Review: Like One of the Family by Alice Childress
Title: Like One of the Family
Author: Childress, Alice
Length: 226 pages
Genre: Fiction, General
Publisher / Year: Beacon Press / 1986, originally published in 1956
Source: From the publisher for the project
Rating: 4,5/5
Why I Read It: Our fifth read for The Real Help project project with Amanda.
Date Read: 12/11/11
Note: This is a project initiated by Amanda and I to read the books recommended by the Association of Black Women Historians as alternatives to The Help. Please see the dedicated page I created for more information and for a schedule. We are hoping that more readers join us and we are also looking for others to host discussions. For discussion of this title, head over to Amanda’s post.
This book is written as a collection of short monologues given by Mildred to her friend Marge over the span of a year or two. These monologues cover everyday life events as experienced working as a maid, going to church and various club events, going on picnics, to dances, and other events. The monologues are all short, usually between three to five pages, and were originally published weekly in newspapers.
I absolutely loved the way this book was written. I can imagine that the monologues would have been incredible when they came out each week in newspapers, and can see why so many people loved them. Collected together it is great to dip in and read a few at a time to get a sense of what life was like at that time. Each time is a new experience and Mildred comes to life off of the page, talking as she does. Marge seems a bit quiet and shy, but then we are never given her voice so it’s easy to put yourself in her place, and imagine how the conversation with Mildred really went.
Mildred is not afraid to say it how it is and is always willing to stand up for her rights when people try to take advantage of her. She is, for the most part, calm and strong and through her action is often teaching her employers where they are going wrong and things end up getting better. This isn’t always the case, but it is enough that she proves a character one would want to read about when dealing with people like that in your work every day.
This book contains an introduction by Trudier Harris in which she talks about how little the poor are really given a voice in fiction, and especially how little we hear from black women about their lives. The introduction was written in 1986 but I think it remains true today – our popular culture seems steeped in the well-off characters. Childress has definitely given a voice to a group of women and their experiences that is needed and that highlights so many of the difficulties life really contained.
Don’t forgot to also check out Amanda’s post for her review and for discussion questions.
NOTE: Amanda and I both received copies of this book from Beacon Press to read for the project, and we’re both giving away our copies. Amanda’s copy is available to US readers only and you can enter here. To be eligible to win my copy just leave a comment below, preferably related to the post and book Thank you to all who entered. Jill won my copy of the book.
I love that cover! It really makes me want to know what that woman is thinking. And totally agree about the preponderance of rich as characters – it seems especially true in YA.
Yes, you are right Jill – especially bad in YA lit and tv shows. I wonder why that is… seems odd when such a high number of children in the US especially (because a lot of what we get / see comes from there) live in poverty.
Our popular culture is indeed steeped with the wealthy and I think it gives many people (especially children) false expectations.
I agree Kathy, I think it does give kids a really wrong idea. Actually, thinking about it, maybe it does make sense… what is published / aired on TV is controlled by corporations for the most part, especially when it comes to TV and commercials and etc. Showing poor families means showing less stuff to make kids want. Showing rich kids gives kids the idea that everyone has all of this stuff and therefore they need it too? Maybe?
It is interesting to read that the poor aren’t presented when I’m shouting about over-representing the poor in African novels. \o/
Yes it is really different isn’t it Nana? In the US / Canada / Europe a lot of fiction is centered around the super rich, as opposed to the poor in other literature such as African.
My first reaction when I read that these were short monologues was that I wasn’t sure if I would like that approach, but then I remembered how much I enjoyed another book of the format of monologues in short letters recently (on a completely different subject). I think it may work to highlight different issues without it having to fit somewhat ‘unrealistically’ into one neat proper tale?
I found the comment of Nana particularly fascinating. I don’t really know enough about African lit or literature about black women to know what elements are usually underlined. It just reminded me a little of the introduction of “Ain’t I a woman?”, it is so easy to think that if one element (be it class, ethnicity, gender) is represented it is enough, or at the very least better than it was. It is easy to be overjoyed that one of them is featured that you forget what is “forgotten” in the meantime.
Still love the project, Amy. Seems you’re doing well
Also, sorry if my comment made NO sense at all. I’ve been staring at a 100 page long draft all day.
Yes, it is a great way to tackle a lot of different issues without making the book ridiculously way too long and unreadable Iris! And yes, great point. Too often one issue or point is seen as enough, this book covers so many and it’s fantastic for that.
Also, good luck with your draft
I’m quite familiar with Childress’ plays but not with her novels. She is an amazing playwright. Check out The Wedding Band when you have the time. American fiction needs to cover the poor espcially now. I wish John Steinbeck was still alive to write about what is happening to the middle-class and the poor in the US. Monologues in fiction – that’s something I would love to read more on
Thanks for the review.
Oh I really must check out more by her so thank you for the recommendation Kinna.