These are the top ten books that have shaped my understanding of race, through authors of color and exposition of issues like Black feminism and the history of racism in America. Now is a time to be having conversations, and choosing a book like this to read with your family, buy a friend as a gift, nominate for your book club, or choose to share with your students is an active move against the current climate of racism inherent in our culture. We’ve been moving forward, but we need to keep up that momentum and stay informed. I hope you enjoy these suggestions, and would love to hear your favorite educational books on race.



One: Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston


I teach this wonderful book with my 11th graders, and the conversations about race are always positive and constructive. This book presents race like no other - every character is black; white people are peripheral. Janie’s story is not race related, it’s a human story. Oppression and circumstances of micro aggressions are everywhere, but the focus of the story is on Janie and her men, not the racist element. Too often in literature about or by black people, they focus on black people’s existence as a lesson or illustration of racism; they’re a device not a character. This incredible book is ALWAYS character driven. It is my favorite book by a person of color - Janie is my hero. I wrote my thesis on her and this book in college, about it’s a perfect representation of black feminism. It’s a book you can’t put down, I recommend it highly as you read and educate about the importance of the movement.


Two: Ain’t I A Woman by bell hooks

“Women, all women, are accountable for racism continuing to divide us. Our willingness to assume responsibility for the elimination of racism need not be engendered by feelings of guilt, moral responsibility, victimization, or rage. It can spring from a heartfelt desire for sisterhood and the personal, intellectual realization that racism among women undermines the potential radicalism of feminism. It can spring from our knowledge that racism is an obstacle in our path that must be removed. More obstacles are created if we simply engage in endless debate as to who put it there.” - bell hooks

hooks is the authoritative expert, in my opinion, on the importance of feminism that is 1. ALWAYS intersectional (which means it takes into account the intersection of oppression black women, or immigrant women, or other women of color face as both women and POC) and 2. A benefit to men as well. Breaking up gender roles and limitations benefits everyone. I can’t recommend this book enough to everyone who wants to change the world. As we continue the fight for black lives, remember that the fight will be harder for black women because of their intersectional vulnerabilities (as POC and women). Don’t forget the importance of intersectional feminism in our fight for all Black lives.


Three: Ralph Ellison’s “Invisible Man”

This is an incredibly moving classic. It tells the story of a black man’s attempt at the American Dream, working hard to get a better life for himself and start a family. The obstacles in his way are constant and often racially based. This book has the best example of racial uplift in modern literature. Racial uplift is a toxic mindset of some immigrants and people of color that believe you need to leave behind your culture and adopt white culture, names, language, fashion, etc. in order to be successful. The book’s illustration of the toxicity of racial uplift, the overlying theme of life the Invisible Man keeps facing - that “white is right” - will chill you to your core. This is a fantastic book that puts you in the perspective of someone fighting to keep their individuality and blackness, while also pursuing financial and romantic success.


Four: The Black Tulip by Alexander Dumas

I was SHOCKED to learn that Dumas, the 19th century historical fiction author famous for the Three Musketeers trilogy, was Black. At least one of his Musketeers were Black as well (likely Porthos ). I was especially frustrated that this was never mentioned in any classroom in HS or college, even when reading his works. This erasure of Black contributions to popular culture, ignoring their positive contributions to high culture, and claiming them as white needs to be righted. Dumas has diverse characters, including very strong women, and I think his experiences as a subjugated person gave him unique empathy in portraying authentic characters with no sexism or racism. Incredible.

I read this book for a book club group online, before learning Dumas was Black. Dumas has been on my TBR for years so I’m glad I finally got to read one of his works.

I loved the gruesome, horrific scenes of the first few chapters, and the tense tone of this otherwise very light, almost silly story of a tulip grower and Rosa. Rosa was an indomitable force, an awesome, strong female character I was happy featured very prominently. William of Orange’s appearances are great, and I really enjoyed Dumas’ characterization of this enigmatic historic figure.

