This book gives a remarkable account of the first African American Mortuary industry as we know it today. Edward ball along with Edwina Harleston Whitlock, introduces her family's life and a history lesson all in one semi-memoir. I was thrilled to learn that Mrs. Whitlock's grand uncle the late Rev. Jenkins ws responsible for educating and teaching music to many of today's great jazz musicians through his orphange. In addition, there is so much talent in this family (i.e. musicians, historians, educators, and entrepreneurs). In a time when most african americans wer struggling to find a place in society during the reconstruction period, this family was partaking in international study programs and making a name for themselves in Charleston, SC. I have always admired Mrs. Whitlock's loyalty to her family but most importantly to her uncle Edwin Augustus Harleston who was a great artist of many portraits and a murals for a few historical black colleges. Mrs. Whitlock setout to change her name to edwina ( Mr. Harleston's first name and middle initial) after he died. This family was the product of Mr. Harleston , a slave owner who had several children with his slave Kate. The elder gentleman on the front cover was the patriach of this family who was the son of the slave owner, Mr. Harleston. It was through his entreprenuerial talent that his family became one of Charlestons prominent African American families.

I like family histories, so I enjoyed this book that tells the story of the descendants of a white man and his black concubine. They were among the elite of black society in Charleston, North Carolina. One of the sons was a talented artist who actually supported himself with his painting for a time, but continued to run the family undertaking business.

Ball was approached by an eighty-something woman who was the caretaker of her family's history, because of his book Slaves in the Family, and he was a good choice. At the end, he describes this woman's comments about white people and how she still doesn't trust them and doesn't know many, which surprised me a bit. But I can't say that she's different from 80-something white women I know, or that I don't have prejudices myself. ( )

Very well written. I was immediately engrossed in this story of a rich and relatively privileged black family in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Each family member on whom Ball focuses is brought to life through their unique experiences and occupations: undertaker, abortionist, orphanage- and brass-band maanger, and artist. The family's reach spans many sectors of American culture and better-known American history, and I felt a spark of excitement when I read about their brushes with more familiar personages and events. I'm looking forward to reading Slaves in the Family. ( )