The Good Lord Bird

Always great to read an RA Favorite book written by an NYU faculty member.  I continue to be amazed at how often NYU is mentioned in a book, or an author who is an alum or faculty member.  I guess there is a lot to write about being here in NYC and at NYU.  The book, The Good Lord Bird, by James McBride, is a historical satire of a young African-American boy, who dresses as a girl (to hide his identity) during the antislavery time under John Brown’s leadership to free the black race.  The story is told through Henry’s eyes looking back as an old man.  Henry remembers how it all began for him as a slave boy from Kansas, who interacts with John Brown, who is visiting the area.  During an altercation with Henry’s master, Brown takes Henry, whom he thinks is a girl (Henrietta) and good luck charm from the region.  Each of the chapters follow Henry’s movement from Kansas, losing Brown for a while and being under the control of another master.  Henry interacts with Frederick Douglas, an interesting tête–à–tête where Douglas tries and get “Henrietta” drunk, though Henry’s tolerance with alcohol far outlasts Douglas!  (He notes the alcohol in his parts was much stronger.)  His adventures are funny, crude, and satirical under the framework of an abolitionist movement trying to free slaves.  I listened to this one on tape and enjoyed the language, the characters, and the storyline.  Pay attention to the language or you may miss a laugh or two.  A great recreation of the Brown story.  I visited Harper’s Ferry often when I was working at Catholic U and enjoyed the rich history of the raids that occurred in October 1859.  It always takes the sympathies and actions of one person to change the plight of the oppressed.