This is a shorter book than The Three Musketeers, so if you’re curious to start into a Dumas, definitely start here. From what I’ve gathered in book club discussion, it’s a good representation of his works, so I’m very excited to read about D’Artagnan and crew soon!


Five: A History of White People by Nell Painter

Painter starts at the Ancient Greeks and takes you up through the development of Western (white) civilization, showing exactly how we got to where we are in America and globally with race identity and oppression. It is a history book, philosophy book, and sociology study all in one. She has a great written voice that makes it feel like you’re listening to a fantastic professor. This immensely readable book could replace most history texts - if I ever teach history I’ll be using excerpts at least! I highly recommend this to anyone not sure why racism is still a problem; and the people who say it’s not because “slavery was years ago get over it”. This book explains the depth, in our very foundations, of white privilege and systematic oppression.


6. Racist Culture by David Theo Goldberg

Goldberg is not Black, however he is South African and is a leading professor in the United States, “known for his work in critical race theory, the digital humanities, and the state of the university.” Because of the wide-reaching, sociological impact of his work and the way he ties race into education, particularly the bias of the humanities, and the internet curve, his book is unique and definitely worth reading to tie race understanding to the way it effects education on all levels, and how the internet fits into that equation.


Seven: On Intersectionality by Kimberlé Crenshaw

Crenshaw first coined the term intersectional when referring to the combined oppressions of being a woman and a Black person in America. The issues of women of color are often ignored or pushed to the back burner, and Crenshaw brings them to the forefront in a fantastically readable and straightforward way.


Eight: Stamped from the Beginning by Ibram X. Kendi

This book is free on Spotify! Kendi also wrote “Antiracist”, a fantastic guide for white people on how we can change our individual life choices at home and work to be better for all Americans. The new edition coauthored with Jason Reynolds (White Fragility) is called Stamped and is not free, but I also recommend that one. I wanted to speak to Stamped from the Beginning here because it is currently free, so I hope you read it.

This book is a history lesson that answers a resounding “hell no” to the question, “but slavery was so long ago, racism is over right?” It explains the true depth of our systemic racism, essential understanding for living in America, in my opinion. I first noticed the difference of how we treat people of color after living in the Middle East, where POC are the majority. The confidence in POC and societal differences were astounding, and it’s because of this longstanding systemic problem that racism is still so affecting. Stamped from the Beginning is a great book that really helps you understand what our culture is like for people of color, and will build your empathy for POC.


Nine: The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

This was an all campus read for my sophomore year, and we read it for Biology Seminar as well which was a surprisingly awesome class even for non-majors.

This book is a bit of biology and a bit of history. It's about the story of HeLa cells, the cervical cancer cells of Henrietta Lacks, a Black patient at Johns Hopkins in 1951. Her cells were taken to be grown in a culture, to study cell development. This was the first successful cell culture, and the results were unparalleled, leading to the discovery of cures, vaccines, treatments, and various developments for polio, syphilis, cloning, chemotherapy, and the mapping of genes. To this day, HeLa cells are found in almost every laboratory, from colleges to hospitals to research centers, and it was made possible by George Gey's research on Henrietta.

This is where the story gets interesting for people who don't like biology or science all too well.

Until the author, Rebecca Skloot, first heard about HeLa cells in high school, no one had been interested in the person behind them. Skloot embarked upon a journey over a decade long to find out not only the origins of the cells, but the surviving family of the patient -- I can't say donor, because these cells were taken not only without her consent, but she died never knowing it happened. Controversy and the legality of actions is a big part of this story, and it is truly a gripping read.

Half of the book is detailing Henrietta's life, death, and her family, and the relations Skloot had with them to write the book and get all the facts; the other half details the biological history of her cells, and the developments in medicine. The interesting parts is the role she played so unknowingly in the passage of many laws regarding informed consent and racial discrimination.

Much that keeps Americans alive today is because of what was taken from Henrietta Lacks, and her family can't even afford health insurance.

I think the New York Times summed it up perfectly saying, "this is the riveting story of the collision between ethics, race, and medicine," it’s a very moving story.


