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What others have said about
Spiritual Shackles
857 - Antoinette Salvadori
Location: Los Angeles CA
Date: Jul-12-2008
It has been several weeks since I met you at Brian's CANVAS event. I promised I would read your book and I have. The first chpater was so rich that I was invested from the moment I began. I loved the characters and your ability to tell this story is amazing. You truly are gifted. Thank you for writing this wonderful book. I have recommended it to many of my friends.
All my best.
Antoinette
antoinette.salvadori@disney.com
855 - Tichaona M. Chinyelu
Location: Boston
Date: May-05-2008
History is readable...again! by Tichaona Chinyelu
I heard O. A. Jumal talk about Spiritual Shackles on a Blogtalk radio program. The way he described the book had me salvating 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 character...except for one who I honestly believe got everything he deserved.
Spiritual Shackles is so multi-layered 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
t.chinyelu@comcast.net
853 - Swaggie Coleman
Location: Gwynn Oak, MD
Date: Mar-10-2008
A VILLAGE WITHOUT TIME: A Book Review of Spiritual Shackles By Swaggie Coleman
O. A. Jumal is an exceptionally gifted storyteller. He has mastered the art of being a Griot in a strongly gripping fashion. Jumal proves that historical fiction can indeed be a page-turner and if you thirst for more knowledge and understanding of the African-American culture and history, it is all laid out in this tome. Beginning with the burning church in 1954 and the discovery of strange stones in its charred aftermath, Jumal builds a story from the point of view of the “Negroes” living on the west coast: Pasadena, California. Readers will engage all the senses of seeing, feeling, hearing, smelling, and even tasting as influences from the south take root out west. Segregation, Jim Crow, and the Emmit Till killing are replaced with Black Pride, Black Politics, Black Panthers, Nappy Feminism, and Juneteenth Day. You will be intrigued to see how the common folk of Ebonyville survived the civil rights era. What did they really think about the March on Washington, DC and how was Nelson Mandela tied to San Francisco’s “raggedy” sister, Oakland? Are barber shops and beauty salons truly educational pit stops or simply rumor mills?
Early in the book, Author Jumal primarily focuses on a foster family where the matriarch builds black history teachings by using the mortar of timeless wisdom, love, and spiritual gifts. What Vyemia Quentina-Carver, more affectionately known as “Mama Vye” accomplished was raising irrefutable “divine” foster children, children who just might hold the key to some ultimate secrets.
Spiritual Shackles becomes the one-stop resource for intertwining stories about every day black people faced with cultural issues such as light skinned versus dark skinned, race riots following the assassination of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., feminism, religion, adultery, romance, and ultimately family debauchery when mismatched twin brothers seem destined to harm one another. You will laugh and cry and even pray from chapter to chapter.
The real treat for readers is when Jumal takes you inside the Village to Pops CJ’s Vernon Avenue address. Vernon Avenue is where it all began, the one-of-a-kind Juneteenth, plantation slave costume ball – “Da Ball.” The Village guests arrive transformed into house Negroes, yard Negroes, or field “niggas.” There’s blues in the air and Nina Simone singing; there’s “nigress’s” complete with wide-hoop southern belle dresses; look-alike Aunt Jemima mammies, and Uncle-Ben butlers. There are rebellious spirits clad as Nat Turner, David Walker, Denmark Vesey, and Harriet Tubman! Da Ball becomes one helluva hip-gyrating, down-home, country-fried, feet-stomping, anything-goes-in-the-back-room kind of party! However, when anything goes happens on the main dance floor between twin brothers, Priest Lionel and Rev. Rondell, and the youngest “divine” child, Jadi, who is now sensuously all grown up, it is time go deep, deep back in African spiritual history.
Author O. Ajamu Jumal has weaved such exciting and interesting history into the lives of these characters that final closure is embraced from those most skeptical of things spiritual; to blind faith believers. Your mind will dance with our ancestors and embrace all their spirits!
Swaggie86@aol.com
852 - Chanel Perry
Location: Atlanta GA
Date: Feb-26-2008
Uncle Jumal,
What a journey! I just finished Spiritual Shackles and I'm thrilled. The novel was crafted beautifully and I learned so much. I thought a lot about Dr. Frances Cress Welsing's book, The Isis Papers (my favorite) while reading your novel. Recently I have been reading a lot about world religions in an effort to find a place that feels comfortable. I hope to continue my research with what I've learned from you.
What I learned about my great-grandmother was difficult to read. While at Spelman I learned so much about the connections between familial generations, especially women. Thinking about the difficulties faced by the women before in the family makes me feel stronger. Your novel offers peace to those searching for the past.
My favorite parts of the novel were the history lessons on Black California and the African Diaspora.
I am so proud of you. I shined each time someone asked about the book I was reading. I'd say, "My uncle crafted this." Those interested in what I was reading seemed most intrigued by the title.
All my love for the uncle I don't spend enough time with, but feel I'm most like.
Always, Chanel
chanelperry@gmail.com
851 - Amanda Seon-Walker
Location: Los Angeles CA
Date: Feb-11-2008
Dear Ajamu,
I received copy of your book at the Community Day Fair at Southwest College. I read your book (yes in a week) and as promised I am sending you my thoughts.
This Book is excellent! As an avid reader I knew this would be well written from the opening lines, but I was not prepared for how well put together it would be. Your blend of historical data with fiction is remarkable. It was like reading a series of historical books without the boring repetition. A lot of the information I already knew from reading other such books, but this was quite well done.
I have recommended this book to all my friends who enjoy reading. I am also going to recommending it for the book list of Achieving Leadership's Purpose which is a Leadership group in which I participated as a child. I wish you great luck with this book, but I know you do not need it because your work speaks for itself!
Keep up the good work,
Amanda Seon-Walker, PsyD
ason-walker@hotmail.com
