Journalist and author Lee Hawkins talks ab out the examination of his family&rsquo\;s legacy of post-enslavement trau ma and resilience in his riveting memoir\, \;I Am Nobody's Slave: How Uncovering My Family&rsquo\;s History Set Me Free. \;
\nI Am Nobody&rsquo\;s Slave \;tells the story of one Black fa mily's pursuit of the American Dream through the impacts of systemic racis m and racial violence. This book examines how trauma from enslavement and Jim Crow shaped their outlook on thriving in America and influenced each g eneration\, and how they succeeded despite these challenges.
\nTo th eir suburban Minnesotan neighbors\, the Hawkinses were an ideal American f amily\, embodying strength and success. However\, behind closed doors\, th ey faced the legacy of enslavement and apartheid. Lee Hawkins\, Sr. often exhibited rage\, leaving his children anxious and curious about his protec tive view of the world. Thirty years later\, his son uncovered the reasons for his father&rsquo\;s anxiety and occasional violence. Through research \, he discovered violent deaths in his family for every generation since s lavery\, mostly due to white-on-Black murders\, and how white enslavers im pacted the family&rsquo\;s customs.
\nHawkins explores the role of r acism-triggered childhood trauma and chronic stress in shortening his ance stors' lives\, using genetic testing\, reporting\, and historical data to craft a moving family portrait. This book shows how genealogical research can educate and heal Americans of all races\, revealing through their stor y the story of America&mdash\;a journey of struggle\, resilience\, and the heavy cost of ultimate success. \;
\nLee Hawkins was a 2022 Pul itzer Prize finalist as a lead reporter on a series about the Tulsa Massac re of 1921 at the \;Wall Street Journal\, where he worked for nineteen years. He has received several fellowships\, including The Carte r Center&rsquo\;s Rosalynn Carter Fellowship for Mental Health Journalism\ , the Alicia Patterson Foundation Journalism Fellowship\, the O&rsquo\;Bri en Fellowship for Public Service Journalism\, the USC Annenberg Center for Health Journalism National Fellowship for reporting on child well-being. Hawkins is a five-time winner of the National Association of Black Journal ists&rsquo\; &ldquo\;Salute to Excellence&rdquo\; Award. He is the creator and host of the podcast &ldquo\;What Happened in Alabama?&rdquo\; and liv es in the New York City area.
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