Sunflower Sisters: A Novel (Woolsey-Ferriday), Martha Hall Kelly, author and narrator; Saskia Maarleveld, Shayna Small, Jenna Lamia, Cassandra Campbell, narrators
Although this book is the third in a series, it stands alone, as well. It is an authentic presentation of the history and tragedy of slavery in America, in a novel form. Sometimes historic fiction that follows facts so accurately, especially with wo a difficult subject, is easier to handle than non-fiction. However, because of the absolutely awful brutality, with no way to prevent it, I found myself hesitant and afraid to turn to the next page. So much of the behavior of slave owners was totally barbaric and hard to face. When I thought that I was only reading about it, while these slaves were living through it, I shuddered and wished that, that period of history had never occurred.
The author has woven this ignominious time into a story that is largely about Jemma, a slave, her owner Anne-May, and Georgeanna, a very wealthy aristocrat. The story contains not only the horror of the times, but also as the author portrays their lives that were filled with so much pain and emptiness, she also infuses the story about slavery with their family unity and love, with their deep friendships and loyalty to each other, and shows their fortitude as they never gave up hope for freedom, even with devastating odds against it.
As evil as some slave owners were, there were also abolitionists who were kind and courageous, who aided the slaves in their escape and in designing their future. The Woolseys were one such family that believed in a “Union” free of slaves.
Some of the slave owners treated their slaves worse than animals and Jemma’s owner was one of them. They overworked them, tortured them, underfed and undereducated them, all the while they complained about how hard life was for them. In reality, they were reaping the benefits of economic profit from the slave labor, and the only thing many worked hard at was overseeing and mistreating the slaves. Even the clothing and shelter provided for them was inadequate. Although history has taught much of this to some of us, many have not had the benefit of learning about the abuses of slavery, and so they remain largely ignorant and even unsympathetic about its dreadfulness. There is only one word one can use to describe someone who owns a human, who believes in slavery, and that is contemptible.
This author managed to capture, not only the history of slavery, but also the blatant racism that existed then, and the racism that remained even after the Civil War ended and still exists in some places today. Horrid people, remain horrid, generally, and they spring from horrid ancestors. You have to be taught to hate.
The Woolseys were a real family of intelligent, caring and kind women. After the death of their father, their mother soldiered on and raised 7 daughters and 1 son very well, with wholesome values, all by herself. After Mrs. Woolsey and one daughter encountered a slave who was being auctioned off with her children, children who were separated and sold to different owners, a baby torn from her arms, they were devastated and completely engaged in the cause of the abolition of slavery from that day forward. They gave that woman their family card and invited her to their home should she ever be set free. As the Civil War raged, several of the daughters were nurses, the son fought on the side of the Yankees, and all of the siblings and their mother did whatever they could for the war effort. They were devoted to the North and the end of slavery
Although Jemma escaped to New York , she was legally still a slave, owned by Anne-May, a horrible, abusive and selfish woman. Anne-May was a Confederate through and through. Jemma found the Woolsey family, and they took her in and helped her. She felt so lucky. Her life had been previously filled with hardship, suffering and loss. No matter what she experienced or witnessed, there was no time for her despair. Grieving was a luxury that was not allowed. Even healing from the wounds of a whipping did not qualify for a rest. Jemma had to obey orders and her owner was barbaric and cruel, selfish and self-serving. Even when she was free, she sometimes felt abused, but now she could rebel and voice her frustration to others. She felt over protected and wanted to make her own decisions rather than let everyone else choose her path forward. Jemma was living proof of the terrible way that slaves were treated. Her body bore the scars. The owners treated their animals far better than their slaves. They worried about a poor bird but would torture a slave and could disregard their moaning.
Anyone who believes that it is okay to own, mistreat and torture another human being, is evil. The slaves were not allowed to be tired or to complain, but the spoiled owners complained of being exhausted to the very slaves they were working to death. As stories circulated of a better world out there, some slaves made plans to escape. There were rumors about safe havens, places where they could go and be protected. The slave owners furiously tried to prevent their escapes, employing overseers to watch the roads for them, especially as the tide of the Civil War seemed to turn and begin to favor the North. They humiliated, brutally tortured and ultimately murdered many of those who tried to escape and were caught and returned.
As the story of slavery dances across one side of the page and the story of the Woolsey women dances across the other, the reader will become more aware of this terrible blight on America’s history. The fortitude of so many slaves who courageously tried to escape, knowing the swamp and the owner’s henchmen awaited them and would follow and bring them back to despicable forms of punishment will surprise the reader. This book is steeped in so much truth and yet is presented in fiction form. Using letters and documents that attested to the barbarism of slavery, and referring to many real people and incidents, citing the experiences of these slaves and the efforts of the abolitionists has helped to create a very authentic novel which will open the eyes of many a reader, even as they reader will wish to close those eyes because of a story that is both horrible and true. How could anyone endure what these slaves suffered and still manage to carry on? Some appreciation for that part of our history seems to have often been overlooked by our educators.
Our country had progressed to the point where racism was being erased and was not an overarching issue. People were learning to get along. However, the Presidency of Barack Obama, which should have been a unifying moment in history, instead was exacerbated by politicians who recognized that hate sells better and so created division which would win votes.
The sunflower in the title was used as a warning to running slaves. Both Jemma, the slave, and Georgey a Woolsey sister, showed tremendous courage and patience. Both had trouble facing some of the issues in their lives which were holding them back. They help each other. They show each other where danger lurks and rescue each other from danger, when possible. The Woolsey sisters and their mother provided safe havens for the runaway slaves and for those that were free but were in danger of simply being snatched and sold or returned, losing their freedom again. Many unscrupulous “bounty hunters” cared little for the human beings they dragged back to captivity, instead they cared more for the money they made.
This is an excellent book about the impact of slavery, of the toll taken by the Civil War on the country, and of the racism that existed then, and is perhaps being resurrected today by divisive politics. This story will both touch and break your heart. As awful as slavery was, however, the slave owners were far more despicable. Many of the characters were completely hateful. This book is a very worthwhile read.