Men We Reaped

Summary

The book Men We Reaped authored by Jesmyn Ward offers a detailed story of the author’s life and that of five Black individuals in her community who died while young. All these individuals were lost to drug addiction, accidents, and suicides as well as unfortunate events that are likely to follow those living in poverty especially black persons. It is her struggle with the losses that led to questioning and therefore made the decision n of writing about the experiences. This led to the realization that they all died because they were exposed to racism as well as economic challenges that influenced the use of drugs and termination of families and affairs.

Ward’s family similar to other family has an extensive history of drug abuse, violence, prejudice, untimely deaths and absentee fathers leaving women to raise children on their own. Both parents originate from broken families. Despite having been born with a chronic ailment in which the doctors asserted that she would not survive her parents believed in her fighting abilities which she proved right (Ward 43). When Ward finally gets to meet Desmond he realizes that he is different from other men because he was raised in a stable family which makes him responsible but was later shot dead. Post the completion of her master’s degree and the death of Joshua she decides to leave New York based on the realization that her grief will never depart.

KEY PLOT POINTS:

1. Poverty domination in Mississippi
2. Racism and economic struggle among the characters
3. Family and relationships termination
4. Drug abuse, suicides and unemployment leading to early deaths

Questions

1. What was the author’s purpose when she included the living experiences of the five black men?
2. Is the story relevant today or how does it help the society in understanding the lives and struggles of the vulnerable communities at large?

Questions developed in the discussion that may carry into the next reading section:

Additional Question: How do poverty and racism affect the lives of the characters?

Additional Question: Does the community seems neglected and how?

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Evidently, my summary was thorough and concise: my questions stimulated our discussion.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Work Cited

Ward, Jesmyn. Men We Reaped: A Memoir. London: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc, 2014. Print.