ALL THAT SHE CARRIED The Journey of Ashley's Sack, a Black Family Keepsake

Narrator Janina Edwards helps listeners trace the history of a small cotton bag and its journey through the difficult lives of the Black women who carried it. Starting with an enslaved woman, the bag was stitched and filled with items of love, before being passed on through future generations. Now housed in the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the simple bag acts as a symbol of the hope and love that carries on. Edwards's performance has a strength and dignity that are absolutely necessary to capture the importance of the material. Though the history itself is at times painful to hear, Edwards's thoughtful pacing brings listeners through the powerful story. V.B. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine [Published: NOVEMBER 2021]