Ten: Incidents in the Life of a Slave a Girl by Harriet Jacobs

This is easily the most readable, impactful personal accounts of slavery I've ever read, and it is my favorite African American literature book. I would recommend this to anyone who wants an insight into the lives of slaves, particularly women. The experiences of Jacobs, whose father was her owner’s father, are unimaginable until you read her story.



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Thank you for reading, I hope you find a book here that peaks your interest! I look forward to any suggestions from readers, as well. Let's keep the conversation going, everyone, and change the world.

          This article began in 2016, before I completed my teaching degree. I’ve reworked it here, 3 years into my career, and things have changed. I am happy to say that my philosophy and passion for teaching has only evolved. The past four months, I’ve not been in the classroom, but I’ve been ‘with’ my students in every way that I can. We marched together for Black Lives Matter, the only high school in our county to organize a student protest. I have had to adapt to virtual teaching these past months; say farewell to graduating seniors in video chats; have conversations about quarantine and COVID-19 fears; and now we are tackling protest support and race education. In my school, I am blessed to have very open-minded and politically-active students, and with a majority Black student body, my role is often to listen and give my students a space to speak. Teachers are in massively influential position. Whether it is through our positive actions, or our negative ones, we help students form their ideas of right and wrong. We often spend more time with students than their families, in some situations and grade levels. Schools are communities unto themselves. As educators, we have the biggest responsibility in our effect on the next generation. It is not a job to be taken lightly. 

          In the current conversations around defunding the police, I was at first skeptical as it sounded like a bold rally cry more than an actual possibility. But the more I consider the funding deficit in education and other areas of community development, forgone in favor of police funding, the more I think twice. Shouldn’t we prioritize education over supplying tear gas and riot gear to law enforcement? It seems to me the greatest preventative care in any society is to provide a good education and life-sustaining services (healthcare, housing, food) to those who cannot provide it for themselves. Education is state-sanctioned, but not state-prioritized. This needs to change, and reallocating police funds to education is a big step that can be the preventive care our nation needs.

          Teachers are heroes. Most people grew up in public school, and if you didn't I know you had someone in your life teach you something at some point, whether that be at private school, Sunday school, a homeschooled co-op, or even your babysitter. And anyone who has been in the position to teach in any fashion knows that it is a challenge, and even more than that, that most people certainly aren't up for it.

        In today's developing society, teachers are getting more respect, and I am so thankful for this. Monetarily, teaching is a viable career and in a "good" district one can certainly make a living off of their salary (… if it’s combined with their partners’.) Unfortunately, in many school districts that isn't even the case, but hopefully that will change. 

           This deserves to change because, as a college student, I can vouch for the quality of training we receive. Teachers have to graduate with a 3.25 GPA, almost a full point higher than other students need to graduate. We conduct three observances of classrooms, and an entire school year in most cases of student teaching, and we all specialize in Special Education as a part of our major, regardless of level or subject. After graduation, the training doesn't stop. Those "random days off" public students enjoy are teacher in-service days, where teachers essentially go to school to maintain their training, and stay certified.

          Also, increasingly, to continue teaching within the same district for most schools, teachers need to obtain a master's (MA) within five years of employment. That means that before I'm 30 I'll need to have my master's, and so will everyone. This isn't typically paid for by the district, either, so the dedication of a teacher to their students comes out of their own pocket; something that isn't news to any teachers, but I'm sure many students and parents haven't thought about how much their teachers spent on them before.

          In national averages, cited here at Chron Work Guides and seen at the US Department of Justice for specifics on individual training programs, cops receive 18-30 weeks of training. Within 5 months, most cops are on the street. 

