The Black Rose by Tananarive Due

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The Black Rose by Tananarive Due



                Have you ever wondered about the life of Madam CJ Walker? Well, of course you’ve heard of her. Without her we would have never had pressing combs and our scalps would have more than likely been a mess. Madam CJ Walker built an empire around Black women’s hair care products. The Black Rose is a historical fiction based on the life of Madam CJ Walker, born Sarah Breedlove. Due used research conducted by Alex Haley and created this novel which looks at the many trials, tribulations and successes experience in both love, family and business by Madam CJ Walker.
                After reading the first few pages, I knew this would be a novel I really enjoyed, because Due is a beautiful writer. She creates detailed worlds with her words, sewing the atmosphere, culture and scenery together in a way that transports readers to that time and place. I felt like I was with Walker as she traveled through the streets in her luxury vehicle and again when she lost her parents and was forced to pick cotton with her sister to survive. The characters were so well developed, that you felt their pain and rooted for them in their triumphs. Time passed and Due never lost her cadence or pacing with this story, which I consider to be extremely important when you’re dealing with a life that spans decades.
                Due, outside of creating a beautiful atmosphere and characters, did a great job of depicting the life of a colored woman in the late 1800s and early 1900s and how hard it was to succeed. She looks at many factors within the Black community like classism and colorism. But she also looks at the United States as a whole and how lack of privilege and racism controlled the lives of Black people. She weaves history on to the pages, and not just the history of Madam CJ Walker but history of Black America.
                I’m highly recommending this novel. It is extremely well written and brings to life with exquisite detail the life of Madam CJ Walker. It’s good to keep in mind that even though facts were used throughout, this is still a fictional depiction of her life. Due does include resources though for anyone who would like to dive deeper into Walker’s life. I give this book 4.5 out of 5 stars.

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