For Blacks, the color of your skin always was the deciding factor in the many of things that you could or couldn’t be in life. 
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John Buddy, or two-eyed-John as his mother called him, was considered a “Yellar nigger”. Fighting verbal and physical abuse from his stepfather at a young age in his own home, John sets out to make a life of his own. But often found himself fleeing when situations didn’t work out as he’d expected. 


This story shows how John overcomes struggles while juggling his many women and being a father. Eventually becoming financially stable as a preacher and mayor in Eatonville - an all Black town. And then that all changed. 
It couples the outside relationships and even shows how voodoo played a part in one he had with Hattie. 🫣 But he didn’t stop with her either. 

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Hurston shows each of her characters in their own light. Allowing readers to witness the struggles, choices, and inner flaws they all possessed. 

The dialect was something I had to get use to. 

As Hurston’s first book, and based on the story of her parents -  this tale is one that is unforgettable. One where you wonder how the story would have ended if only John could have been a one woman man. But repeating choices came when you didn’t learn the lesson. 

Honestly, the ending fell flat and I skipped the few pages of the sermon 🫠 But overall, this was an enjoyable read.