: The Story of an American Family
12 journalers for this copy...
I found this copy of "Proud Shoes" on the mark-down shelf at my local bookstore and immediately snatched it up for BookCrossing. I was lucky enough to take a class with the author, Pauli Murray, during college. Some people seem to be more vividly alive, to breathe a purer air than the rest of us; Pauli Murray was one of them. Her intelligence and wit and energetic humanity sparked from her fingertips and blazed from her eyes. Born in 1910 in North Carolina, she fought in the most important battles of the twentieth century for the rights of African Americans and women, finally becoming not only a short-listed candidate for the Supreme Court but an ordained Episcopalian minister as well. And had she lived to read it, she would be mortified by this panegyric. The details of her remarkable life can be found in her memoir, "Song in a Weary Throat"--- most highly recommended (but I haven't got a copy to go right now--- will try to find one). "Proud Shoes" is the story of the remarkable history of her remarkable family. It should interest anyone interested in family chronicles, African-American history, Civil War history, American history, or the random pain and glory of human life.
I'm sending this off to a bookcrosser in Pennsylvania.
received in the mail today. thank you!
Published in 1956 this book traces the history of the author's mother's family from about 1840- 1940. Her Grandmother's family lived in Chapell Hill North Carolina. Her Grandfather's family lived primarily around the Mason-Dixson line in Delaware and Pennsylvania. Both families were mixed race. Their stories are told in great detail.
It is a story of fine, noble human beings. But in the telling of it we learn a lot about that period of history in those places at that time. This is the best sort of social history. I highly recommend this book to anyone with any interest in American History or African American studies. It's also for anyone who just wants to read a good story about good people who lived a real life.
It is a story of fine, noble human beings. But in the telling of it we learn a lot about that period of history in those places at that time. This is the best sort of social history. I highly recommend this book to anyone with any interest in American History or African American studies. It's also for anyone who just wants to read a good story about good people who lived a real life.
This book is off to juliebarreto in Hawaii. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
Just arrived today! Thanks, Ardy!
I really enjoyed this. As someone who grew up in California and Hawai'i, I know next to nothing about the Southern experience other than what I've read in books, and this one really comes alive. These people reminded me of the times I spent with my own grandparents, how their world view is so different from, and so molded by, the events they grew up with. This family memoir really illustrates that things are not black and white, that there is a wide variety of Civil War experiences. I will definitely have to seek out the author's other book.
This went off to weeblet, media mail, on July 22, 2003. FYI, Betsy-STL and minerswifebb also expressed interest in reading it.
Got it! Thanks Julie!
I know there are several people that want to read this, so I'll start a ray when I'm done...
That postcard makes me want to go back!
Aloha <:
I know there are several people that want to read this, so I'll start a ray when I'm done...
That postcard makes me want to go back!
Aloha <:
she sure did her homework! it's amazing the information she was able to come up with. a good companion to this might be 'cane river'.
so now we're going to have a...BOOKRAY!
Kernow8-VA
Amusedbythis-IL
Betsy-STL-MO
TigerLily4-NE
LarkOnapost-OR
Rendiru-CA
This has just arrived in the mail - a lovely surprise! I'll be finishing my current read today or tomorrow and will start Proud Shoes right away after that. It looks fascinating... Some good local history education for me as well.
I really enjoyed reading this book, as I feel it has enriched my knowledge of American life (being a foreigner living in America I'm grateful for all the help I can get!)
I recently read a couple of books touching on similar themes - "Sally Hemings" - historical fiction by Barbara Chase-Riboud, about Thomas Jefferson's slave mistress and her struggle between her feelings of love and loyalty to Jefferson, and the indignity of her life as a slave bringing up children who wouldn't be recognised as Jefferson descendants - a really good read, especially considering the annual disputes I read about in the Washington Post concerning whether the Hemings descendants are eligible to attend the Monticello Association party for Jefferson decendants.
The other book was a civil war memoir called Nurse and Spy in the Union Army by Emma Edmonds (a Yankee nurse), which was fascinating but a bit long-winded and difficult to get into as the language hadn't been updated from the 1860's.
Both books were good companion books to Proud Shoes though, in their different ways.
I took Proud Shoes on a day trip to Harper's Ferry on Saturday, and bought it a bookmark which I will send with the book on its continued journey.
Thanks ever so much for introducing me to this book. Mailing to Amusedbythis in the next few days...
I recently read a couple of books touching on similar themes - "Sally Hemings" - historical fiction by Barbara Chase-Riboud, about Thomas Jefferson's slave mistress and her struggle between her feelings of love and loyalty to Jefferson, and the indignity of her life as a slave bringing up children who wouldn't be recognised as Jefferson descendants - a really good read, especially considering the annual disputes I read about in the Washington Post concerning whether the Hemings descendants are eligible to attend the Monticello Association party for Jefferson decendants.
The other book was a civil war memoir called Nurse and Spy in the Union Army by Emma Edmonds (a Yankee nurse), which was fascinating but a bit long-winded and difficult to get into as the language hadn't been updated from the 1860's.
Both books were good companion books to Proud Shoes though, in their different ways.
