Volunteer Slavery: My Authentic Negro Experience

by Jill Nelson

When Jill Nelson became the first black woman to write for The Washington Post's prestigious Sunday magazine in 1986, she thought she had entered journalism heaven. Instead, she discovered that life at The Post meant walking "the thin line between Uncle Tomming and Mau-Mauing" - between holding onto her job and preserving her soul.

As Nelson recounts her harrowing four years at The Post - along with her odyssey from a middle-class childhood to near poverty, divorce and single motherhood, flame-out love affairs, and a nervous breakdown - she gives us a scalding expose of the racial, sexual, and corporate politics of one of our most respected newspapers. Volunteer Slavery is a funny, fiercely candid book that names names and takes no prisoners.

Genres: Memoir, Nonfiction, Race, Biography

244 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 1993

About the author

Jill Nelson was born and raised in Harlem and has been a working journalist for over twenty years. She is a graduate of the City College of New York and the Columbia School of Journalism. Her work has appeared in numerous publications, including The New York Times, Essence, The Washington Post, The Nation, Ms., The Chicago Tribune and the Village Voice. Jill was a staff writer for the Washington Post Magazine during its first years of existence, and was named Washington D.C. Journalist of the Year for her work there. She freelances and lectures widely, and writes a twice-monthly column, “On the Verge,” for NiaOnline.com and is a monthly contributor to the Op Ed page of USA Today. She was a professor of Journalism at the City College of New York from 1998 to 2003. Jill lectures widely on race, gender, politics, media, writing and other topics.

--from the author's website

Reviews

[Avia · Rating 5 out of 5]

All women should read this book! This book initially is about Nelson's job as the first black female writer at the Washington Post. As Nelson embarks on her journey to find success, she discovers the things she (and many other women) does to "enslave" herself in an unhappy life. This is a liberating book that shows women that they can be strong, independent, successful -- and happy.

[Maria]

I read this book just as i was graduating college with the dream of becoming a journalist. I read it a total of 3 times. It was so interesting to see how a freelance writer makes the transition to staff writer and maintains her integrity and sense of humor in the process. A MUST READ!

[Fenesha Hubbard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Raw. Real. Honest. Excellent! Nelson candidly tells our story very well; the volunteer slaves, that is. A must read for those who insist they aren't crazy (Nelson's relatable story will make you feel sane) and those who wonder what all the fuss about the glass ceiling is about.

[Minnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A firsthand report of Jill Nelson's fight with corporate America and her addictions to drugs. She is bruetly frank about her life and her time at the The Washington Post.

I read this book a long time ago. It's juicy & raw! LOL She names names and some you will surely know if you read newspapers.

[Anne Kadet · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you like getting hit by the crazy train...

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

The one thing that stood out to me was how proud Nelson was to get a job at the Washington Post sometime in the 90s.

I don't know if it still has the same cachet.

It seems the entire newspaper industry has considerably less clout than it had back then.

[Imani ♥ ☮ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this one. It has been awhile since I've read fiction and this one was a nice mix of politics, race and spice. As an aspiring journalist, I enjoyed reading Jill Nelson's outlining of her life at a predominantly white media org, and how blackness especially in the United States is layered with complications such as class, gender and sexuality.

[La Toya Hankins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this soon after being hired on my first job, as the only African American reporter at a local newspaper, and I took so much comfort in her words. A lot of the slights she felt, came my way, and I drew strength on how she dealt with it. It's not often I read something that has me shaking my head in agreement but this is one that I felt I could have wrote some of the passages myself.

[Melissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I might be the only person, but I was slightly annoyed by this book. I don't if it was the way she wrote it or the ending.

[Deidra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good God, she tells it like it is. Hmmm, what's it like for a black female in the newspaper industry? It ain't always pretty...

[Keri LaPensee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heard this woman speak very humorous and extremely personable.

[Vonaire · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very well written and laugh-out-loud funny at times, although I felt like she was looking for trouble in some instances. Overall a good read.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book will make you read the Washington Post in a whole new light.

[Robert · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was ok...