Customer Reviews

Spiritual Shackles

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Author O. Ajamu Jumal penned a wonderful story filled with African American history from slavery to the present, that is filled with pertinent facts concerning the progression, successes and failures of our people.

Pasadena, California is the setting of Spiritual Shackles where African Americans migrated to from southern states in order to work for white people and make a better living for their families. In particular, Mother Vye and the abandoned children she cared for (with the exception of Stoney), were the thrust that drove the story. The five children whose lives Mama Vye had such a great impact were Narva, Jadi, Lionel, Rondell and Stoney who also lived in the beautiful house on Palisade Court.

Each era in history was represented in Spiritual Shackles, from the music, to the style of dress, as well as the awareness raised during that time. The Nation of Islam, Marcus Garvey, Muhammad Ali, Pentecostalism, and African Folklore interweaved through the pages of the book, most in intricate detail that painted a wonderful picture of the church fires, race riots, Malcolm X and Alex Haley's appearances, and the strange pink tea.

Spiritual Shackles is an African American history lesson that details the lives of the children that Mama Vye helped raise, as they grew up and found themselves on the paths each of their lives would take them.

I recommend Spiritual Shackles to anyone who loves reading about African American history and enjoys African Folklore. O. Ajamu Jumal is the griot extraordinaire.


Reviewed by Sharel E. Gordon-Love
APOOO BookClub

Spiritual Shackles is a story of the bias in religious systems exposed when confronted with alternative beliefs, culture, mores, and symbolism especially as it results in diminishing "religious certainties." It is an intriguing interweave of characters which is decapitated, eviscerated, and fractured as we identify too close with ideology and logically have to examine the "complexion" of our convictions while reviewing a history that may not be as previous told or accepted.

Okeyo A. Jumal produced a good expository work that challenges the reader yet does not allow a neutral stance. The tempo of his work has ebbs and tides of an erratic sea!

The ending seemed out of sync with rest of the book. It appeared to have been too many loose ends to tie up and too little time to do it. The journey to the destination was too convoluted. The character Jadi, is the story. Let her be!

Reviewed by: Gail

I enjoyed reading Spiritual Shackles from page one to the very end of page 501. Jumal transcends time and space to immerse the reader in a kaleidoscope of history. My five senses were reeling from the five spirits and the host of other souls that come alive to greet the reader, sending you on a most wonderful trip not soon forgotten. The storyline, depth, nature and the history allows the reader to understand how our lifeways are fused at the hip in our collective struggle to free our minds. So one should sit back and relax with a cup of tea (pink) and enjoy this beautifully written book.
Our journey in this life is defined by our ability to rise above the strange culture that has estranged us from our spirituality. Okeyo A. Jumal in his book Spiritual Shackles has meld the past, present and future of the African Diaspora. History as orally written by this griot comes alive to take the reader where the five senses of the metaphysical reveal the revelation of the seven seals that the bible allegorically speaks, clairvoyance and seership being the other two that make up the seven, thus revealing our desire to grasp our history of self. To cipher the knowledge of the journey in this odyssey one must be a palm tree as the character Mama Vye states and not an oak. You must be able to bend with the ever changing directional wind as the five main spirits joyously and painfully seek out to reclaim their redemption to Know Thyself. To travel in this time machine one must know the definition of the word catharsis, which is a technique used to relieve tension and anxiety by bringing repressed memories to consciousness. Repression can be compared to hypnotically induced amnesia, where individuals and groups of people are directed to forget specific information, then instructed to forget they have forgotten. Jumal's Mama Vye and Baba Zumbi use the powerful amulet necklaces to retrieve these memories, undoing and correcting the con in the manipulation thereby restoring the confidence which enlighten the reader to the sin of lies so that one can sincerely know of the painful and joyous truths in our history. One truly knows a griot has evolved to an oracle of illumination, so much so that Gnostic Sage should be bestowed upon Jumal. When you no longer are watching the lives unfold before you, because you have stepped off the time machine into the matrix of the history unfolding before your eyes...seership comes to mind. "We steal what a man (culture) has, then murders him to conceal the crime." Jumal eloquently returns the culture that has been stolen from the African Diaspora, so that the physical and mental genocide cannot be concealed any longer. I cried, laughed and loved essentially because of the metempsychosis or transmigration of my soul into the lives of the spirits of those souls who unveil a part of our history, so that I might free my mind from some of the shackles of deception.

