The Time and Place That Gave Me Life
Select Format
Select Condition 
Book Overview
Janet Cheatham Bell's riveting memoir recounts her experiences coming of age as an African American girl in Indianapolis during the 1930s to the mid-1960s. In taut chapters, Bell introduces the reader to a life defined largely by race and racial discrimination. She begins with her birth in 1937 and her parents' early struggles after relocating to Indianapolis from Tennessee. Bell describes her first job as a maid in a wealthy white household and her humiliating experiences at a "white" high school. She describes experiences of racism at Indiana University and how she copes with personal tragedy that she is able to overcome. Devoid of hyperbole or the trauma that defines so many memoirs, particularly those of celebrities, the strength and appeal of Bell's memoir lies in her direct, but personal tone, and her deft use of anecdotes. "I think of myself as ordinary," writes Bell, "but the lives of ordinary people are not identical, and the details of those lives are worth knowing."
Format:Hardcover
Language:English
ISBN:0253348773
ISBN13:9780253348777
Release Date:June 2007
Publisher:Indiana University Press
Length:320 Pages
Weight:1.43 lbs.
Dimensions:1.1" x 6.6" x 9.5"
Customer Reviews
1 rating
Janet's Story
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 17 years ago
I really enjoyed Janet's book and would recommend it. She and I grew up in the same neighborhoods at the same time, went to the same high school, received the same basic advice and training from our parents, but we have two totally different perspectives about our experiences. Hers is an interesting read about the time and place where we were born and grew to adulthood.
Copyright © 2025 Thriftbooks.com
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information | Cookie Policy | Cookie Preferences | Accessibility Statement
ThriftBooks ® and the ThriftBooks ® logo are registered trademarks of Thrift Books Global, LLC
ThriftBooks ® and the ThriftBooks ® logo are registered trademarks of Thrift Books Global, LLC
