The power of family secrets.

    I've personally witnessed dysfunctional families make significant strides toward more healthy functioning with the exposure of a family secret. The late Edwin Friedman wrote a book Generation to Generation: Family Process in Church and Synagogue. In his book he applies the theories of  family systems to congregational life. This is some of what he has to say about family secrets.

"Family secrets act as the plaque in the arteries of communication; they cause stoppage in the general flow and not just at the point of their existence."  Then he lists a number of examples; "an affair, illegitimacy, elopement, terminal illness, abortion, adoption..." etc. "...where one family member says 'But don't tell Dad/Mom."' He goes on to identify four effects of such secrets. "Secrets function to divide a family, as avalanche would a community....second...is that they create unnecessary estrangements as well as false companionship...third...they distort perceptions....fourth...The most important effect of secrets on a family's emotional system is that they exacerbate other pathological processes unrelated to the content of the secret, because secrets generally function to keep anxiety at higher energy levels." PP 52-53

    This is a longer preamble than usual to my book report but it's germane to what follows. Black Cake, Charmaine Wilkerson, is a book for persons who think that Black lives matter and for other persons who need to understand Black experience. The racial realities of the book, though significant, are secondary to the main theme. The theme of the book is THE POWER OF FAMILY SECRETS, and the family secret in this book is world class!

    All of the aforementioned effects of family secrets, ala Friedman, are amply, profoundly and explicitly illustrated in this marvelous book. The settings of the Caribbean Isles, England and California are expertly woven into the story. She uses fascinating changes of times and voices to keep the reader engaged. The characters are developed with the nuance that creates empathy and interest...very readable and engaging!

    Thanks, MJV, for this newly published book...2022. It'll be interesting to see if it appears on best seller lists. It's the author's first book. Yes, highly recommended and one I could imagine rereading in a year or two.  

Takk for alt,

Al

        Today's random photo is of the setting sun in Thailand.