Cousins: Connected through slavery, a Black woman and a White woman discover their past―and each other

by Betty Kilby Baldwin, Phoebe Kilby

What happens when a White woman, Phoebe, contacts a Black woman, Betty, saying she suspects they are connected through slavery? First surprise? Betty responds, “Hello, Cousin.” Betty had fought for an education and won. She broke through the concrete ceiling in the workplace and succeeded. A documentary of her life was about to debut. Without thinking, she invites Phoebe to a family dinner and the premiere of the documentary. Second surprise? She forgot to tell her family who was coming to dinner. Betty finds an activist partner in Phoebe. Cousins indeed, they commit to a path of reconciliation. In alternating chapters, each tells her dramatic story—from Betty’s experience as one of the first Black children to attend her desegregated school, to Phoebe's eventual question to “How do I begin to repair the harms?” Piercingly honest. Includes a working reparations project which the two women conceived together. Betty and Phoebe have been interviewed on the BBC and were recently featured in a special on Netflix.

Genres: Nonfiction

244 pages, Paperback

Published April 20, 2021

Reviews

[Susan Welch · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazing. it really opened my eyes to racial discrimination and prejudice as well as more of how slaves were treated even after they were freed. These two women have worked diligently to break down barriers and bring people together.

[MaryMargaret · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy read as it’s very conversational but it’s a bit of a tough read as they are dealing with hard things. Several perspectives of racial reconciliations and how that fits on all sides. Very hopeful.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

The premise is intriguing, but the book did not flow well. I'm glad I read it, though.