#165 Drunk on History- Jabari Asim

#165 Drunk on History- Jabari Asim

Reuben Edward Jones Sr is an artist, a painter. He’ll paint anything with the same spirit and enjoyment, be it a portrait or a sign outside a barber shop. He enjoyed his work and was proud to have the identity his work gave him.

“He’d never get rich, but he’s never get bored either.”

He worked from home in a little studio, “He calls his space a studio, Pristine calls it a firetrap.” His reputation was above reproach and he always had steady work.

After taking a job from a man he recognized by could not remember, Reuben was blocked. He couldn’t feel that artistic inspiration he called The Surge. He was weighed down by thought, by the thought of his family and history, history he learned in his favorite book: Notable Negroes. 

He sat in his work space waiting for The Surge to come-- “Anything will give up its secrets, if you love it enough.”—Eventually, it always does.

I really enjoy the way this collection is coming together. It’s a true collection, not  a compendium of random stories by one author. As each one passes, the characters reveal themselves one by one, but there is no real through line to make it a novel. So, each story stands alone.

Notable Passage: “Nothing was beneath the spirit of art.”

Rating: 8-7-8-8 Total=31

#116 The Revenge of Hannah Hemhuff- Alice Walker

#116 The Revenge of Hannah Hemhuff- Alice Walker

This story has been dedicated: In grateful  memory of Zora Neale Hurston. This story uses the common curse-prayer that was printed in Hurston’s Mules and Men.

Hannah was a proud woman, and like most proud people that lived through the great depression, her pride, dignity and humanity were challenged greatly. Her children starving and on the brink of death, Hannah went against her strong beliefs and went down to the food line to beg for assistance. Unlike the other black families that wore their worst and dirtiest clothing to garner sympathy, Hannah dressed in her finest dress, albeit still ragity compared to those in the white-only line, and was refused. Not only was she denied assistance, she was laughed at by the “the little moppet” of a woman judging her case.

Her children soon died, her husband left her and her will was steadily worn away.

“My spirit never recovered from that insult, just like my heart never recovered from my husband’s desertion, juts like my body never recovered from being almost starved to death. I started to wither in that winter and each year found me more hacked and worn down that the year before.”

All that was left, was the will for revenge.

Notable Passage: “As for happiness, it is something that deserts you once you know it can be bought and sold.”

Rating: 7-7-8-9 Total= 31