Spiritual Shackles is a unique volume of historical fiction. The author of this novel, historian, writer, educator, and griot, Okeyo Ajum Jumal has woven the stories of many characters into a beautiful cloth that has only a few missed stitches. In this sizable work, the writer has created a rich story and developed varied situations that cause you to think as you read. He presents a story that brings up topics, times and situations that readers will talk about as they read the novel as well as discuss after the reader has turned the last page and closed the book.

Mama Vye is an important fictional character in the book. She touches the lives of numerous characters, especially five young people. It is through her and the young people that the writer takes the reader on a journey of African American social and cultural life where you meet many historical figures. The author develops his story in an interesting and exciting way. The novel begins in Pasadena California in the early 1950s with church fires and spans decades through the 21st century. The story crosses the continents of North America, South America and Africa and journeys back hundreds of years.

I liked the way the writer uses figures of speech and presents different perspectives on issues such as family, color, race relations, community, religion and historical objectivity. He has also developed vivid descriptions of historical events that allow you to see the streets and feel the atmosphere. For other places that are unfamiliar, the author writes in such a way that his writing makes the reader want to learn more about the place and the people who live there. The book is very lively. The dialogue sounds real and griot Jumal has filled the pages with love, action, drama and suspense.

There are several places during the course of the story that I was unsure what the writer was trying to express because of editing. The ending also left me wondering what was the answer to the question raised in the opening of the novel. Given the size of the novel some readers may find it valuable to read the book again. It would not be a laborious task to read the book a second time given its richness. It might even be advantageous to reread it so as not to miss anything. It will surely provide much to talk about in a book club meeting.

I highly recommend Spiritual Shackles. It is a large piece of African American historical fiction that you will enjoy wrapping yourself up in.

I heard O. A. Jumal talk about Spiritual Shackles on a Blogtalk radio program. The way he described the book had me salivating to read it! When I finally got in my hands, I didn't put it down until I finished it. As a Lover of Afrikan/Black history, I have been suffering from a lack of reading material that incorporated our history in a literary milieu. Spiritual Shackles satisfied that need and more. It also introduced African spiritual beliefs and practices in a manner that is very rooted in the every day lives of more than everyday people. I loved ALL the characters...except for one who I honestly believe got everything he deserved.

Spiritual Shackles is so multilayered I could go on and on about it and still never do it the justice it did me and our beautiful history. Thank you so much for this Soul satisfying, delightful read!

Respect!
Tichaona Munhamo Chinyelu
Author of Still Living on my Feet & In the Whirlwind

Spiritual Shackles, is a magnificent history lesson in itself. It reveals how different religious beliefs of others are often challenged by how others believe or except them. The characters encourage your reading journey in this novel.

Much Respect, Linda Washington-Johnson,
Jackson Mississippi Readers Club Reviewer

I am a bi-racial child born in Pasadena in 1954. My parents never talked about the history of my siblings and I growing up. My father was white & mom was black. Many of the places/people that the author talked about brings back memories and now I understand the era in which I was born. My older sister (half-sister) father was the minister @ Friendship, The barbar shop was around the corner on Lincoln. The Bar in Altadena, The house referred to in the first chapter belong to my Aunt off Lincoln on Mountain street. She wrote for the Black news paper. This is an exciting book with history of Pasadena black community writen in a fashion in which you can not put the book down. I would love to talk with the author about more of the Pasadena history that he uncovered. The one thing I now understand was why my mother family in TX was so upset and what my father went through being married to a black women living in color town. I could go on and on. It was a history lesson for my daughter as well as her relatives on her father side was able to go into detail about the people being referred to in the book. Great Book

Spritual Shackles is one of the best contributions to African American literature I've read in many years. It's story spans three generations surrounding one main character, CJ a crusty newspaperman. Through his life and the lives of those that enter his and his wife, Roxie, we are transported through history. And a wonderful job he did in taking us on the ride. From the Jim Crow era to Y2K, you lived with the family on Vernon avenue, shared their pains, their triumps and saw how their lives paralleled our own.

