My review
4.5 This is a powerful, raw, in-your-face historical fiction, with high details and extra explanations (facts and research added to the footnotes) of an African child among many other human beings. They were caught in Africa and taken to ships, treated below animals to become slaves across the ocean. It spares us with no details and explains well what systematic racism is.
Told in the 3rd person but very close to the child's point of view, his coming-of-age experience under violence, fear, and oppression. We're seeing all happening through the perspective of 12-year-old Jayvyn. We can see through the writing that the author respects the characters, the history and is an advocate for social justice.
The only thing that slows down the reading is the repetitions, reiterating what just had been said a few pages back and doesn't add much more information to the first instant. These could be reduced, making the book shorter and a one-punch in the gut more efficient.
I hope the author brings forward more books as relevant as this one.
AN EXCERPT
Excerpt
From Chapter 10 – Training Begins
Jayvyn’s ship arrived in Barbados the day before after making the Middle Passage. Before dawn on the first day, he and others are put to work, all weak and depleted from the harrowing voyage.
Jayvyn and the new arrivals stood at the beginning of the clearing, naked and shaved, men and women alike, old and young. The guards began dividing them into smaller groups. The men and larger boys were split into groups of about five each. The women, girls, and smaller boys were similarly grouped. In all, there were five groups—two of the men and three of the others. Jayvyn was included with the men, along with a few other boys around his age.
Each group was then led by a guard, along with some of the Blacks in tan clothing, to a segment of the clearing. One group of men was assigned to the area being cleared, thick with freshly fallen trees. Jayvyn’s group was brought to a place slightly inside of this.
Here they were shown what to do. Gathering some tools, the Blacks in tan clothing demonstrated by digging around stumps, prying rocks out of the ground, and working to remove the undergrowth. As they understood, the new arrivals were put into the mix.
Some joined the group removing stumps and such, while the rest gathered debris and carried it to the edge of the clearing where it was piled with other like debris—rocks with rocks, stumps with stumps, and so forth. Soon, all of the newcomers were working.
Several men stood nearby, white men with rifles along with some of the Black guards. Men carried felled trees to the area for debris. The trees were very large and required chopping into smaller pieces before they could be moved. Still, it took several men to move the large pieces, some stumbling and falling over the rough terrain as they struggled to get them down the hill. Guards stood nearby with sticks, flogging anyone who faltered or didn’t move quickly enough.
Jayvyn saw the women, girls, and smaller boys downslope from him working in the newly tilled ground, making new plantings and tending to ones already started.
All were closely supervised by the guards as well as the established slaves in tan that had been brought to instruct them. If anyone slowed, the established slaves were quick to admonish them, with harsh words and gestures, to work hard and unceasingly.[*]
Jayvyn carried large bundles of brush, stumps, and rocks to the area for debris. His bare feet occasionally stumbled over sharp objects hidden on the jungle floor, causing him to fall. Each time, he was quickly noticed by a guard, who yelled and approached with his stick. "
I am only showing a part of the except not the full chapter. This takes place after the 8 chapters on the ship with very detailed research and vivid images.
The author's website here.
From the Author:
Inspiration for writing I AM JAYVYN
"Writing I AM JAYVYN was solely inspired by the announcement by Florida’s Board of Education that they were changing their standards for teaching certain subjects in school, most notably Black history and the history of slavery in America. The changes were implemented to present a ‘more balanced’ view and to include such things as teaching how Blacks benefited from the experience of slavery and alleging that they were complicit in acts of violence directed against them.
I wasn’t an expert on the subject, but knew enough to know that slavery was a cruel and unjust practice by any standard. I wanted to know more.
I wasn’t prepared for how terrible it really was. The deeper I went into my research, the more shocked and saddened I became that any human being would ever be put through such a terrible and cruel experience, let alone some twelve million! More research revealed that this was only a fraction of the victims. Twelve million only describes the number to be taken live into the transatlantic slave trade. It doesn’t account for how many millions died before ever reaching the ships. It further doesn’t account for the generations that remained enslaved once they crossed the Atlantic. It is only an estimate of the number taken on the ships. Of that twelve million, historians estimate that over two million died on the passage alone. Again, this doesn’t account for the deaths during ‘seasoning’ in Barbados, or on plantations elsewhere for many generations.
As well, I was unprepared for the barbarity and outright cruelty of the methods used. I was further shocked to realize many of these methods were actually written into law.
What became clear, is that Africans suffered far too much to have their history tampered with. I came to understand how necessary this history is for all citizens of America to learn, accept, and embrace if we are to become a better society. I also contemplated the persistent nature of racism in America, and came to understand that the legacy of slavery has never really left our society. It has become systemically embedded into our cultural norms and institutions, as evidenced by the long-lasting Jim Crow period and the need for comprehensive civil rights legislation.
