*** Loving Tribute Review by Rox Burkey
Author Shirley Harris-Slaughter presents a touching recount of her brother and their short time together as a family. In discussing his character, relating to the relevant events of the 1960s, she shows how vital this older sibling is to her own personality. Sadly, Ronald faced the challenges of busing for his education and other racial inequities of the era.
He joined the Marines without discussing it with his mother. The research that occurred to locate him, finding him in the military, before he was shipped to Vietnam, was significant. The essay structure makes it easy to follow the events of those times and their impact on the author.
The communication from Ronald to his family would send chills through any loving mother and caring siblings like his.
“The letter came, and in it was a prediction of what was to come. Ronald told Mother that he was sorry he hadn’t contacted her . . . that everything was happening so fast. He went on to write, “I don’t think I’m going to make it, but you know me.”
When Mother saw that, she grew sick with worry and tried her best to get him out. Of course, she was grasping at straws, but she was desperate and wanted him home.
By this time, our family was in the process of moving to Detroit. A couple of years after we settled in, Ronald came home on leave. He went out with Richard and a few other buddies and promptly got drunk. Richard had never seen Ronald lose control of himself that way and neither had we. He had to be carried into the house. He was sobbing and talking out of his head, saying he wasn’t going back. When he sobered up the next day, he prepared to get back on base.”
This short memoir of a Marine who died while in service to his country is heart-wrenching. The efforts of Author Harris-Slaughter to find out additional information and some closure speak to her determination and love of family. I love the thorough research this author conducts. The presentation of documented facts makes it worth a read. Thank you for your service, Ronald Powell.
About the Author
My name is Shirley Harris-Slaughter and I’ve been a published author since 2007, although my life plans never included becoming a writer. I was urged to write when I realized there were things going on around me, threatening my community’s survival and yet it seemed no one was paying attention to the urgency of it all. I never dreamed that I would be the “chosen one” to take on the task, but I was, and so, after much research, sleepless nights and being shunned by those who didn’t want me to tell this story, “OUR LADY OF VICTORY: THE SAGA OF AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY” was born. Something that started out as just a timeline of events to honor the pioneers of this West Eight Mile Community, turned into a full-blown narrative history.
Like most Indie authors, I was struggling to get even a little recognition in an already over-crowded field. Then, I happened upon the RAVE REVIEWS BOOK CLUB where I served for a short while on the Governing Board. This club is all about supporting and helping authors.
RAVE REVIEWS BOOK CLUB is the brainchild of Founder & President, Author, Nonnie Jules. She took the time to read my book and gave it an honest review. Since becoming a part of this awesome organization, I have been blessed with many opportunities which further profiled and brought recognition to my book. I have had such honors as being: the President’s Pick in the online Newsletter, a “WHO’S ON THE SHELF” Interview by Nonnie Jules, a #PUSHTUESDAY Winner, a week-long “SPOTLIGHT” AUTHOR BLOG TOUR,” Blogs and Trailer Block Parties, and I’ve held countless other seats, which are too great in number for me to list here.
Aside from being an active reader and writer, I am also a community-activist, and from time to time, I lend my name to petitions to stop something or another. I may even pick up the phone to call my elected Representatives, if that’s what it takes to get something accomplished.
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