As is often the case with me and new books, it is the question the story attempts to answer that drew me in. Acts of Forgiveness by Maura Cheeks explores what it would look like for the U.S. government to propose awarding reparations to descendants of slaves, and I had to see such a scenario play out, even if it is a fictional one.
The Situation: Willie Revel believes wholeheartedly that the Forgiveness Act will pass, but she may be the only one in her family with any faith that President Elizabeth Johnson can actually make it happen. After attending school for journalism and enjoying a brief career in New York, Willie returned home to Philadelphia to help her father run the construction business, which is now in trouble. There are plenty of opponents to the Forgiveness Act, a bill that would make it possible for Black families to be awarded up $175,000 in reparations for slavery, including the owner of a company who may be able to help save the Revel family's business by awarding them a lucrative contract. Willie is doing her best to remain optimistic, despite real opposition, even in her own family.
The Problem: Even as a young girl, Willie has always been curious to know more about her family's history. But her mother was adopted, and does not know much about her birth parents. Her father does not trust the government, and her grandfather has never been interested in talking about the past. Questions of family history and legacy are also a problem for Willie's daughter, Paloma, who has never met her father, and Willie is afraid to admit to her own lack of basic knowledge about the man. The Forgiveness Act brings up painful memories from the past; resentment and bitterness in its opponents; and questions of what forgiveness really means, and will it ever be enough.
Genre, Themes, History: This book is mostly set in and around Philadelphia, with a few key scenes taking place in New York, and in both Jackson and Natchez, Mississippi. Cheeks asks the question of what it would look like if Black families were awarded reparations. How would people react? What would be required? Would it be worth the trouble? Would it change anything? Within Willie's own family there are detractors and cynics, while opponents of the bill take to the streets and protest. These protestors are an extension of something Willie has experienced her whole life as a reaction to her family's success. And now Willie is holding out hope for the money to come in and save the family business she never really wanted to run.
My Verdict: The ideas and issues presented in this book are of course thought provoking. Forgiveness in and of itself can be a complicated thing, and when applied to centuries of injustice and oppression, it is not necessarily something that can be assigned a monetary value. The author carefully conveys just how complex this topic is by portraying an interesting, engaging, and often surprising narrative, that attempts to explore all areas of the topic, and what would follow if something like the Forgiveness Act were to be proposed. While not all elements of the story structure worked for me, and one of the more interesting plot points of the book feels as if it was ended abruptly, I appreciated the exploration of the idea of people being upset over someone else's success, as well a look at what happens when people mistakenly replace hope with expectation.
Favorite Moment: Perhaps it is my love of research (some aspects of it) and learning, but I adored the scene in which Willie is attending a local course on genealogy, meant to assist Black people with locating family records.
Favorite Character: Willie's grandfather Marcus may be prickly and more than a little salty, but he has his reasons. He is also able to relent and compromise when he is supposed to, and puts his foot down when he must.
Recommended Reading: The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb is more of a mystery, as a young Black man must search for a missing priceless violin, while also attempting to prove he is the rightful owner.
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