My children are fans of Jennette McCurdy in her various Nickelodeon roles (roles she despised), so it was perhaps inevitable that I would listen to her biography, I’m Glad My Mom Died.
Fortunately, I had the presence of mind to not listen to this book with my kids, because, watch out, as the title implies, this book is dark. Like pitch-black dark. It’s really a remarkable tale of Jennette’s abuse at the hands of a family member (her mom) and the erosion of her own identity to fulfill her mother’s wishes. And the hits keep coming! When you think, “this is terrible,” another thing comes along and you’re like “this is more terrible.” And that happens from the beginning to the end of this book!
I listened and didn’t read this book which I feel is the appropriate format because Jennette narrates her own tale. I think if you are triggered by familial abuse you may want to either steer clear of this book or read it, that may make it more palatable. Ultimately, this is a tale of recovery, because Jennette has been doing the work to get better. This book is Exhibit A.
As we celebrate Black History Month, this is a relevant time to take a look at the reference digital resources and ebooks that chronicle, and bring a greater understanding of the experience of being Black in the United States that the Hoboken Public Library has to offer.
Black Life in America Black Life in America is the most comprehensive digital archive of primary source documents related to Black American life. This collection is sourced from more than 19,000 global media outlets, including over 400 current and historical Black publications, dating from 1704 to today. Black Life in America is powered by NewsBank, the world’s premier provider of newspapers and other news sources online.
More than 800 Suggested Searches, organized by historical eras, themes, topical areas and events, provide direct links to useful content. The resource is updated daily. It can be accessed in the library or remotely by all Hoboken library resident card holders. Contact the library: reference@hoboken.bccls.org for assistance in accessing the resource.
Black Freedom Struggles in the United States You can also access Black Freedom Struggle in the United States: Challenges and Triumphs in the Pursuit of Equality provided by Proquest which includes over 3,000 documents focused on six different phases of Black Freedom: Slavery and the Abolitionist Movement (1790-1860), The Civil War and the Reconstruction Era (1861-1877), Jim Crow Era from 1878 to the Great Depression (1878-1932), The New Deal and World War II (1933-1945), The Civil Rights and Black Power Movements (1946-1975), and The Contemporary Era (1976-2000).
Ebooks and Digital Audiobooks available from eBCCLS, eLibraryNJ, and/or Hoopla Under the Skin by Linda Villarosa A landmark book that tells the full story of racial health disparities in America, revealing the toll racism takes on individuals and the health our nation. A link between racial discrimination and the health of Black Americans is explored.
Trayvon Generation by Elizabeth Alexander The lives and attitudes of young people in Black America who were murdered in their prime are explored in this moving refection. The murder of Trayvon Martin in 2012 is used as a starting point for this powerful discussion.
Half American by Matthew Delmont The definitive history of WWII from the African American perspective. Over one million Black men and women served in WWII at home and abroad, but many were denied housing and educational opportunities afterwards.
His Name is George Floyd by Robert Samuels A landmark biography that reveals how systemic racism shaped George Floyd’s life and legacy – from his family’s roots in the NC tobacco fields to ongoing inequality in housing, education, health care, criminal justice and policing.
Freedom! Story of the Black Panther Party by Jetta Grace Martin A well-researched story about the Black Panther Party for young readers. It focuses on the party members, their supporters and allies, the Free Breakfast Program and the Ten Point Program.
Black Birds in the Sky Brandy Colbert A searing account of the history and legacy of one of the most deadly and destructive acts of racial violence in American history: the Tulsa Race Massacre. On June 1, 1921, a white mob marched into a black neighborhood and razed 35 square blocks, leaving hundreds dead.
Hoboken Library Staff Picks 