Soon after I decided to write this novel, Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida declared that the topic of Critical Race Theory would be banned in all learning institutions in Florida. This is the theory that racism is embedded in our society and its institutions. It can’t be banned; it is a fact that’s plain for anyone to see.
Florida's not alone either. 18 US states now have active laws regulating or prohibiting discussions about racism throughout our history, and 5 more states have similar legislation pending.
By the time I finished the book, the attacks on history and civil rights had escalated exponentially. America is caught up in an active battle today over whether it accepts or attempts to rewrite the reality of its past. I feel my book is timelier than ever. It’s time we fully embrace and honor the truth."
On writing:
How did you do research for your book?
The research for this book was profound.
Information about the origins and traditions of various African Tribes as well as information about the geography, fauna, flora, and other facts about The Gambia came from a wide range of resources based in Africa.
Information about the transatlantic slave trade was largely gathered from libraries and museums in Liverpool, Oxford, and London.
Resources from Barbados provided a plethora of information about sugar plantations, and the Library of Congress as well as many US universities were the source for the development of Colonial America, the evolution of slave codes and legislation, and what life was like in those times.
And there were many more, too many to list.
Which was the hardest character to write? The easiest?
I think the hardest character was Baahir. Due to language and cultural barriers, he had to remain somewhat of an enigma, but at the same time, he had to develop a strong relationship with Jayvyn and play a significant role in the story. He was an essential bridge to understanding and accepting diversity.
Jayvyn was the easiest because he was the main character and there were constant opportunities for him to express himself and allow us to get to know him better as the book progressed; although he is complex as well.
In your book you make a reference to the differences in spiritual values. How did you come up with this idea? Why was this important to the book?
All cultures have some kind of connection to their spiritual beliefs. Historically, differences in these beliefs have formed the basis for serious conflict. Many, like myself, believe that all mankind shares the same basic need for spiritual connection. At the root of things, we all pursue this for the same reason, we just define and express it differently. I thought it was a good thread to exploit and try to distill throughout the book to demonstrate that, although we think it is something that makes us different, it really ends up being a beautiful characteristic that makes us all the same.
If we can accept that, maybe we are one step closer to seeing beyond the barriers of culture, language, and skin color.
Where did you get the inspiration for this book?
The initial impetus came when the FL Board of Education announced it was making changes to its standards for teaching about slavery and Black history in America. The changes were designed to present a ‘more balanced’ and palatable version of history—but that’s not accurate. I have since learned that 18 states have laws prohibiting such discussions in schools, and 5 more have similar legislation pending.
I saw these things as threats to both the validity and importance of African American History as well as the fundamentals of civil rights. It’s also unfair to students of any color to whitewash and distort what they’re being taught.
My answer was to research and write about what the experience of slavery was really like and try to deliver that through the eyes and experiences of its victims.
There are many books out there about racial strife. What makes yours different?
There are many good books dealing with the issue of race inequality. It has a long history, and there are many ways to write about it. My book deals with events at their origin in America. There haven’t been as many recent books devoted to this period, so maybe that makes mine different in some respects. Also, I couch the book specifically within the context of the hot societal controversy today. That might be the most distinctive attribute.
What advice would you give budding writers?
When an idea moves you, write about it. Don’t wait for the idea to develop, don’t wait for the details to materialize, or it will be gone. If it moves you, don’t wait until you’re in the right place, find something, anything, to write on and start writing. You don’t have to finish it; you only have to start. The rest will come later.
Your book is set in Africa, Barbados, and Charleston, SC. Have you ever been there?
I’ve been to Barbados and South Carolina. I have not been to Africa, but would love to go someday. It is a vast continent with many diverse countries, all with widely differing characters. My daughter spent 2 years with the Peace Corp in Mozambique and gave some idea, at least of that country.
In your book you state that critical race theory is real. Why is that?
Our country was founded in racism. After abolition, that legacy continued and was perpetuated by Jim Crow laws which lasted until 1964. Critical Race Theory merely states that racism is systemically embedded into our social institutions and norms. Given our history, how could it not be?
Why is your book important to today’s society?
Because the attacks to our code of civil rights have escalated in recent years. Rewriting the facts of history has become more commonplace, and forms the bedrock for failing to understand the realities of our past.
Examples are profound and unabashed, including recent abolishment of DEI initiatives. Additional threats have been made to specific tenets in the 14th and 15th amendments, enacted following the Civil War specifically to guarantee rights and equal protection under the law for all American citizens, regardless of color or ethnicity.
What is at stake are the covenants that bound our citizens together following the Civil War. They form the pillars of our democracy. If they fail, our entire society is at risk of failing.
What genre do you write and why?
