Toni Morrison described this book as "profound, necessary and an absolute delight" and I agree whole heartedly. This book is a treasure I stumbled upon at a bookshop and has given me in the three weeks it took me to finish it a history lesson years in class could never deliver. Easily one of the best non-fiction books I have ever read. I have learnt so much and understood so much about people miles away from my country of birth. I think everybody needs to read this book. It will tug at your heart and at the end so many things will make sense. It tells a very necessary story of the lives of so many African Americans and somewhere along the way you will find yourself deeply invested in the lives of the 3 main characters used to tell the story of so many others of their time. A definite slow burn and it may feel lengthy but it is definitely worth every minute spent reading it.