THE DEATH OF A JAYBIRD

A collection of essays exploring the experiences of Black women in America.

In addition to her compelling personal story, Savage, a writer and attorney, focuses on Black women who have faced the effects of abuse, addiction, and loss. Due to her mother’s drug problems and the other “demons” she battled throughout her life, the author was raised in Brooklyn by her grandmother. Granny, Savage called her, was very religious and even considered herself a prophet. Over time, however, the author became bitter and jaded toward her grandmother’s faith. “Much of religion,” she writes, “is a tower constructed to protect male egos and privilege.” She continues, “I didn’t need the Bible to tell me about my place in the world. And I was tired of keeping quiet about the things that hurt me.” Savage also shares the fact that “Granny, my mother, and I were all sexually abused as children,” and she is adamant about her desire to stop the cycle of abuse. When Granny developed Alzheimer’s, Savage took on the responsibility of caring for her. She writes candidly about the pain of losing a loved one even before that person is gone and reveals that she hoarded her grandmother’s belongings as a means of preserving her memory. Following Granny’s death, Savage and her mother were diagnosed with breast cancer, and she ended up losing her mother as well. Other essays examine stereotypes and assumptions that she and other Black women in America face on a daily basis in their encounters with police, treatment by medical doctors, and other situations. Throughout, Savage writes as if speaking with a friend, relating her experiences, and that of others, with sincerity. Readers of all backgrounds are certain to appreciate her struggles and her ability to cope with the challenges she has faced.

Raw, honest, and heartbreaking.