I write historical fiction. I might qualify this by saying that I write about matters of importance and consequence as they relate to social justice. Since history forms the basis for how our society developed, it provides all the information for understanding its strengths and shortcomings. Historical fiction is a useful genre for delivering this information.
What is the last great book you’ve read?
Caste: The Origins of our Discontent, by Isabel Wilkerson. I can’t recommend it highly enough to anyone who wants to understand why society is so divided by class, and how that ends up manifesting itself as racism.
What is a favorite compliment you have received on your writing?
A reader called me one morning to express the range of emotions she experienced as she sat late into the night turning the pages of my book. She told me that although the book moved her to tears at times, there was a deeper emotion of love that continually grew as my character’s story was told. When she finished, she said she had a feeling of elation, like a weight, or veil, had been lifted. She attributed this to empathy and a clearer understanding of what slavery meant to its victims. It told me that the book had achieved its goal.
What were the biggest rewards and challenges with writing your book?
The rewards are, hands down, knowing the book’s had a positive impact on preserving the truth of African American history and the terribleness of slavery and the damage it caused. The challenges are getting it into enough hands to make a difference.
Which authors inspire you?
There are so many, it’s hard to really list them, but one I’ve enjoyed a lot is Erik Larsen. He has a great way of presenting interesting and impactful historical moments that not only keeps you reading, but contemplating the stories told for a long time afterward. I highly recommend any of his books.
On rituals:
Where do you write?
I have an office in my home on the second floor. It’s very quiet. The desk is facing a window that looks out over the pasture, with a tree line not too far away. Hawks occasionally glide by at about eye level. It’s not distracting, but delivers many calming interludes for thoughtful reflection—very important to my writing.
Do you write every day?
Usually there is at least one or two times a day when I’ll sit down and scratch out a few words. If I get in a groove, it could be the whole day. But perhaps more importantly, I read—a whole lot. Don’t ever underestimate that part.
Is there a specific ritualistic thing you do during your writing time?
Not in particular, but having plenty of unobstructed headspace is important, so if it's not there, I’ll take a walk, or do something else to help restore that before I try. Also, a little deep breathing is good. Usually, before I attack the keyboard, I’ll just sit for a few minutes to become centered. Also, reading a good chunk of whatever I last wrote is really important to do before plowing ahead into new territory.
In today’s tech savvy world, most writers use a computer or laptop. Have you ever written parts of your book on paper?
Paper is very important for taking certain notes in the moment, to keep character references handy, places, timelines, etc. There’s always a pad, or two, or three, on the desk in front of the computer screen. It gets messy, but it’s how I do it.
Fun stuff:
If you could go back in time, where would you go?
I’d go back to my childhood and use the knowledge I have now to do some things differently. Like, there’s a tree fort I’d finish with a better roof. I’d also put a better chair and table in it, maybe a stereo, too.
If you were stuck on a deserted island, which 3 books would you want with you?
That’s a tough question because if I chose them now, I’d want to read them now, and if I were stuck on a deserted island, I’d want books I’ve never read.
But they’d have to be good, long books that I never wanted to end. At least until the day I’m rescued! Then I’d write a book about that!
What’s the funniest thing that ever happened to you?
When I was a kid, mine and a friend’s family rented a cottage on an island in Maine. It was raised on short stilts above the ground. My dog got sprayed by a skunk and hid under the porch and stunk up the whole house during the adult’s cocktail hour. My dad went berserk. I had to fish her out of there and give her a tomato juice bath down by the ocean. I remember laughing about that as I cleaned her up. What a great dog!
What’s the most courageous thing you’ve ever done?
One time sailing with my young family off the coast of Maine, an unexpected storm came in off the sea and caught us. The waves were gigantic and the winds were fierce. My wife was terrified, and our kids were small. It was too rough to use the engine, and we were about 12 hours from port. We had no choice but to sail in it. It took all my skills to manage the boat safely under sail, I was never so glad to make it home safely and get my family safely back ashore.
Any hobbies?
Woodworking. I have a shop that I consider my temple. It is the place I go to get lost in creative projects I can see and touch. It’s marvelously therapeutic.
If there is one thing you want readers to remember about you, what would it be?
My concern for and commitment to social justice.
What TV series are you currently binge watching?
One Hundred Years of Solitude. It’s surprisingly well done, based on the novel by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1982.
What is your go-to breakfast item?
An over easy egg on toast smeared with olive oil and chili crisp and a cup of dark roast coffee.
What is the strangest way you've become friends with someone?
My wife is my older sister’s best friend. During our childhood years, I was the pesky little brother and she was just an annoying girl. We grew up and each had marriages that ultimately failed. It was only after 40 years that we realized we were hopelessly in love. We got married and have been inseparable best friends ever since.
Who was your childhood celebrity crush?
I thought Goldie Hawn was a knock out after age eight. Before then it was Shari Lewis, and Lambchop, too.
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