The Writings of Barbara Dumas Francis

Book excerpt: The Writings of Barbara Dumas Francis capture a rich life told in concise but vivid snippets. This crisp volume is remarkable in its breath, encompassing the effects of the Great Migration, separation from mother, the thrill of first flight, family tradition, and the black church. Romantic and sensual, sage and sapient, the narrative is also poetic, particularly in its painting of the rich example of the writers loving aunts, as well as the budding promise of her grandchildren. The genius of writings simplicity is evident in an instructional narrative about caregiving of a terminally-ill loved one, which is conveyed so deceptively matter of fact that its poignance enthralls the reader unawares. In its highlights, the book offers the reader a capital life tour as this world-wise author learns to reconcile lifes inimitable joys and its inevitable sorrows.