           Most cops have no extenuating degrees, like a bachelors or associates, or higher. This is insufficient for the work they are asked to do. They are asked to be social workers, arriving to scenes where a special needs child is having a panic attack, or to deescalate domestic violence, with no empathetic training. It is not a job in which qualifications meet expectations, or even that expectations are clear when you begin. This is not always the fault of the officers if they are put in this position unprepared. This brings in a question bigger than their training deficit. Why are cops the only people we can call? Where can this funding be put elsewhere to instate better emergency measures? Someone not armed, someone with social work training and who will not intimidate a special needs child, or escalate a situation with their persona? Why can’t we dial 9113, for example, an extension that calls a non-armed social worker, ambulance, or emergency team?


         Police are a year-round job, sure. So here is my rebuttal to the favorite argument, "teaching gets you free summers!” We work overtime every day, and most weekends to grade and plan lessons, the districts don't incorporate more than 1 hour a day for this out-of-class work. Parent teacher conferences and phone calls, IEP meetings for special education students, shopping for materials (paid out of our own pocket) and preparing lessons ahead of time are more ways I know I’ve worked overtime. Beyond that, WE ARE ONLY PAID 10 MONTHS OF THE YEAR, it’s not like we’re paid for time we’re not working. Add to that our need to pay for our own bachelors AND masters degrees, when cops go through their own training schools in less time for free, our services are highly valued.

         The most frustrating part of the lack of respect for teachers is that someone in a corporate job, or who runs their own business, or who works in retail or food service think that teaching is something you should do for fun, because their jobs aren't. But that's not true. Teaching is rewarding, but it is a challenge. It is inspiring, but it is also frustrating. And not very many professions warrant less appreciation than teaching does. Policing is certainly one of them, but this comes from extenuating bad reputations. Even a “harmless” encounter with police is nerve-wracking for most people; an armed man assessing you at a traffic stop is very intimidating even when you drive away safely. 

          How does this compare to teaching? We are not trained to deescalate violent situations, and yet we do it every day with no injury to students. 

          Teachers in most cases do not warrant the abuse thrown at us, by students or parents or strangers at the market. Cops have extreme power in our society, and are well-compensated for it, and are prone to abuse it. A main reason given is usually that they are not properly trained. See the above paragraph; obviously, that needs to change. But remember this: teachers have no power, limited compensation, and are expected to go above and beyond in our roles as caregivers, therapists, social workers, and emotional support to students. 

I have been hit by students on 3 occasions, and broken up/prevented countless fights. In response, never once have I:
1) hit back 
2) used force or any physical contact at all to detain a student
3) used verbal assaults on a student or parent. 

          In one case I was asked to prosecute, as it was a student’s 3rd offense, and I did not. Not because they were sorry in any way, but because I didn’t want them to go through a justice system where they could be faced with police that wouldn’t give them compassion. I was in a place to use compassion, and I always choose to. Why cops, in this same situation, need to shoot someone, choke them, or even say vile words to them is beyond me. It is their definitive training, the only training police really receive outside of weaponry, and they often escalate situations. It is unacceptable. 

         Teachers provide kids and young adults with the tools and foundations they need to survive in the world. The one thing everyone needs to be saying to teachers is "thank you." It is a heavy job that teachers willingly and lovingly engage in, but we need to recognize that just because it is something they are passionate about, doesn't mean they should be discounted for it. And anyway, as a parent or a student, wouldn't you rather have a passionate teacher? Teachers can make or break a student's life, and I know that you would prefer the former. Teachers are role models, inspirations, and even borderline parental figures for every student they come in contact with, and when they do their job well, they deserve a parade. I think we should add something to this list. 

          People need to stop asking future teachers questions like, "But you're so smart, why would you teach?" or, "everybody wants to teach these days"? Someone who really, truly wants to be a teacher, and deserves the opportunity to touch young lives, will be the smartest people in our society, and the most passionate about their subjects. Many people will get an education degree, and some of them will be employed by school districts, but not too many will actually teach. Aspiring teachers, keep your hearts, eyes, and ears open at all times and know that every ounce of empathy you gain will make you a better teacher for your future students. Now is a big time to listen and engage, being on the right side of history is the right step in being a good teacher.

