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RAWSISTAZ Literary Group Attn: Reviews Editor 5885 Cumming Hwy, Ste 108-232 Sugar Hill, GA 30518
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info@rawsistaz.com Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/rawsistaz Reviewed: Aug 14, 2009
The Children of Children Keep Coming: An Epic Griotsong by Russell L. Goings RAW Rating: 4.5 (out of 5) Alex Haley's Roots brought to the screen a more thorough account of heritage, struggle and triumph. As I was reading the introduction to THE CHILDREN OF CHILDREN KEEP COMING: An Epic Griotsong, Roots immediately came to mind. THE CHILDREN OF CHILDREN begins with the spotlight on two runaway slaves. Their destiny is the Freedom Train where they have hopes of reaching freedom and liberation. Interestingly done, Goings allows the slaves to dwell in the past, present and future. They encounter fields of laborers, plodding under sun high and moon low, and they are acutely aware that the toilers are sustained by work songs, that express the dreams and fears of the downtrodden and that also burst forth with unbound faith and optimism. The two travelers seek refuge where they can find it, as they roam through fields, stepping over graves of the once enslaved. Throughout their journey, they meet imaginary and mythological characters. At some point, they come to the full knowledge that there is a better future when Gongs exposes them to "giants" such as Frederick Douglass, Billie Holiday, Hank Aaron, Sojourner Truth, and Rosa Parks. The voices of both real and symbolic characters speak through Goings, who wears the cloak of griot and prophet, a vulnerable soul, and a gifted writer. The genius of the book is based on how it is seamlessly connected by poetry and prose, blues and gospel, hymns and jazz, and work songs and prayers. The universal harmony with the runaway's cry for freedom and justice reaches a shattering pitch. THE CHILDREN OF CHILDREN KEEP COMING: An Epic Griotsong is a powerful collection of poems that traces the journey of African-Americans in this country; that transcends pain and struggle and provides a vehicle for transformation. The rhythmic input is interwoven in a way that lends to a weightiness that is light on its feet because of its musical flow. This astounding mosaic of voices is accentuated by the images of Romare Bearden. An added bonus is a Glossary which offers information on African-Americans from all walks of life. Reviewed by aNN Brown, RAWSISTAZ.com © Copyright 2001-2011
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