One-third of Black Americans descended from slavery are also related to their ancestors' slave masters, highlighting a painful legacy of sexual exploitation. Dionne Ford, whose great-grandmother was born to a Louisiana cotton broker and an enslaved woman, explores the intergenerational trauma stemming from this history. In her debut memoir, she examines how this trauma manifests as alcoholism, depression, and post-traumatic stress, impacting her own life, including her experience of rape and the challenges of raising an interracial family amid her daughters' racial confusion. Ford's quest for healing distinguishes her narrative; she experiments with various therapies, including eye-movement therapy, visits to a medium, and a twelve-step recovery program. Yet, she discovers that true healing requires confronting her past and connecting with her female ancestors. This journey leads her to long-lost relatives, forgotten articles about her great-uncle's lynching, and even an eBay sword belonging to the Colonel. The memoir intertwines her personal story with research on racial trauma, exploring its cycles and potential for healing. Ultimately, it reflects on the complexities of family as both a source of loneliness and a path to belonging.