          To teach is to inspire, and there aren't many people with the capacity and skill set that this requires. Teaching is a calling, a vital (if not the most important) lifeline in the support of society’s healthy progression. Funding for education should come before anything else, and when looking at defunding the police, remember teachers alongside healthcare workers and social care as a place that funding needs to be reallocated.

          In a system where black people are systemically oppressed, laws need to be proportionally changed to benefit POC communities. This means, yes, choosing people of color over white people when it comes to prioritizing laws that ensure their equal opportunity in this country.

3. Have open, honest conversations with yourself. Analyze when you have been the aggressor in a racist encounter. Have you been a white savior - getting credit for standing up for equality? Have you been dismissive of the severity of a POC's experience - "it's not that bad though" or "I mean that could happen to anyone"? Are you sitting silently while others make comments or commit actions in your presence that hurt POC? There is a sliding scale of racism - it's not that you either have Confederate flags or are a perfect ally to POC. Even well-meaning comments like "you don't act black" to your friends are harmful to self-image and racial equality. Having made a racist mistake is forgivable when you confront it and make the effort to grow and change. See the resources below in #4 for more about how you can educate yourself on what not to say or how not to react. Be an active ally - make the choice to grow, learn, change, and LISTEN, always use empathy.

4.  Read literature by people of color (POC), non-fiction and fiction. Start a book club; join one online. Read to your kids. Let your friends borrow your books. Below are resources based on lists created by Sarah Sophie Flicker and Alyssa Klein, with additions from myself:

1. Movies:
   13th
   American Son
   When They See Us
   If Beale Street Could Talk
   The Hate U Give
   I am Not Your Negro
   Selma
2. Books:
   The play “Fences” by August Wilson
   The play “A Raisin in the Sun” by Lorraine Hansberry
   A History of White People by Nell Painter
   Ain’t I A Woman by bell hooks
   Heavy: An American Memoir by Kiese Laymon
   How To Be AntiRacist by Ibram X. Kendi
   Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson
   So You Want To Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo
   The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
   The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin
   Stamped From the Beginning by Ibram X. Kendi
   White Fragility: Why Is It So Hard for White People to Talk About Race by Robin Diangelo, PhD
3. Podcasts:
   1619 by the NYT
   Code Switch by NPR
   The Diversity Gap
   Intersectionality Matters! by Kimberly Crenshaw
   Pod For The Cause by Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights

5. White people: we need to have a policy (ideally upheld within our police forces) and in our actions that denies the opportunity for violence against people of color. Active bystanders are the future of change. Walking back from the bar and see a cop outside? Just keep your eyes peeled that the group of black women gets past them safe. Sitting on your balcony at home and see a lone black woman at the bus stop? Just keep an eye that no one messes with her. In any of these situations all you have to do as a white person is say "hey, what's new? Haven't seen you in forever!" And start a fresh conversation with a positive tone. I don’t mean this to sound “too easy”, or demeaning or coming across as a white savior. I can’t promise that will always work, but in my experience it is better to try. I think this should be the default for looking out for each other, regardless, just like women in an empty parking lot look out for each other.

6. Calling out racist behavior for what it is may not always work, but being a positive light in a situation will make the racists look like fools and back down. If someone makes a racist joke, ask “Can you explain why that one was funny?” They won’t know how to respond. If they get defensive, smile complacently. They got the message. Some people can’t be rationed with, but you never know who is listening. Be the example and show them what you believe is right through your actions.

​7. Be an open ear for people of color: listen! Why do they feel that way? As human beings, we have no right at any time to tell someone else they aren't feeling what they are. Oppression is very, very alive in this country. There has only been 50 years of "equality" since the end of segregation, and 300 years of bondage through slavery before that. Keep perspective and learn, use empathy.

          Racist attitudes will not die easily. We have a lot of work to do, but we CAN do it. White people, use your privilege to disrupt the systemic oppression -that is how we ultimately dismantle it. Be an ally, be a supporter. Take a back seat and do what you can for your community to grow and do better for people of color.

