By
Bernice McFadden
Truthfully, there were no tears shed during our discussion of Bernice McFadden's tale of generational abuse. At least not on the outside. Inwardly, some of us wept for Kenzie, Della, Malcolm and even Hy Lou.
McFadden both asked and answered the question WHY? Why do men abuse their wives? Why do women remain in abusive situations? Why are children the victims of physical abuse from their own fathers? And why, even after the abuser dies, are the effects of abuse still present?
Physical abuse is usually accompanied by substance abuse of one form or another. For Hy Lou, alcohol was the tigger. For Della and Kenzie, alcohol provided the escape. We did not like Della's excuse for remaining in and allowing her children to live under such conditions. What did she say, Something about a roof over your head, clothes on your back and food on your plate. Our advice differs: GET OUT! Take a chance on your own resources and leave.
Is this answer too simple, men abuse their children, because that is how they were raised. Unfortunately, the data supports this assertion, and if it did not, McFadden tale of the abuse Hy Lou suffered from his own mother cinched it.
Finally, we understood why the abuse continues after death. Abuse is a wound that hurt most when first inflicted. Wounds heal, but the scarring remains as a constant reminder of where you were at one point in time. You can mask the scar, but it is still there.
We highly recommend this book and McFadden's other novel, Sugar. It literally opens your eyes to a problem in Black families that is seldom talked about.