We welcome you to our conversation with jo urnalist and author Lee Hawkins as he talks to us about the examination of his family&rsquo\;s legacy of post-enslavement trauma and resilience in t his riveting memoir\, \;I Am Nobody's Slave: How Uncovering My Fam ily&rsquo\;s History Set Me Free. \;
\nI Am Nobody&rsquo\;s Slave \;tells the story of one Black family's pursuit of the American Dream through the impacts of systemic racism and racial violence. This bo ok examines how trauma from enslavement and Jim Crow shaped their outlook on thriving in America\, influenced each generation\, and how they succeed ed despite these challenges.
\nTo their suburban Minnesotan neighbor s\, the Hawkinses were an ideal American family\, embodying strength and s uccess. However\, behind closed doors\, they faced the legacy of enslaveme nt and apartheid. Lee Hawkins\, Sr. often exhibited rage\, leaving his chi ldren anxious and curious about his protective view of the world. Thirty y ears 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 slavery\, mostly due to white-on- Black murders\, and how white enslavers impacted the family&rsquo\;s custo ms.
\nHawkins explores the role of racism-triggered childhood trauma and chronic stress in shortening his ancestors' lives\, using genetic tes ting\, reporting\, and historical data to craft a moving family portrait. This book shows how genealogical research can educate and heal Americans o f all races\, revealing through their story the story of America&mdash\;a journey of struggle\, resilience\, and the heavy cost of ultimate success. Register today to join the conversation!
\nAbout the Author : \;LEE HAWKINS was a 2022 Pulitzer Prize finalist as a lead reporter on a series about the Tulsa Massacre of 1921 at the \;Wall St reet Journal\, where he worked for nineteen years. He has received several fellowships\, including The Carter Center&rsquo\;s Rosalynn Carter Fellow ship for Mental Health Journalism\, the Alicia Patterson Foundation Journa lism Fellowship\, the O&rsquo\;Brien Fellowship for Public Service Journal ism\, the USC Annenberg Center for Health Journalism National Fellowship f or reporting on child well-being. Hawkins is a five-time winner of the Nat ional Association of Black Journalists&rsquo\; &ldquo\;Salute to Excellenc e&rdquo\; Award. He is the creator and host of the podcast &ldquo\;What Ha ppened in Alabama?&rdquo\; and lives in the New York City area.
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\ncm 1.1 01/03/2023
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