The Lost Literary Collection
a few of my treasured books
I love books. My books were the first items to be packed for my move to South Carolina from Ohio.
Arriving in Charleston, I focused on unpacking items I needed to get through the first couple of weeks. My sister-in-law and husband unpacked most of our kitchen and home basics before I arrived; most of what I unpacked were personal effects including some books. After emptying more boxes, I realized I was missing a box of books.
The box I was looking for contained books I had yet to read and books by Black authors like Richard Wright and James Baldwin, which belonged to my late aunt. I treasured those. When I read and re-read those books, I felt grateful and proud of the labor of sweat and blood from generations of Black Americans who fought so I could live the life I live. In a way, having those books kept me connected to that struggle and I needed that.
The mystery of the lost box occupied my mind; I needed to find that box and put my hand on it. I visualized the box I packed as they included my husband's Bibles and Howard Thurman books; ensuring they would not get discarded or lost. Often, so much gets misplaced and lost when you move; things you forget about. This I could not.
After mentioning the books one too many times, Curnell went to the storage location to search for the missing box. Returning from the mission, he unloaded THREE U-Haul moving boxes full of books! I don’t remember so many.
I opened the first box and felt relieved. I saw Eldridge Cleaver’s Soul on Ice, leading to a stack of James Baldwin paperbacks, and others. I smiled ear to ear, but I was curious about what books were in the other boxes.
The other boxes included Good to Great by Jim Collins, Necessary Endings by Dr. Henry Could, Atomic Habits by Columbus native James Clear, and other books that helped me grow professionally and personally.
As I looked at the titles, I was reminded of the people who recommended each one to me and how it changed my life.
I saw signed books including, America, Goddam written by an Ohio State professor Treva B. Lindsey, who danced beside me in Zumba class, and many signed books written by Eric Jerome Dickey. Although some books belonged to Curnell, most were mine and needed a new home. It was time for them to bless someone else.
The books I had not read and my classics collection, I kept and boxed up the others. Instead of dropping these boxes off at Goodwill, I targeted young women to give the books to. As I offered the books, they received them. After they read the books, I plan to connect with them to discuss the content; listen to their thoughts, and share my own.
There was a time when I loved looking at books on multiple bookcases in my home and curating a library. That season has passed for me. Now, I feel blessed to personally share books that have meaning for me; especially to be able to share with someone open to receive. For me, that is a good deed.
