I Am Nobody’s Slave // How Uncovering My Family’s History Set Me Free

I Am Nobodys Slavetells the story of one Black family’s pursuit of the American Dream through the impacts of systemic racism and racial violence. This book examines how trauma from enslavement and Jim Crow shaped their outlook on thriving in America, influenced each generation, and how they succeeded despite these challenges.

To their suburban Minnesotan neighbors, the Hawkinses were an ideal American family, embodying strength and success. However, behind closed doors, they faced the legacy of enslavement and apartheid. Lee Hawkins, Sr. often exhibited rage, leaving his children anxious and curious about his protective view of the world. Thirty years later, his son uncovered the reasons for his fathers anxiety and occasional violence. Through research, he discovered violent deaths in his family for every generation since slavery, mostly due to white-on-Black murders, and how white enslavers impacted the familys customs.

Hawkins explores the role of racism-triggered childhood trauma and chronic stress in shortening his ancestors’ lives, using genetic testing, reporting, and historical data to craft a moving family portrait. This book shows how genealogical research can educate and heal Americans of all races, revealing through their story the story of Americaa journey of struggle, resilience, and the heavy cost of ultimate success.

Lee Hawkinsis an award-winning journalist and musician. For nineteen years, he was a reporter at theWall Street Journal. Hawkins is a five-time winner of the National Association of Black Journalists Salute to Excellence Award and a 2022 Pulitzer finalist for his work as a lead reporter on a series about the Tulsa Massacre of 1921. He is the creator of the podcastWhat Happened in Alabama?,a ten-part collaboration with American Public Media investigating Jim Crowsegregation survivors and their descendants. He lives in New York City.

• Publisher: Amistad
• Publish Date:January 14, 2025
• Pages: 368
• Language: English
• TypeBook: Hardcover
• EAN/UPC: 9780062823168
• Dimensions: 9.0 X 6.0 X 1.1 inches | 1 pounds