America’s curse is its thin sense of freedom that demands we all pretend to be free. We lie. This is what we do. In Blessing and Blood, the lies I have lived are laid bare. The lies and shame that have shackled my family are dragged into the light of truth because what is real can heal. We see this clearly in the life of my Aunt Violet. A strong, black woman who lived much of her life as anything but that.

Nova