Redwood Court

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A breathtaking debut about an unforgettable Southern Black family, seen through the eyes of its youngest daughter coming of age in the 1990s. Award-winning poet DéLana R. A. Dameron introduces us to Mika Tabor, the baby of the family, who spends her days in the care of loved ones, absorbing their stories and struggles. On Redwood Court, a cul-de-sac in Columbia, South Carolina, Mika learns vital lessons from her family: her hardworking parents juggling multiple jobs while ensuring their kids enjoy family vacations; her older sister, who prefers Alanis Morissette over Motown; her retired grandparents, children of Jim Crow, who achieved their dream of homeownership in the 1960s; and the neighbors committed to nurturing their community amid societal challenges. With visceral clarity and powerful prose, Dameron explores the pain of invisibility and the transformative power of being seen. This narrative celebrates extraordinary, ordinary people striving for their American dreams, revealing the richness of their lives and the profound connections that define them.