Terry Baker Mulligan

Terry "Jean" Baker Mulligan introduces us to her family, friends, sights, and scenes of Harlem during the 1950s and 60s as she grows up. We spend most of our time with Jean in and around 369 Edgecombe Ave on Sugar Hill, Harlem.

Olivia, the young mother, a secretary at Amsterdam News dating Jack who works at a bar. The two sisters Annette, a beautician and sort of a nag, and Cecilia the fun young aunt. Gram the larger than life personality, anchor of the memoir, and mother to the sisters and grandmother to Jean. All these women mold and shape Jean's life. Gram controls them all with an iron fist. Woman of vanity and pride yet full of class.

Sections of this book are a Historian's dream. We learn about the Alexander Hamilton House and the American Indian Museum and its owner. Jean personally knew some of Harlem's legendary celebrities such as Frankie Lymon. Jean and Jack often enjoy shows at the legendary Apollo Theater. The most intriguing background story was that of the complex numbers running gambling operation that Harlem was known for. No matter how poor almost everyone played the numbers with some assistance from the "dream book." Even though Jean's family wasn't big on religion she was taken through the channels of Catholicism all while mesmerized by the likes of Rev. Ike and other larger than life TV preachers.

Jean grows up. Olivia marries Jack and gives birth to little brother Houston. Jean enters high school at the liberal New Lincoln School. New Lincoln was full of children of Broadway producers, communists, and integrationists such as Minniejean Brown from Little Rock, AR. There are many more interesting facts that I could list but then I would be a book spoiler.

Even though Mulligan gave us bits and pieces of a good memoir, I did not enjoy it. I would say it has great material that was horribly put together.

*digital copy provided by publisher…views are strictly my own…… (mer)