The Time and Place That Gave Me Life [Hardcover]

Janet C. Bell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 20, 2007

Janet Cheatham Bell's riveting memoir recounts her experiences coming of age as an African American girl in Indianapolis during the 1930s to the mid-1960s. In taut chapters, Bell introduces the reader to a life defined largely by race and racial discrimination. She begins with her birth in 1937 and her parents' early struggles after relocating to Indianapolis from Tennessee. Bell describes her first job as a maid in a wealthy white household and her humiliating experiences at a "white" high school. She describes experiences of racism at Indiana University and how she copes with personal tragedy that she is able to overcome. Devoid of hyperbole or the trauma that defines so many memoirs, particularly those of celebrities, the strength and appeal of Bell's memoir lies in her direct, but personal tone, and her deft use of anecdotes. "I think of myself as ordinary," writes Bell, "but the lives of ordinary people are not identical, and the details of those lives are worth knowing."

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This is more than a memoir. Janet Cheatham Bell has seasoned her personal story with some little-known history of African Americans in Indiana." —Julian Bond, author of A Time to Speak, A Time to Act, and Board Chairman, NAACP

(Julian Bond, author of A Time to Speak, A Time to Act, and Board Chairman, NAACP 2008)

"Janet Cheatham Bell's beautifully written memoir is both a tender meditation on her close-knit Midwestern black family and a searing indictment of the mid–20th century racism that circumscribed their lives. Her spirit and resilience—as she grows from Depression era toddler to confident Civil Rights era woman—will keep you captivated and cheering." —A'Lelia Bundles, great great grandaughter of Madam C. J. Walker and, author of On Her Own Ground: The Life and Times of Madam C.J. Walker

(A'Lelia Bundles, great great grandaughter of Madam C. J. Walker and, author of On Her Own Ground: The Life and Times of Madam C.J. Walker )

"Bell's is the best form of social history: a story that focuses on an ordinary individual but also illuminates the experiences of many over time." —Nancy Gabin, author of Feminism in the Labor Movement: Women and the United Auto Workers, 1933–1975

(Nancy Gabin, author of Feminism in the Labor Movement: Women and the United Auto Workers, 1933–1975 )

"With wit, aplomb, and a candor born of bitter experience, Janet Cheatham Bell has crafted a compelling memoir about growing up in Indiana." —INDIANA MAGAZINE OF HISTORY, December 2008

(INDIANA MAGAZINE OF HISTORY )

From the Author

Janet Cheatham Bell is a native Hoosier and publishing entrepreneur. A former education consultant for the Indiana Department of Education, Bell has also taught African American literature at a number of colleges and universities. She lives in Bloomington, Indiana.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: Indiana University Press (June 20, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0253348773
• ISBN-13: 978-0253348777
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,997,822 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Janet's Story, August 27, 2007

By 

Gordon K. Durnil "Attorney" (Indianapolis, IN) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Time and Place That Gave Me Life (Hardcover)

I really enjoyed Janet's book and would recommend it. She and I grew up in the same neighborhoods at the same time, went to the same high school, received the same basic advice and training from our parents, but we have two totally different perspectives about our experiences. Hers is an interesting read about the time and place where we were born and grew to adulthood.

5.0 out of 5 stars An engaging and well written personal study!, September 29, 2010

By 

Larry Ridley "Jazz Artist/Professor" (New York, NY) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Time and Place That Gave Me Life (Hardcover)

The writer and I are home town friends since our childhood growing up in Indianapolis, IN. Knowing her and her siblings brought a personal reflection of our days growing up as "homey's". She is a warm, beautiful, highly sensitive, excellent writer and wonderful human being.