Grandma’s Hands

About the Book

The book Grandma’s Hands: A Portrait in Time was inspired by the life of Rachel Bryant’s paternal grandmother (whose parents were slaves) as well as her own observations of blatant discriminatory and degrading practices inflicted upon those once thought to be inferior. This beautifully written book, consisting of twenty poems mainly reflecting life as it was in America’s Jim Crow South, takes the reader on a powerful journey from slavery to present-day society. Through her unique and eloquent style, Rachel Bryant manages to capture and convey the thoughts and feelings of characters so cleverly portrayed throughout this provocative and awe-inspiring book. While the majority of poems were written for mature audiences, readers will find several poems that are appropriate for all.

About the Author

Rachel Bryant was born and raised on a farm during the Jim Crow era. She enjoyed a happy and healthy childhood despite the “separate but equal” Supreme Court ruling, which was greatly upheld in her small rural town. This was largely due to the confidence and pride that her devoted parents instilled in Rachel and her siblings, along with providing a good education; all of which paved the way for a bright future. Besides her parents, Rachel was influenced by many elders in the community, especially her grandmother, the family matriarch, who lived to be 109 years old. She served as the inspiration for the book’s title poem, “Grandma’s Hands,” as her guiding spirit lives on.