Reader
Experience
—EILEEN
SANCHEZ,
Philadelphia Art Museum patron and
educator who taught in Louisiana in
1969, the year of federally-mandated
desegregation
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“How do we understand our history? Reading about
characters that touch our minds and hearts is
one way. Atticus Finch tells us to 'consider
things from another person’s point of view…climb
into his skin and walk around in it.' Meet C.J.
from
The
FOG MACHINE.
Reading history from C.J.’s fictional point of
view provides thought-provoking talking points
about Civil Rights history for book clubs or
classrooms of students.
“Philadelphia Art Museum has a permanent exhibit
on African American artists. Two of the pieces
represent the Negro women who were domestics in
the 1950-60's. As the docent was telling the
stories of these women who worked for families
that wouldn’t allow them to eat the food they
prepared nor use the china or utensils in the
kitchen, I thought, ‘I know someone who
experienced this servitude. But how could I?’
“Then it came to me—I ‘knew’ C.J. from
The FOG MACHINE.
In 1959 C.J., a young black woman, leaves her
home and employers in Poplar Springs,
Mississippi so that she can earn more money as a
domestic in Chicago. Susan Follett has met
Barbara Kingsolver’s challenge to create empathy
for a fictional stranger. C.J.’s character is so
well developed and her story so engaging she
became someone I know.
And I was staring at her in ‘C-Ration’ by
Lorna Simpson.
“When I looked at Willie Cole’s ‘Reversed
Evidence,’ the rows of flatiron scorches
reminded me of C.J. staring at the brown shape
of the iron across the white sleeve of her
employer’s shirt—distracted by worry due to
overhearing a KKK meeting at one the other
houses where she works.
“Crystal Janelle Evans is twelve years old when
she starts to work for white families. Over the
next ten years you witness her resilience and
fortitude as she matures. I had this experience
at the Philadelphia Art Museum months after I
read
The
FOG MACHINE.
I don't recall ever having a character from a
novel resonate months later.”
Photo
Resources
Photos taken 2015 by Eileen Sanchez |