The Justice Women: A Novel Of Life In Detroit's Black Bottom

by Dara Harper

Years ago, when Black Friday wiped out the world around her and faces of every shade lined up at soup kitchens, Lucille feasted on catfish, roast beef and ham too! In her line of work, her customers just couldn’t afford to make do without her. She demanded full price and they paid without protest. No one was better than Lucille and everybody knew it, just as sure as they knew the lyrics to Lady Day’s, “God Bless The Child.” Lucille was thankful for fornication because it kept her in business. She didn’t mind profiting from the desires of others, but expressing her own passion had always been like swimming against the current. Lucille had never felt that glow inside. She recognized it in other women who smiled with their whole bodies and blushed at the mention of their lover’s name. But Lucille knew that some women went their whole lives without any glow at all and she accepted her fate as one of them. BOOK At the age of seventeen, Lucille Justice marries a man who she has only known for six weeks. She is so anxious to flee her miserable family life and the Jim Crow south that love isn’t even a consideration before she says, “I do.” Her husband brings her to Detroit, a hopeful place where skin color doesn’t dictate one’s destiny. At least that’s what Lucille believes when she patronizes integrated establishments. But she is disheartened to discover that life above the Mason-Dixon line is fraught with racial tension. Lucille’s dark skin also causes her to experience prejudice within her race. Twenty years later, Lucille is alone in the cold city overflowing with people. Her husband is gone and she lives in the slums of Black Bottom. Lucille’s official title is “midwife,” but she rarely delivers babies anymore. Expectant mothers come to her for abortions because no woman has ever lost her life in Lucille’s hands. Folks don’t mind her soaking up their sins, but they don’t want her around when it’s time to sing the Lord’s praises. Lucille meets Ludka Nowicki, a Polish immigrant who works in the world’s oldest profession and Norma Jo Johnson, a drifter who recklessly challenges racial and gender norms. In “The Justice Women,” the lives of the three women intertwine. On the eve of the 1943 race riots, a remarkable event brings Lucille closer to love and redemption.

229 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 10, 2013

About the author

Dara Harper is an Off-Broadway playwright, journalist, artist, novelist and award-winning filmmaker. She won the Best African American Filmmaker Award at the Brooklyn Film Festival for her short film, la Revolution. While residing in New York City, she became a member of the Harlem Writer’s Guild. Her feature film, Sweeter Without Sugar was an official selection at the African American Women In Cinema Film Festival. Her debut play, "Passing" had a sold-out run Off-Broadway and was nominated for an AUDELCO Award. She has authored two novels, "Grits & Grace" and "Magic In Moon Time."

Reviews

[Charlotte · Rating 3 out of 5]

I happened to find this book while searching for something to read by Bernice L. McFadden so right from the beginning I had high expectations. It was a very easy read but I have mixed feelings about the story. It had a very promising start but for me, it started falling apart somewhere in the middle. It didn't really have much direction and eventually I found myself reading it to finish the book rather than to see how the story ended. There were also several misspellings and typos which I have very little tolerance for.

[RenishaRenewed · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this had a lot of potential so be a really great book. A little bit better character development and plot. Some parts, I liked where the story was going and then it'd make an unnecessary turn. 3.5 stars.

[sharleen whitehead · Rating 5 out of 5]

Justice

Excellent story about life in the south and north. Different but yet still the same for people of color. This story covers three generations.

[Donni · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book, just wished it ended better