Shadows of the Blues

by: Whitney J. LeBlanc

Published by: Outskirts Press, Inc.,

Reviewed by Barbara L. Fielder

Don’t let the appearance of the desktop publishing book cover, or the slow-moving first chapter, deter you from reading this compelling and enjoyable story.

Set in segregated Estilette, Louisiana during the ”˜50s and ”˜60s, a black family with Creole heritage is led by Phillip Fergerson, the retired principal of the “colored school.” At some point in their lives, each family member young and old face the challenges, heartbreak, and bigotry of the times. Tragically the family faces the realities of losing a mother and Martha, Phillip’s wife, to mental illness, which may have been secretly brought about by a family member’s voodoo curse.

However, little sympathy is given to Martha, Phillip’s only wife, but not his only love. It is revealed that Martha is a headstrong, bigoted and secretive matriarch. Her life choices, lies, secrets and decisions made years before ravage her with guilt. You find her now locked away in an asylum, unable to know or to cope with reality. Martha confesses her sins to an unlikely visitor, and her family is bound to deal with the truth of her unthinkable sins. The family journey is powerful, insightful, revealing, exhausting, dangerous and rewarding.

Wrapped into this intriguing story is: family, deep friendship, heritage of the blues, love, joy, pride, commitment, hatred, danger, voodoo, injustice, pain, and justice. Black history during the ”˜50s and ”˜60s is woven into the fabric of the story, giving it a natural and non-fictional feel.

Clearly the author believes the focus on the family’s interpretation, fear and anxiety of the civil rights events, riots and personal realities of the time brings strength to his characters. It does.

Armchair Interviews says: Interesting look at those times.