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Passing by Samaria

Sharon Ewell Foster

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Dec 17, 2021 Werner rated it it was amazing

Shelves: historical-fiction

Evangelical Christian author Sharon Ewell Foster became the first (and so far only) African-American writer to win the Christy Award for this powerful historical novel, set just after World War I in rural Jim Crow MIssissippi and in Chicago (also not a paradise of racial brotherhood). In a plot that's set mainly from the late spring to the early fall of 1919 (the final chapter takes place in the following year) the lives of the author's fictional characters unfold against a real-life background Evangelical Christian author Sharon Ewell Foster became the first (and so far only) African-American writer to win the Christy Award for this powerful historical novel, set just after World War I in rural Jim Crow MIssissippi and in Chicago (also not a paradise of racial brotherhood). In a plot that's set mainly from the late spring to the early fall of 1919 (the final chapter takes place in the following year) the lives of the author's fictional characters unfold against a real-life background of rampant lynching of blacks and of the racial riots during what history would remember as the "Red Summer."

Obviously, racial relations and attitudes are at the heart of this novel. Foster casts an unsparing floodlight on the whole mentality of racial hatred and white supremacy, and the starkly ugly ways in which it expresses itself. And while some things have obviously changed for the better in the more than a century that has elapsed since the time re-created here, sadly, in a great many minds and hearts there hasn't been much if any change. :-( So protagonist Alena's world in 1919 here remains very relevant to ours in the 2020s. But this is not a propaganda piece aiming to stoke the fires of angry racial grievance and reverse racism. Rather, it's a call to the white community for repentance and self-examination, to the black community to cultivate forgiveness without condoning wrong, and to everybody to extend our borders of love to the whole human community. I was struck by the basic attitudinal similarity between the stances of some of the black characters here and those of Martin Luther King (though unlike MLK, they don't necessarily take a totally pacifist position). The call here is uncompromisingly for racial reconciliation and brotherhood.

Closely related to this (as it was closely related in Dr. King's ministry) is an explicit presentation of the Christian gospel, with its recognition of all humans as equally loved by their Creator, but equally in need of personal repentance from sin and moral and spiritual transformation through the saving grace that Christ's sacrifice brings to humanity. That transformation is seen as the one power that can enlighten and strengthen us for the hard work, on our own hearts and on our society, that reconciliation and brotherhood require. Non-Christian readers, contemplating a Christian novel, may ask suspiciously, "Is it preachy?" Well, in this case, I'd have to say, yes, it most certainly is "preachy." (Even the title comes from an apt Biblical allusion.) But the preachiness arises naturally as part and parcel of the situation these characters find themselves in, here in a very flawed world, and as an expression of their identity as people of faith, or who have been exposed to faith. (Aunt Patrice's Bread of Life Mission is a key setting here, and a white preacher will play an important role.)

Penetrating psychological insight and realistic, nuanced depictions of very human characters, both white and black, is one of the strong points of this novel. Alena in particular is a dynamic, rather than static, protagonist; but several characters here are also dynamic, and serious spiritual and moral crossroads moments fall to the lot of many. Foster dissects, with deep insight, the ways in which sinful patterns of thought and behavior are passed on and validated by parental example, and how hard it is to risk social disapproval to take a stand for the right, while it's conversely so easy and tempting not to rock the boat. (But she also doesn't negate the power of conscience backed up by grace!) She turns her eye as well to more aspects of human behavior than just race relations, including the whole dysfunctional psychology of exploitive gender relations. (Race relations here are seen as part of the total way we treat all others, in all relationships.) Historical accuracy (which is crucially important in this genre!) is impeccable here, but the factual information never felt like an info-dump. A plot strand of clean romance enhances, but doesn't smother, the story being told.

All historical fiction fans would benefit from reading this book. But I'd recommend it as well to general readers who don't necessarily seek out that genre; it has a worthwhile message for all of us. ...more

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