Today, May 29th 2020, I had the honor of writing and presenting the eulogy for my Uncle Jimmy. I wanted to share this for everyone who knew him or the Gills family, or who could not have made it to the funeral. A funeral during a pandemic is different to say the least. It is more difficult than usual to find closure, but we had a wonderful gravesite ceremony today. Enjoy these memories of a one of a kind man. 


Thank you for gathering here today to commemorate the life of James Dabney Gills, or as we all knew him, Jimmy. He was a rolling stone, a man with many phases to his life. There were ups and downs, but always with a spirit of perseverance throughout. 

For many of us, our recent memories of Jimmy are of his struggles. Unfortunately, after the death of his parents, those of us who knew him saw a changed man. He couldn't recover from their loss and their ever-present support, he became a bit like a ship without an anchor. Undoubtedly, his reunion with them is our biggest comfort today.

Jimmy had many wonderful memories of his early life. During his school years, every day started at the family breakfast table where his parents, oftentimes aunt Mamie, his sister Frances, affectionately called Sissy, and her daughters, Lisa and Kim. Every morning, Lisa, Jimmy, and Kimmy walked to school together up Lancaster Avenue. Being typical teenagers, they often pleaded with his mom to drive them to school, but this plea was denied excepted on rainy days. Growing up, Jimmy spent most every day with Lisa and Kim. Frances insisted Jimmy attend Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church and go through confirmation with her girls. Kimmy and Jimmy were confirmed together, and there were many memories of Sunday school and church every Sunday. He graduated with Kim, her “big bad Uncle Jimmy” keeping her under his wing. The three have many memories together of pitching their tent in the backyard of the house in Wyomissing; trips down to the farm, where they would go fishing with Uncle Weldon, or play in the hay bales and on the tobacco trailers. Kim fondly recalls  swimming at the Shillington Pool, fishing at the Porky in Shillington Park, Attending Community Days and going to the Shillington Movie Theater. Every summer, all the grandchildren from out of state would visit, and Jimmy’s mom and aunt Betty would take the 7 kids to Hershey Park. When CB radios fell into fashion, Dad, aka Johnny Reb, and Mom, aka Liberty Bell, became quite active in the community. They hosted gatherings at their home nearly every weekend, and attended CB rallies in the summer months, all of which were a family affair. Perhaps the most memorable childhood adventure for Jimmy was when he went with Frances and her family to California. This was the first time for any of them to fly in an airplane. They drove the California coastline from  San Francisco to Tijuana, Mexico. The highlight of the trip was getting to meet the lead character of Emergency!, Roy DeSoto. As Jimmy ventured out on his own, his love of traveling continued. His favorite places were Charleston, South Carolina, Virginia Beach and Assateague Island, as well as regular visits to the farm in Virginia. We know one of his regrets later in life is not getting back down to the farm to see everyone one last time. We take solace in knowing he is now with many of them who have passed before him - his parents, John and Helen Gills, his sister, Frances, and his many aunts and uncles from the farm, most especially uncle Tommy. 

Circumstances changed often in Jimmy’s life, but the constant for him was the excitement of cars. Jimmy loved cars and everything to do with them. He spent hours in his dad’s garage in Shillington with his brothers, Robert and Joe Larry. He loved Nascar Racing, especially Dale Earnhardt. He also loved Maple Grove Raceway for any event from drag racing to swap meets. Anything to do with cars and the road, he was driven by it (pun intended.) He loved acquiring cars to fix up, the bigger the challenge the better. There was nothing like the thrill of the hunt for a part for his latest project. He would scour junk yards, the old fashioned way before auto parts websites! His love of cars was much like his love of life: he had to start from scratch a lot of times, but he was always optimistic and eager about every opportunity.

The phases of his life were marked by the cars he owned at the time. Everyone from Governor Mifflin High School remembers Jimmy’s Jeep, a Golden Eagle CJ-7, his first beloved car which his dad gave him. He was always cruising around Shillington and taking people for rides. It’s a wonder he could afford the gas, but the work ethic of his parents was instilled in Jimmy. His first job was at Shillington Restaurant, working his way up from dishwasher to cook, while Kimmy bussed tables. He later carried on the Gills legacy working at V&S Sandwiches. 

