Review of The Self-Liberation of Parson Sykes: Enlistment in the Union Army

[Amy_Jackson]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Self-Liberation of Parson Sykes: Enlistment in the Union Army" by David J Mason.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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When a man lives well despite opposition and challenges, he'll be happy to pass on the story of his life to his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and generations to come. The Self-Liberation of Parson Sykes: Enlistment in the Union Army by David J. Mason tells us of how Parson, born during the time of slavery in America, desired freedom and worked his way to gain it. He rejected the status quo, and inspired by the fight for freedom of a man who lived before him, he allowed himself to dream and envision that freedom his master was bent on depriving him of. But how would he go beyond the dream to lead himself and his brothers into the reality? He observed, he studied, he waited, and he planned. Finally, the answer came in the American Civil War. What was tearing a country apart turned out to be the solution he needed. How? Read the book and find out!

I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars. The author did a good job of narrating the life of Parson on Jacob Williams’ farm in Southampton County, Virginia, and the happenings in the Civil War. I like that the author gave precise names of people and locations, dates, and even the structure, administration, and strategies of the Union Army. This showed thorough research and documentation in the putting together of this book. The book greatly enlightened me on how slaves were treated, how the journey to their freedom began, the laws enacted at that time, the history of the United States, and how Black men were incorporated into the army during the Civil War. I also learnt certain facts like the invention of the “Jenny” coupler and the railroad braking system.

I was saddened to know the codes of conduct the slaves were expected to follow. They were subjected to abuse that they could do nothing about. Ultimately, I was happy with the path Parson took to pursue his dream. I believe his wise choices came from how he took his time to observe, learn, and study materials on his areas of interest. His doggedness and determination are a big encouragement to all who have challenging goals they desire to achieve.

One aspect I didn't like about the book is that there were repetitions in some areas. For example, one scene that was repeated within the space of a few pages is the scene where Nelson went to the field to tell Caswell Worrell that he was sick and wanted to go to the house, but he couldn't persuade Caswell to go with him, which foiled his plans. However, I believe some of the repetitions served to emphasize some important points.

This book will appeal to advocates, mentors, educators, and historians, especially those interested in the history of the United States and the abolition of slavery. I also recommend it to those who need the motivation to move beyond their present circumstances to achieve their desired goal.

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The Self-Liberation of Parson Sykes: Enlistment in the Union Army
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[Kibet Hillary]

It appears that the book is not only captivating due to the plot itself but also informative due to the inventions, such as the braking system. The era of slavery might be gone, but it is good to always be reminded of our history so that we learn from it. Thank you for the amazing review, @Amy_Jackson.