Reviews

Finding Martha's Vineyard: African Americans at Home on an Island by Alison Shaw, Jill Nelson

blueskygreentreesyellowsun's review

5.0

I loved learning about a place that was completely unfamiliar to me, and how a specific community established itself, thrived, and tries to remain relevant/simply remain. I also really enjoyed the style of the book, which focused on oral history interviews of a variety of black Martha's Vineyard residents, including year-rounders and summer-only visitors, long-timers and relatively recent additions, the wealthy and the not-so-wealthy. The photos sprinkled throughout the book - including a photo of every interviewee - adds depth and context to the stories being told. My favorite photo is of the author's mother, circa 1966, on page 102. She is so relaxed and happy, grinning at the camera in the most unselfconscious way - I don't know that I've ever felt how she did in that photo, and it makes me want to hop a plane to Martha's Vineyard so that I can try.

arisbookcorner's review

3.0

I'd really like to see the author update this book, I'm very curious about how the community reacted to the Obamas and how the area has continued to change. It was upsetting to read about how Black people knew about the Vineyard for so long but many are now being priced out, especially those who have had homes there for generations/spent all their summers visiting. This book is clearly a labor of love and I'm glad the author talked to residents of all ages and took their photos and recorded their stories. It was especially amazing to hear how involved in the community Dorothy West was and the immense respect she garnered. Quick read about an overlooked segment of the population in a vacation spot that has taken on near mystical status.