When he went on to work at Baldwin Brass, everyone in the family was gifted beautiful things, true to his generous nature. Jimmy’s favorite job was his next, baking at Tom Sturgis Pretzels. It allowed him to buy his first brand new car, a Chevy Cavalier. This started the diehard question: which is better, Chevy or Ford? The debate raged between Jimmy and his dad, even crossing state lines into the family farm in Virginia. Jimmy always dreamed of getting his hands on an old classic car put out to pasture at the farm whom Jimmy affectionately dubbed “Christine”, after the Stephen King novel.  

Running a close second to cars was Jimmy’s love of animals. His childhood was surrounded by them. Queenie and Shade, the family dogs, a multitude of fish tanks in the living room, and the guinea pig housed in the kitchen who alerted all whenever the refrigerator opened. Number one of course was the cat that cemented his favorite animal of all time, Nicky, the white and grey tuxedo rescue cat, who he got for his birthday from Frances at around age 7. There was rarely a conversation you had with Jimmy that wasn’t about his next car or his next cat. 

Music was a staple in the Gills household. It started with his parent's Johnny Cash records, and watching countless episodes of Hee Haw and the Grand Ole Oprey. The Monkees band was an inspiration for the cousins, and they even went so far as to imitate the band in the basement! With Lisa as Davey Jones, Jimmy as Mickey Dolenz, cousin Johnny as Michael Nesmith and Kim as Peter Tork. Kim said she particularly remembers getting a pair of cowboy boots because Jimmy really loved Willie Nelson & Waylon Jennings… this definitely worked for the Peter Tork look, as well! As he matured classic rock was his go to. The Doors, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Lynyrd Skynrd were among his favorites. Later in life, a key inspiration for his own recovery journey was Scott Weiland of Stone Temple Pilots. Jimmy always looked to musicians for inspiration.  

Jimmy never met a stranger. Once you started talking to him, he considered you a friend. His kind disposition and easy smile made you instantly like him. He had an uncanny ability to remember people, faces, and conversation details. Once you met Jimmy, you were never forgotten. No matter how little he had to give, he was always generous and thoughtful. He always had a Matchbox car or a handmade craft for his niece and nephews. Perhaps no story tells it better than how, after conquering a year of sobriety, he celebrated his success by gifting his sobriety coin to his nephew Tristan. This treasured possession is a tangible symbol of Jimmy's love and respect for his family, who motivated him and stood by his side. 

In many ways Jimmy is a victim of the pandemic. The suffering of increased isolation, for the social butterfly that he was, took its toll on Jimmy's mental health. He had less access to the community support he became reliant on, and the overall uncertainty of life in these times weighed heavily on him in recent months. As we recall these beautiful memories of Jimmy’s unique personality, it would be Jimmy’s wish for each of us to leave here with a smile, as our wish for him is to be at peace.  

Photo: This is my Nana's grave, where her body resides in Reading, PA since 2001. But as a world traveler, I can say she's been much more often with my my mother, my aunt, and I in countless countries and innumerable adventures.

​I lost my uncle Jimmy a week past, and will bury him here with his sister next Friday, May 29th 2020. This has been a year of loss for many, but we must take comfort in the air they now inhabit, not grief in the extinguished flame.

