DISCUSSION FORUM

I thought it might be useful to some who aren't familiar with Traces of the Trade: A Story from the Deep North and Inheriting the Trade: A Northern Family Confronts Its Legacy as the Largest Slave-Trading Dynasty in U.S. History for me to explain how my book relates to Katrina Browne's film.

When Katrina invited me to be one of the participants in the international journey from Rhode Island to Ghana and Cuba and back to make her documentary feature film, I began to keep a detailed journal immediately. When I decided to write a formal memoir of my experiences, Katrina was very encouraging: "Your story will be your version of what we went through; the film will be mine." We agreed to use different titles so that the film and book, though based on the same journey, would each stand on their own. We took one journey. We created two unique testaments.

Inheriting the Trade will be published by Beacon Press in January 2008 in honor of the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the slave trade in the United States. Stay tuned to the Traces website for updates on the film's distribution schedule.

I would just like to add that I've read Tom's book and found it very moving. It's a beautiful description of one man changing his views about race during the film-making journey.

Of course I'm not unbiased here. I'm in the book.

I am highly impressed by the efforts you, Tom, and other willing DeWolf family members have made in telling this story. I believe that it can serve as a great catalyst for change

I would like to communicate with you about some creative ideas that I have regarding ways in which I believe your story can be further bolstered and express to you a little more about my position within the whole complex of race issues here in the west.

I am a musician, visual artist, and a novice writer
and I have alot of free time on my hands - maybe too much (according to my family's words), but as an inspired reader and activist , I believe I shall be loyal to the cause of telling your story, as a mighty example from "the top" and trickling to the rest of the people at large, all the days of my life.

Rhedda J
rhedda.j@gmail.com
786 306 0294