“Redwood Court” by DeLana R.A. Dameron

Mika receives a “simple” History Project assignment in her Middle School Social Studies class: “Where do you come from?” While classmates get right to work, Mika decides after some thought that she will want to discuss this project with her parents and grandparents. Because, you see, Mika’s ancestors didn’t come over on the Mayflower. Her relatives didn’t view the Statue of Liberty on their way to Ellis island. Her answer isn’t simply ‘Italy, Ireland, Spain, Mexico, Japan…’ Mika’s antecedents didn’t come to America by choice. They were trapped and lied to. They came in slave ships, and then were separated, sold, brutalized, falsely emancipated, segregated, lynched, discriminated against, bullied, red-lined, incarcerated and ghettoized. And through it all, they survived to be able to try to complete that “simple” origin story assignment.

DeLana R. A. Dameron’s debut novel, “Redwood Court” is often enough to make you cry. But it is also a story of resilience where the question is rather “What am I made of?” and the answer is the blood, sweat, tears, and, not least of which, stories of all those who came before me. And also those who continue to stand before me and impart lessons of survival skills for success in a racist, unjust society.

In many ways, “Redwood Court” is an ode to Black women, the stronger, the better. It is a rondel, told seamlessly in intertwined snippets by the main characters, about the struggle to break the cycle of generational poverty. The main message is to keep moving, never give up, have faith, believe in God, family, and community.

Thank you for sharing, Ms. Dameron. Your novel is one of rising above, succeeding against all odds. It is an optimistic story. I am grateful to be witness to the journey. The Bolton family and Redwood Court will stay with me forever. All the best as your career unfolds.

Thanks to The Dial Press and NetGalley for the eARC.