March 2020, Week 4 of the COVID-19 Quarantine
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     The wind is fierce as it blows the door shut behind me. My parent’s home is surrounded by nature. When I step outside I'm reminded of the contrast between my world growing up here in Honey Brook, and my life in Baltimore, where I cannot go outside or feel nature in any capacity but a small balcony, and the whoosh of cars on the avenue block out any birds that happen to roost in the sole tree in our complex. My gratitude for Honey Brook brings a smile to my face as the chill breeze and the sun's warmth alternate on my skin. 
I begin with a walk through my mother's gardens, turning clockwise to walk across the patio and unlatch the gate. A statue of St. Francis of Asisi, characteristically cradling a small bird in his hands, overlooks the hillside garden, worn with 30+ years of sentry duty in the sun. The red rocks and mulch are dotted with large quartz and fieldstone, a plague to some in this farming county, but a beauty for us. I pass the depression of a pond we used to have, now filled in beyond much recognition except to we who remember. In my mind's eye, I see little me scooping tadpoles and trying to pet the mother frogs as a child. As I continue around the bend, passing nondescript blooms not yet visible, and brown, wintered bushes of plants even my mother forgets the name of, I pass a holly tree. In my mind it is still a small bush, but of course it's been over 30 years since it's planting. I am continually amazed how memory holds its shape regardless of reality. Here I pause to write in my journal.

     The smells of the garden are that of cut grass, wind, and spring pollen. The indescribable scent of freshness, youth, blossoms. I make a mental note to open a window when I go back inside. I hear a background noise I’ve come to adore: “peepers”, a frog variety common here, coming from the southern neighbor’s pond. I hear countless bird species in “the Jungle” - my childhood name for the wooded area behind our home that scales the hill we live atop. The nearest road is below our home’s hillside expanse, at the base of the slope. I don’t hear a car at all on this walk; indeed in a day I only hear 1-5 since the stay-at-home order has been placed. It’s never loud ordinarily, but this is a particular treat nonetheless. Instead what I do hear a few times is the echoing, drifting clip-clop of a horse. As it nears I hear the accompanying clatter of a buggy, its metal wheels without shocks, and once a horse brays and snorts as it rounds the bend of our slope. Sometimes, I choke with a happy sob at the sound. It is invigorating to me, like the blustering wind that passes from north to south, or the thunderclap in the night. It is in harmony with nature and my soul, a sound I hear in the depths of my mind from my cacophonous Baltimore apartment when I cannot sleep. To hear it alive, is like a confirmation of a long-held suspicion, or to wake from a nightmare to see you’re actually home safe in your bed. “It is real, it wasn’t a dream, I’m home.” 

      In the years since I’ve lived here full-time, I’ve never stopped visiting it. And now that all five of us have returned, it is alive again. I feel the land breathing with each gust of wind that blows my journal pages up. I chuckle at the greeting, or prod, and rise from the path by the holly tree.

     I continue the walk as it completes my sunwise circle of our home. I cross the parking pad, filled with our many cars from our many exterior lives, stoic beasts with no immediate purpose. I rejoin the path, and pass my favorite patch of the garden - the remnants of the herbs my mother planted when I was young. The soil here is fertile. A kind of fertile cursed by my gardening mother, and grandmother when she helped install these gardens in the ‘90s before her death in 2001. This was a farming paddock for untold years before the house was built, and the resting place for its animals when they passed. Their return to the earth has made growth unstoppable here. The herbs I pass are prolific mint, batches of lemon balm, and “weeds'' of wild violet, milk thistle, and speedwell. My mother had never planted any of them, and has meshed over, remulched, and even stone-covered these herbs countless times. And yet they continue to grow, and spread. The smell of fresh, country mint - as the variety is known here in Lancaster County, PA - is strong, empowering. The lemon balm melds with it in a vaporous scent that awakens and revives. But it is not just the smell and the feel that entices me. It’s that nature has persisted, insisted, that this part of the garden should be hers. 

​     I go back into the house and grab a scissors and a strainer. I’m making mint tea today. I’ve seen, felt, heard, and inhaled the gardens today - the need to taste it is strong. I trim the tallest stalks of mint and fill the strainer, rubbing the leaves together in my hands to release the smell, a perfume that will stain my skin all day. I smile throughout this activity. It’s simple, but yields a great reward of hydration and purification. There’s no need for sugar, this mint is sweet. As I take a last look around the garden for the morning, I look over at the blooming cherry blossoms. I make a mental note to read below them today.