While many lament the page count, I, myself, found this novel to be too short. At the end of the 500 pages, I'm still thirsty for the next installment if there is to be one. Hats off to you Mr. Jumal! You've stimulated my desire in reading like none other has done recently. This novel is destined to become required reading for anyone of African ancestry. Kudos again!

Reviewed by Beverly Pechin for Reader Views (10/06)

It is rare to look at a book that contains over 500 pages and turn the last page wishing there was more, yet Mr. Jumal has a way of making you want the story to continue on forever. While the story itself is anything but incomplete, it truly creates an atmosphere of depth that goes beyond reading an
ordinary book and makes the reader want more.

A combination of gritty reality and intricate fiction, Jumal tells of the times and lives of a community known as "Ebonyville" as if it were happening while you read. Dealing with a time when racial riots were common and blacks had to fight for everything they had, he manages to weave in the intricate love and visions of his characters while sharing their trials and tribulations as they strive to become more than anyone had imagined 'people of their kind' could be.

As he takes you through the lives of five children into their adult lives, you will come to love, hate and feel so deeply for them. It's unimaginable that you can walk away from this story without a deluge of feelings. As they grow from infancy to adulthood, their caretaker, "Mama Vye", uses her unusual as well as unconventional ways and beliefs to create solid human beings out of children who others may otherwise give up. Mama Vye, instead, teaches them their roots and their value as African Americans by investing her love, time and efforts into their lives.

With a story that weaves love, hate, horror, deceit and mystery together you will dive into the book with heart and soul once you meet the characters. Was it coincidence that these five children are brought into Mama Vye's life or was it destiny?

Every page you turn takes you deeper and deeper into the lives and ways of these people, while sharing their moments of gratitude, happiness and grieving. While you see the reality of the world as it was during those times, you will walk away wondering how we survived as a nation with such a huge amount of hatred in the homes and businesses of what we called a 'free nation'. As you read about the lives of those involved, you will come to realize we are all truly human in so many of the
same ways, including strength when we most think we have none left.

Absolutely riveting, touching and downright gritty reality make this a must read book for everyone. As a touch of history combines with a realistic touch of fiction, you will watch a story of life, itself, unfold and walk away a more complete human being.

Book received free of charge.

SPIRITUAL SHACKLES is a tale that encompasses the stories of several generations of a family. Mostly set in California, the plot also carries readers to other parts of the United States, and then goes International. The initial focus of the story is on a series of church fires that have taken place over several decades. Both the police, other blacks in the community, and CJ, a maverick reporter who has started his own newspaper, are trying to identify the culprits and their motive for setting the fires.

As CJ attempts to find out the truth behind the crimes which have left many black residents in fear, he learns about the lives of the many colorful characters living around him. Some, like a man nicknamed, Crisco, a dark-skinned man who was a lady's man before dark skin was vogue, add humor and help readers understand the cultural nuances of the time. But it is the mysterious Mama Vye, the creator of a special tea nicknamed "Congo Nut Crusher", and her family who add the real spice and texture to the story. Her family history, religious practices, and relationship with her adopted children, serve as the impetus for many of the history lessons enmeshed in the story.

SPIRITUAL SHACKLES is a complex book that merges history and fiction. In it author Okeyo Jumal introduces interesting, multi-faceted characters and a plot that has elements of humor, drama, and suspense. He incorporates a vast amount of history into the plot but all the while keeps the story moving. I particularly enjoyed the fact that he highlights issues of race and discrimination in a setting other than the deep south.

With a page count exceeding five hundred, the scope of SPIRITUAL SHACKLES is too overwhelming. As a result of the length, a lot of people will avoid picking it up and many of those who do will find it difficult to complete the book. There were at least two distinct storylines, but sometimes, they competed against one another. There were so many sub-plots, that at times they caused the story to drag and left me wondering how some of them were relevant to the overall story. I also think they made it difficult for the author to tie up all the loose ends and some were left hanging at the end. I think breaking the content into a series of books would have been more effective. It would have made for clearer stories that would have been easier to absorb and it would have been less difficult to keep track of the numerous characters and sub-plots. In spite of this, Jumal has showcased his writing ability and found an interesting approach to sharing certain aspects of black history through this suspenseful work of historical fiction.

Reviewed by Stacey Seay
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers