Marvin V. Blake’s Historical Fiction Novel “Why” Tackles Racism as Experienced by Two Sisters

The novel tells of how the sisters together, and separately, struggle to survive as slaves…, as members of the Comanche Nation…, and of one sister’s choice between the love of her sister, and her love of a Comanche Warrior.

The historical fiction novel “Why” by Marvin V. Blake was exhibited by self-publishing and book marketing company ReadersMagnet at the 2023 London Book Fair. The book trade fair occurred at Olympia London, London, UK, last April 18-20, 2023.

A Filmways Pictures-Certificate of Book Excellence Seal Awardee, “Why” is about two sisters who were born three days apart. They had the same father but different mothers of different races. The white sister was born to Mr. and Mrs. Henry Billings, the Master and Mistress of Rosewood, one of the wealthiest cotton plantations in Virginia. The black sister was the result of Mr. Henry Billings mating with a black, sexually subservient-slave.

The girls grew up together but were socially separated by racism and societal-racial-status. During this era in the slave holding South, as a rule, white and black kids weren’t allowed to mix.

Henry and Margaret Billings hired a fresh college graduate, Miss Eleanor Leary, to tutor their children, Rebecca and her brother, Jesse.

Rebecca requested of Miss Leary, that she join her and Mandy, her live-long companion, a black slave girl, in their clandestine, week-end, school-sessions.

Despite her fear of breaking the law, Eleanor joined and the two girls clandestine, week-end classes. Because of this opportunity to learn of her ancestry, Mandy eventually developed racial-pride and self-esteem.

The eye opening revelations of the white teacher resulted in Mandy’s gradually discarding her lifelong, insidious, feelings of racial inferiority and self-loathing.

The author points out that racism, prejudice is not innate. That we…, human beings are not born with “Racial- prejudices”. Paraphrasing the words of Oscar Hammerstein; Racial-prejudice “has to be carefully taught.”

Get a copy of “Why” by Marvin V. Blake on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Visit booksbymarvinblake.com to know more about Marvin V. Blake and his other works.

Why
Author| Marvin V. Blake
Published Date| 2022
Publisher| Book Vine Press
Genre| Historical Fiction

Author’s Biography

Marvin was raised in the then racially-segregated housing projects of Baltimore, Maryland. He is a six-year veteran of the U.S. Navy.

Marvin is a graduate of the U.S. Navy’s Hospital-Corps School; U.S. Navy’s School of Medical Technology; Long Island University; New York’s - New School University.

Contact Information

Kris Canete

Author Relations Officer

ReadersMagnet LLC

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