Of Greed and Glory

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This ground-breaking exploration delves into America’s ongoing obsession with human bondage, as articulated by the editor of the New York Times-bestselling Barracoon. While freedom and equality are central to American democracy, they lose meaning without practical application. Physical liberty is essential to personal sovereignty, yet millions, including the author’s brother serving a life sentence at Angola Prison, are denied these basic rights daily. Deborah Plant's fascination with Zora Neale Hurston’s insights into the international slave trade deepens her understanding of this issue. Hurston’s memoir reflects on the painful reality of her people selling her into slavery, highlighting the universal nature of greed and glory. Society often turns a blind eye to the violations of marginalized groups’ human rights, failing to recognize that true justice for one requires justice for all. Active vigilance is essential for maintaining freedom. Through her work, Plant exposes the ongoing presence of slavery in contemporary America and advocates for a collective journey toward personal sovereignty for everyone.