The Grace of Silence

Book Review
One of the joys of attending ASA is the new books I find among the book vendors at the conference. This year I found, and read on a cross country plane ride, The Grace of Silence, by NPR's Michele Norris.

Both history and research have shown that as time passes, significant events fade from memory unless something intervenes to keep the events in the forefront. Michele Norris’ family memoir uncovers family knowledge of experiences most family members know about but kept hidden, or silent, throughout the years. It was only after talking to her relatives that Norris discovers her grandmother once worked as an Aunt Jemimah doing pancake cooking demonstrations, and that her father had been shot by a white policeman shortly after he returned from serving in the Navy.
The strength of Norris’ storytelling is in the explanations, and explorations, of the context of the times. The Civil Rights movement changed American society for the better, and Norris’ descriptions of the times is a reminder of the struggles for equal rights. This book should be read by everyone under 25— hopefully, these lessons from the past will be remembered as the future generation forges society to its making.
For a more detailed complete book review, please see:
http://www.statesman.com/life/borooks/review-of-the-grace-of-silence-a-memoir-951794.html