I took Proud Shoes on a day trip to Harper's Ferry on Saturday, and bought it a bookmark which I will send with the book on its continued journey.
Thanks ever so much for introducing me to this book. Mailing to Amusedbythis in the next few days...
Received this book today from Kernow8. Looking forward to reading it!
This book is aptly named. It is the family story of a Southeren family and how they faced adversity. They gave a proud legacy to the author who faced head on racism and sexism and prevailed. It was a very good book and one I would not have known about, if not for bookcrossing. This book will go next to Betsy-STL.
Journal Entry 15 by Amusedbythis at -- By Hand Or Post, Ray/Ring, Meet-Up, RABCK in Chicago, Illinois USA on Sunday, November 16, 2003
Released on Sunday, November 16, 2003 at Controlled Release in Chicago, Illinois USA.
Will be sent out today to Betsy-STL. An additional interesting note, while discussing this book and bookcrossing with a friend, found out that Pauli Murray was one of the founders of NOW. An extra interesting tidbit of historical significance.
Will be sent out today to Betsy-STL. An additional interesting note, while discussing this book and bookcrossing with a friend, found out that Pauli Murray was one of the founders of NOW. An extra interesting tidbit of historical significance.
Rec'd in Thursday's mail (11-20). Thanks Amusedbythis!
A very interesting story of one family's American history.
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Sending to TigerLily4 on 1-2-04.
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Sending to TigerLily4 on 1-2-04.
Received in the mail today from Betsy-STL. Thanks! Will get it read and on its way......
I was very impressed with this book and the story of Pauli Murray's family. She made segregated life come alive for me, and it was brutal and harsh.
As suggested by other readers, I will try to get a copy of Song in a Weary Throat and read more about Ms. Murray.
Sorry for the delay in getting this moving. Will send it on to Larkonapost tomorrow.
As suggested by other readers, I will try to get a copy of Song in a Weary Throat and read more about Ms. Murray.
Sorry for the delay in getting this moving. Will send it on to Larkonapost tomorrow.
Journal Entry 20 by TigerLily4 at ... in a RABCK, By Mail/Post/Courier -- Controlled Releases on Monday, March 22, 2004
Proud Shoes arrived in Oregon today. I have been looking forward to reading it!
Excellent book. I see many similarities between the Fitzgeralds and my own family. I am glad Murray strove to be accurate in the history of the Civil war and events afterward. I found it hard to read about poor Harriet. Lately I have read of so many injustices to women that I vow to be more active politically. Since the primary election in Oregon basically won't make a difference to Kerry or other candidates, I will write in Carole Mosely Braun (after I figure out the correct spelling of her name.) This book goes to California next.
Minerswifebb wrote, and asked to be added to the list.
Yay - this arrived in today's mail. This looks like such a good book. I'm so excited! Thanks, everyone, for sharing. I'll pass this on to minerswifebb when I finish it.
This was a lovely biography, lovingly written, of the author's grandfather. It was full of little personal details that bring a closer understanding of the daily struggles of life during the civil war, reconstruction, and the beginning of integration. My favorite passage was one that reminded me of my family:
"It was through these homespun stories, each with its own moral, that my elders sought to build their family traditions. In later years I realized how very much their wealth had consisted of intangibles. They had little of the world's goods and less of its recognition but they had forged enduring values for themselves which they tried to pass on to me." (p 246)
I'll contact Minerswifebb for an address and pass this book along again. Thanks, everyone, for sharing!
"It was through these homespun stories, each with its own moral, that my elders sought to build their family traditions. In later years I realized how very much their wealth had consisted of intangibles. They had little of the world's goods and less of its recognition but they had forged enduring values for themselves which they tried to pass on to me." (p 246)
I'll contact Minerswifebb for an address and pass this book along again. Thanks, everyone, for sharing!
looking forward to this one.
Journal Entry 26 by minerswifebb from Similkameen, British Columbia Canada on Tuesday, June 15, 2004
This book opened my eyes to a part of history that I'd learned from one point of view only! What a wonderful and strong family the author came out of. This book is a testament to a family that remained strong and true to themselves and their country even when their country and countrymen turned on them.
This book written in the 1950's has truly passed the test of time and will be an enlightening story for a long time to come.
This book written in the 1950's has truly passed the test of time and will be an enlightening story for a long time to come.
Journal Entry 27 by minerswifebb at Guest Bookshelf at The Miner's Wife B&B in Greenwood, British Columbia Canada on Tuesday, June 15, 2004
Released on Tuesday, June 15, 2004 at Guest Bookshelf at The Miner's Wife B&B in Greenwood, British Columbia Canada.
This is being released to the crossing zone in my bed and breakfast. I was going to wait till July 4 but decided to release it now. I hope a guest will soon have this book going on a new journey!
This is being released to the crossing zone in my bed and breakfast. I was going to wait till July 4 but decided to release it now. I hope a guest will soon have this book going on a new journey!
My hostess at the Miner's Wife B & B suggested I read this book. I have started it but not finished it. It is an interesting memoir and I look forward to continuing reading it now.
